Social Security & SSI
SSI & Social Security Payment Schedule: December 2026 and 2027
Quick Answer
You will get two SSI payments in December 2026: on Tuesday, December 1 and on Thursday, December 31. The December 31 payment is your January 2027 SSI, paid early because January 1 is a federal holiday — and it is the first payment with the 3.6% increase. There is no SSI payment in January 2027; the next one arrives on Monday, February 1, 2027. Social Security and SSDI are paid on December 9, 16 or 23 depending on your birth date.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is normally paid on the 1st of each month. When the 1st falls on a weekend or a federal holiday, the Social Security Administration (SSA) pays on the last business day before it (20 CFR 416.502). That is what happens at the end of 2026.
Payments Left in 2026 (November–December)
| Benefit | November 2026 | December 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| SSI | Paid early on Fri, Oct 30 | Tue, Dec 1 and Thu, Dec 31 (January 2027 payment) |
| Social Security / SSDI, born 1st–10th | Tue, Nov 10 (moved up from Nov 11, Veterans Day) | Wed, Dec 9 |
| Social Security / SSDI, born 11th–20th | Wed, Nov 18 | Wed, Dec 16 |
| Social Security / SSDI, born 21st–31st | Wed, Nov 25 | Wed, Dec 23 |
| Social Security paid on the 3rd* | Tue, Nov 3 | Thu, Dec 3 |
Dates follow SSA's payment calendar and its rule that a payment due on a weekend or federal holiday is made the business day before (SSA 2026 calendar, SSA). *People who started benefits before May 1997, or who get both Social Security and SSI.
Two SSI Payments in December 2026
| Payment date | Payment for |
|---|---|
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | December 2026 |
| Thu, Dec 31, 2026 | January 2027, paid early, with the 3.6% raise |
| None in January 2027 | — |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | February 2027 |
SSA confirmed that "increased payments to about 7.3 million people receiving SSI will begin on December 31, 2026" (SSA, Oct 14, 2026). SSA has explained before that a second payment like this "does not mean that you are receiving a duplicate payment" and that you do not need to report it (SSA blog).
Plan for January. The December 31 payment has to cover all of January. If you usually pay rent or bills at the start of the month, set that money aside — nothing else arrives until February 1.
Wondering why you got nothing in November? November 1, 2026 was a Sunday, so the November SSI payment was made early, on Friday, October 30, 2026.
Why Am I Getting Two Checks This Month?
- SSI paid early. When the 1st of a month falls on a weekend or holiday, SSI comes on the last business day before it. You then see two SSI payments in one month and none the next. This happens in December 2026, April 2027 and July 2027.
- You get both SSI and Social Security. Then you receive two deposits every month: SSI on the 1st and Social Security on the 3rd (SSA calendar). That is normal.
Neither is a mistake or a bonus, and you do not need to report it.
SSI Amounts: 2026 vs 2027
| Recipient | 2026 (per month) | 2027 (per month) |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | $994 | $1,029 |
| Eligible couple | $1,491 | $1,544 |
These are the maximum federal SSI amounts (SSA 2026 fact sheet, SSA 2027 amounts). The 2027 amounts start with the payment on December 31, 2026. Your own payment can be lower if you have other income, such as wages or Social Security, and some states add a state supplement on top. For comparison, SSA estimates the average retired worker will get $2,170 a month and the average disabled worker (SSDI) $1,701 a month from January 2027 (SSA 2027 fact sheet).
SSI Payment Dates 2027
Dates follow SSA's rule: the 1st of the month, or the last business day before it when the 1st is a weekend or federal holiday.
| Payment for | Paid on |
|---|---|
| January 2027 | Thu, Dec 31, 2026 (early — paid in December) |
| February 2027 | Mon, Feb 1 |
| March 2027 | Mon, Mar 1 |
| April 2027 | Thu, Apr 1 |
| May 2027 | Fri, Apr 30 (early — paid in April) |
| June 2027 | Tue, Jun 1 |
| July 2027 | Thu, Jul 1 |
| August 2027 | Fri, Jul 30 (early — paid in July) |
| September 2027 | Wed, Sep 1 |
| October 2027 | Fri, Oct 1 |
| November 2027 | Mon, Nov 1 |
| December 2027 | Wed, Dec 1 |
In 2027 you will see two SSI payments in December 2026, April 2027 and July 2027, and none in January, May and August 2027.
Social Security & SSDI Payment Dates (December 2026 – 2027)
Social Security retirement, survivor and disability (SSDI) benefits are paid on a Wednesday based on your birth date. People who started benefits before May 1997, or who get both Social Security and SSI, are paid on the 3rd of the month (SSA 2027 calendar). The 3.6% increase starts with the January 2027 payment.
| Month | Born 1st–10th | Born 11th–20th | Born 21st–31st | Paid on the 3rd* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 2026 | Wed, Dec 9, 2026 | Wed, Dec 16, 2026 | Wed, Dec 23, 2026 | Thu, Dec 3, 2026 |
| January 2027 | Wed, Jan 13 | Wed, Jan 20 | Wed, Jan 27 | Thu, Dec 31, 2026 (early) |
| February 2027 | Wed, Feb 10 | Wed, Feb 17 | Wed, Feb 24 | Wed, Feb 3 |
| March 2027 | Wed, Mar 10 | Wed, Mar 17 | Wed, Mar 24 | Wed, Mar 3 |
| April 2027 | Wed, Apr 14 | Wed, Apr 21 | Wed, Apr 28 | Fri, Apr 2 |
| May 2027 | Wed, May 12 | Wed, May 19 | Wed, May 26 | Mon, May 3 |
| June 2027 | Wed, Jun 9 | Wed, Jun 16 | Wed, Jun 23 | Thu, Jun 3 |
| July 2027 | Wed, Jul 14 | Wed, Jul 21 | Wed, Jul 28 | Fri, Jul 2 |
| August 2027 | Wed, Aug 11 | Wed, Aug 18 | Wed, Aug 25 | Tue, Aug 3 |
| September 2027 | Wed, Sep 8 | Wed, Sep 15 | Wed, Sep 22 | Fri, Sep 3 |
| October 2027 | Wed, Oct 13 | Wed, Oct 20 | Wed, Oct 27 | Fri, Oct 1 |
| November 2027 | Wed, Nov 10 | Wed, Nov 17 | Wed, Nov 24 | Wed, Nov 3 |
| December 2027 | Wed, Dec 8 | Wed, Dec 15 | Wed, Dec 22 | Fri, Dec 3 |
*When the 3rd falls on a weekend or holiday, SSA pays on the business day before (SSA). January 3, 2027 is a Sunday and January 1 is a holiday, so that group's January payment arrives on Thursday, December 31, 2026.
Is There a New Social Security Payment Schedule?
No — the payment days have not changed. What has changed is how you are paid:
- Since September 30, 2025, federal law and Executive Order 14247 require federal benefits to be paid electronically, and SSA plans to finish moving everyone off paper checks in 2026 (SSA).
- Options: direct deposit (set it up in your my Social Security account or through your bank), or a Direct Express prepaid debit card if you have no bank account (1-800-967-6857).
- People who cannot switch, for example because of mental health concerns or living far from any bank, can ask the U.S. Treasury for a waiver.
Benefit amounts rise 3.6% from January 2027.
Your 2027 COLA Notice
- Online: people with a my Social Security account can see their COLA notice in the Message Center starting in late November 2026.
- Paperless: to get it online instead of by mail, create an account and choose paperless notices by November 18, 2026.
- By mail: everyone else gets a paper notice in December 2026.
Source: SSA press release, Oct 14, 2026.
If a Payment Is Missing
- Check the table above — the payment may have come early, in the month before.
- Paper check? SSA asks you to allow three extra mailing days before contacting them.
- Still missing? Contact SSA through your my Social Security account or call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (SSA contact).
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are there two SSI payments in December 2026?
Because January 1, 2027 is a federal holiday (New Year's Day), SSA pays the January 2027 SSI payment early, on Thursday, December 31, 2026. You get your December payment on December 1 and your January payment on December 31. It is not an extra payment, and there will be no SSI payment in January 2027.
Why is Social Security giving out two checks this month?
Usually for one of two reasons. SSI is paid early when the 1st of the month falls on a weekend or holiday, so some months have two SSI payments and the next month has none — December 2026 is one of them. And people who get both SSI and Social Security receive two deposits every month: SSI on the 1st and Social Security on the 3rd.
How much will SSI payments be for January 2027?
The SSI payment for January 2027 is up to $1,029 for an individual and $1,544 for an eligible couple, up from $994 and $1,491 in 2026, after the 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment. It arrives early, on December 31, 2026. Your own amount can be lower if you have other income.
What Social Security and SSI payments are left in 2026?
For the rest of 2026: Social Security is paid on November 10 (moved up from November 11, Veterans Day), November 18 and November 25, then December 9, 16 and 23, depending on your birth date; people paid on the 3rd get December 3. SSI is paid on December 1 and again on December 31 (the January 2027 payment).
Is there a new payment schedule for Social Security benefits?
No. The payment days have not changed: SSI on the 1st, Social Security on the 2nd, 3rd or 4th Wednesday by birth date, or on the 3rd for people who started benefits before May 1997 or get both benefits. What changed is how you are paid: federal benefits must be paid electronically, and SSA plans to finish moving everyone off paper checks in 2026. Benefits also rise 3.6% from January 2027.
Will I get an SSI payment in January 2027?
No. The December 31 payment is your SSI for January 2027, paid early. You will not get another SSI payment until February 1, 2027. SSA says you do not need to contact them to report the second December payment.
When is Social Security disability (SSDI) paid?
Social Security disability (SSDI) follows the same schedule as retirement benefits: the second, third or fourth Wednesday of the month by birth date, or the 3rd of the month for people who started benefits before May 1997 or also get SSI.
Why didn't I get SSI in November 2026?
November 1, 2026 fell on a Sunday, so SSA paid the November SSI payment early, on Friday, October 30, 2026. That is why some people saw two SSI payments in October and none in November.
Which months in 2027 have two SSI payments?
In 2027 SSI is paid early three times: the January payment on December 31, 2026, the May payment on April 30, 2027, and the August payment on July 30, 2027. So you will see two payments in December 2026, April 2027 and July 2027, and none in January, May and August 2027.
When is Social Security paid in January 2027?
Most Social Security retirement and disability benefits are paid on the second, third or fourth Wednesday of the month, depending on your birth date (1st–10th, 11th–20th, 21st–31st). In January 2027 that is January 13, 20 or 27. People who started benefits before May 1997, or who get both Social Security and SSI, are paid on the 3rd of the month instead.
Sources
Checked on November 4, 2026. Rules and amounts change; the agency's own page always wins.
- SSA — 3.6% COLA for 2027 press release (Oct 14, 2026)
- SSA — 2027 COLA fact sheet
- SSA — 2026 COLA fact sheet (2026 SSI amounts)
- SSA — SSI federal payment amounts
- SSA — Full transition to electronic payments
- SSA — Schedule of Social Security payments 2027
- SSA — Schedule of Social Security payments 2026
- 20 CFR 416.502 — when SSI is paid
- SSA — Payments on weekends or holidays
- SSA — Getting two SSI payments in one month
- SSA — Contact Social Security by phone
- OPM — Federal holidays