As August draws to a close, Californians on fixed incomes are likely budgeting for next month.
Individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) checks will be paid on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
Those who receive Social Security retirement benefits will get their next payment as regularly scheduled in September. Benefits are usually disbursed on specific Wednesdays, depending on the person's birth date. If you are receiving spousal or survivors' benefits, the payment date is based on the primary beneficiary's birthday.
Sometimes SSI payments arrive early. That happens when the first of the month falls on a weekend or holiday. In that case, checks are distributed on the last weekday before the usual send date.
Here’s what to know about the September
payment schedule.
September 2026 Social Security payment schedule
The Social Security Administration’s 2026 payment schedules are online to help beneficiaries plan their monthly budget.
Social Security retirement benefits are issued according to the SSA’s standard payment schedule in September:
- Sept. 9: Birthdates between the first and 10th of the month
- Sept. 16: Birthdates between the 11th and the 20th of the month
- Sept. 23: Birthdates between the 21st and the 30th of the month
2027 Social Security COLA to be announced in October
The Social Security Administration is expected to announce the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment on Wednesday, Oct. 14.
The current estimate is 3.4%, which is lower than July's 3.7% forecast, but higher than the historical COLA average of 2.6%, Mary Johnson, an independent Social Security and Medicare analyst, told USA TODAY.
SSI checks will be sent early in October 2026
The next time checks will be sent early is Friday, Oct. 30. The first of November falls on a weekend.
Why will some people get paid 3 times in some months?
People who get both SSI and regular Social Security will be paid three times in October and December.
The regular SSI payment will come on the first. The Social Security check will be paid on its usual date. Then the SSI funds for the following month will be sent near the end of the month because the next SSI disbursement date falls on a weekend or holiday.
SSI payment schedule for 2026
Supplemental Security Income checks will be sent out on the following dates in 2026, according to the SSA calendar.
They are usually sent on the first of the month but will be disbursed early if the first falls on a weekend or holiday.
- Tuesday, Sept. 1 (check for September)
- Thursday, Oct. 1 (check for October)
- Friday, Oct. 30 (check for November)
- Tuesday, Dec. 1 (check for December)
- Thursday, Dec. 31 (check for January 2027)
See the full 2026 Social Security Payment schedule
This graphic shows all payment dates for SSI, Social Security and people who get both or were receiving Social Security before 1997.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: When do Californians get their Social Security payments in September?
