Social Security payments will follow their normal schedule in May – after the first week, that is.
About 68 million Americans receive Social Security benefits each month, including about 9 in 10 people age 65 and older. Finances are not just for adults. Payments are made to retirees, survivors of late workers, those with limited resources, the disabled, the blind, dependents and more.
Average Social Security payments for those different groups of people vary, but data from March shows the average retirement benefit was about $2,025.
When will I receive my May Social Security payment?
Your Social Security payment date is determined by your date of birth.
If you were born on the first day through the 10th of the month, you can expect to receive your Social Security check on the second Wednesday of every month – this time, May 13.
If you were born between the 11th and 20th of the month, you can expect to receive your Social Security check on the third Wednesday of every month – this time, May 20.
If you were born between the 21st and 31st, you can expect to receive your Social Security check on the fourth Wednesday of every month – this time, May 27.
Where is my May SSI payment?
Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, payments are usually distributed on the first day of each month, so you can expect yours on Friday.
People who receive both SSI and Social Security, as well as those who first claimed Social Security before May 1997, will also be paid on Friday. These payments usually go out on the third day of the month, but because May 3 falls on a Sunday in 2026, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is moving up the distribution date.
Where is my May Social Security payment?
Check the payment schedule above.
If you think your money is missing, you can contact the SSA. The SSA has both local offices and a national toll-free number. The national telephone number is 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available weekdays from 8 am to 7 pm local time. Pro tip: The agency says wait times are shortest in the morning, at the end of the week and at the end of the month.
In either case, the SSA asks that you wait three mailing days before you contact them about a missing Social Security payment.
Do I have to pay taxes on Social Security?
As we have just finished tax season, you may be wondering what the IRS requirements are for Social Security benefits.
Retirement, survivor and disability benefits are taxable if 50% of your paychecks and the rest of your income exceed a certain level. For single filers, heads of household and eligible surviving spouses, that limit is $25,000 per year. For married couples filing jointly, it is $32,000 per year.
Some beneficiaries encountered an unpleasant surprise when they filed their 2025 taxes, because the premiums released after the Social Security Administration took effect may have put them over those income limits. Congress has been trying to find a solution; the law “was not intended to bind widows, low-income seniors and government workers who volunteered for unexpected tax money,” as Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, said in a statement.
This tax season was also the first to include President Donald Trump’s “no tax on Social Security” policy, which essentially benefits any taxpayer age 65 and older (not just those receiving Social Security benefits). Eligible individuals can claim a maximum bonus deduction of up to $6,000 when filing for tax years 2025 through 2028.
The deduction is available regardless of whether you file your taxes, although the amount is limited to taxpayers with income over $75,000 ($150,000 for joint filers).
What is the SSA payment schedule for 2026?
You can find the SSA’s payment calendar for 2026 on its website. Although it largely follows the schedule laid out above, some months are different.
To learn more about your payment status or get more help with Medicare, retirement benefits, disability, SSI and more, create a free “My Social Security” account at SSA.gov.
How do I calculate my Social Security payment?
Benefits are usually calculated based on your average monthly indexed earnings, which covers up to 35 years of your highest earning age. The SSA then uses a formula to determine the amount of your primary insurance.
The amount of money that retirees receive depends in part on their age. Although you can start receiving Social Security retirement payments at age 62, the longer you wait to claim Social Security, the higher your payments will be (until age 70, when the increase stops).
For many Americans, this amount is important – Social Security accounts for about 30% of the income earned by people over the age of 65. As people live longer and legislators fight over the future of Social Security, retirement costs are rising: In 2022, federal data shows that retired families spent an average of $54,975, including $6,105.8 and $11.8 on transportation. $7,505 in health care.
