Across the U.S., millions of Social Security recipients are set to be issued their January payment tomorrow, as the Social Security Administration (SSA) approaches the end of this month’s benefits-distribution schedule.
On Wednesday, Jan. 28, the SSA is to send out payments to certain recipients of retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and survivor pay.
Three Wednesdays: Social Security’s payment system
Of the 70.5 million Americans who claim one of the above benefits, most get their money on the second, third or fourth Wednesday in each month. A recipient’s designated Wednesday depends on the date of birth of the worker whose Social Security taxes have earned the benefits entitlement.
If you receive benefits based on your own work record, your date of birth is used. If you claim based on the employment history of a family member – such as a spouse or parent – the SSA uses the relative’s birthday.
Who receives Social Security benefits on Wednesday, Jan. 28?
Jan. 28 is the fourth Wednesday in January, so tomorrow’s payment run covers birthdays between the 21st and 31st of any month. This is the final distribution date in this month’s three-Wednesdays cycle:
- Born on 1st-10th: Weds., Jan. 14
- Born on 11th-20th: Weds., Jan. 21
- Born on 21st-31st: Weds., Jan. 28
Beneficiaries face long January wait
Because Jan. 1 was a Thursday, this month’s Wednesday-payments cycle didn’t kick in until the latest possible point. This will also be the case in October.
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Who isn’t paid within the SSA’s three-Wednesdays cycle?
- Certain long-term Social Security recipients
If you started getting retirement, SSDI or survivor benefits before May 1997, you are ordinarily paid on the third day of each month, regardless of your date of birth.
However, as Jan. 3 was a Saturday, these beneficiaries were instead due to receive their January pay on the earliest working day before then: Friday, Jan. 2. Normally service will resume in February, when this group of recipients is scheduled to be sent its benefits on Tuesday 3rd.
- SSI beneficiaries
Recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are typically paid on the first of the month – but New Year’s Day is a federal holiday, so January’s SSI benefits were distributed a day early, on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025.
In the final payment on the SSA’s schedule for January, February’s SSI will also arrive ahead of schedule. Next month begins on a weekend day, so recipients will instead be paid for February on Friday, Jan. 30.
Unlike the SSA’s retirement, SSDI and survivor programs, SSI is a purely needs-based scheme. Aimed at low-income individuals who are over 65 or have a disability, SSI does not require prior payment of Social Security taxes.
- Dual recipients (SSI + regular Social Security)
Some 2.5 million people in the U.S. claim both SSI and one of the SSA’s retirement, SSDI or survivor benefits. For January, these dual beneficiaries were due to receive the former on Dec. 31, and the latter on Jan. 2.
At a glance – beneficiaries outside the three-Wednesdays cycle:
- SSI: Wednesday, Dec. 31 (Jan. payment)
- Pre-May ’97 Social Sec.: Friday, Jan. 2
- Dual recipients: SSI on Dec. 31; Social Sec. on Jan. 2
- SSI: Friday, Jan. 30 (Feb. payment)
You can check out the SSA’s 2026 benefits-distribution schedule in full in this online calendar.
How much do Social Security and SSI beneficiaries get?
As of December 2025 – the most recent figures shared by the SSA – retired workers were paid an average of $2,071.30 a month. Disabled workers received a monthly average of $1,633.19, and beneficiaries of survivor pay got an average of $1,620.95 each month. SSI recipients’ average monthly benefits were $714.53.
However, the SSA confirmed last fall that its beneficiaries are getting a 2.8% pay rise in 2026, starting with January’s benefits. This comes as part of the agency’s annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).
How does Social Security make benefits payments?
The SSA says it is “in most cases” no longer offering beneficiaries the option of receiving their money in paper-check form. Instead, the agency provides two ways of collecting payments electronically:
- Direct deposit
By supplying the SSA with their bank details, recipients can get their benefits by direct deposit.
Beneficiaries of retirement, SSDI and survivor pay can update their account information online using the agency’s “my Social Security” portal. SSI recipients should call 1-800-772-1213, the SSA says.
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- Direct Express Card
Recipients can also have their money loaded onto the Direct Express Card, a special debit card for federal disbursements made to people without a bank account. You can sign up for Direct Express by calling 1-800-333-1795 or visiting the service’s website.
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