Social Security payments are set to go out May 14 – a few days later than is typical.
That’s because Social Security payments for the month of May come later than any other month of the year. It’s just how the agency’s calendar plays out.
Most of the nearly 74 million Social Security beneficiaries get benefit payments on Wednesdays throughout the month. For instance, if your birthdate falls between the first and 10th of the month, you will get your payment are paid on the second Wednesday of the month, which is May 14 – the latest day on the calendar it could fall on.
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May Social Security payment schedule
Here’s the schedule for regular Social Security retirement benefits sent out in May, according to the SSA calendar:
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Wednesday, May 14: Birth dates between the first and 10th of the month.
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Wednesday, May 21: Birth dates between the 11th and the 20th of the month.
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Wednesday, May 28: Birth dates between the 21st and the 31st of the month.
Note: if you get benefits based on your spouse’s work, the payment date is based on your spouse’s birth date.
Social Security recipients who began getting benefits before May 1997 are paid on the 3rd of the month – if they also get Supplemental Security Income (SSI), that benefit arrives on the 1st.
A reminder: The Social Security Administration suggests if you don’t receive your payment on the expected date, allow three additional mailing days before contacting the agency; but most recipients (99%) are paid electronically.
Social Security payments will come a bit later in these upcoming months
Later than typical Social Security payments will crop up on the calendar again, according to the Social Security Administration calendar for 2026, so if you need to budget, here’s a look ahead:
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January 2026: The second Wednesday of the month is on Jan. 14 – those born from the 1st to 10th of the month will get benefit payments that day. Those born the 11th to the 20th will get benefit payments on Jan. 21; recipients born on the 21st-31st get paid on Jan. 28.
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May 2026: The second Wednesday of the month is on May 13, so those born the 1st to 10th of the month will get benefit payments that day. Recipients born the 11th to the 20th will paid May 20; those born on the 21st-31st get paid on May 27.
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October 2026: In October, the second Wednesday is on Oct. 14. Those born from the 1st to 10th of the month will get benefit payments that day. Those born the 11th to the 20th will get benefit payments on Oct. 21; recipients born on the 21st-31st get paid on Oct. 28.
A second SSI payment comes in May
Beneficiaries who get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) got a payment on May 1. But a second check is due on May 30. That’s because when the first of the month (the usual date for SSI payments) falls on a federal holiday or a weekend, SSI benefits are issued early. June 1 is a Sunday.
About 7.4 million Americans who may be disabled (children included) or have little or no income or resources get monthly SSI benefit payments. About half of those who get SSI also get Social Security.
SSI payment schedule for 2025
Supplemental Security Income checks will be sent out on the following dates in 2025, according to the SSA calendar.
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Friday, May 30, 2025 (Check for June 2025)
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Tuesday, July 1, 2025 (Check for July 2025)
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Friday, Aug. 1, 2025 (Check for August 2025)
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Friday, Aug. 29, 2025 (Check for September 2025)
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Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 (Check for October 2025)
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Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 (Check for November 2025)
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Monday, Dec. 1, 2025 (Check for December 2025)
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Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025 (Check for January 2026)
Contributing: Gabe Hauari
Mike Snider is a reporter on USA TODAY’s Trending team. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Social Security payments are coming a bit later in May: See schedule
