KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The Social Security Administration distributes millions of payments each month.
- When you will receive your payments typically depends on your birthday, and in some cases, when you began receiving benefits.
The Social Security Administration distributes benefits to almost 74 million people each month. Here is when to expect yours in January.
Payments are primarily distributed according to beneficiaries’ birth dates. However, for those who began receiving retirement, spousal, or survivor benefits before May 1997, they typically receive their payments on the 3rd of every month.
Why This Matters
As Social Security beneficiaries are on a fixed income, knowing when they will receive their payments is essential for creating their budget and managing their financial obligations.
Supplemental Security Income, a program that provides additional income for people with disabilities and adults aged 65 and older with limited or no income, is distributed separately from Social Security benefits at the beginning of every month.
In some cases, when the beginning of the month coincides with a weekend or holiday, SSI benefits will be distributed in the preceding month. Due to the government holiday on New Year’s Day, Supplemental Security Income recipients will get their January check on Dec. 31, 2025.
Benefits in 2026 will be 2.8% higher, or about $56 more per month on average, compared to 2025. Here is how these checks will be distributed in January.
In January, checks will be issued:
- Dec. 31, 2025 – SSI payments for January will be made on Dec. 31 because Jan. 1 is a national holiday.
- Jan. 2 – Benefits will be paid to those who have been collecting since before May 1997.
- Jan. 14 – Benefits will be paid to those born between the first and the 10th of any month.
- Jan. 21 – Benefits will be paid to those with birthdays between the 11th and the 20th of any month.
- Jan. 28 – Benefits will be paid to those with birthdays between the 21st and the 31st of any month.
- Jan. 30 – SSI payments for February will be issued.
