Social Security Payment Schedule: When Is Your August Check Arriving?
Check your birth date for the timing of your August payment. Remember, the SSA pays one month in arrears, so this check covers your July 2026 benefit.
Social Security payments are paid on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of the month, depending on your birthday. Supplemental Security Income is generally paid at the beginning of each month, unless the date lands on a holiday or a weekend.
Social Security is a source of retirement income for almost seven in 10 Americans (69%). With the cost of living continually rising, it's important to know when your check will arrive so you can budget and manage your finances.
To learn more about SS benefit payments and how your check measures up to your peers, take a look at what the average Social Security check is by age. Then, take a look at the six changes to Social Security this year.
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Social Security Disability Insurance benefits
If you receive both Social Security and SSI (Supplemental Security Income) or you started receiving retirement, spousal, or survivor benefits before May 1997, your check will typically arrive on the third of every month. However, if that date lands on a holiday or a weekend, your benefits will arrive earlier.
SSI checks for August will go out July 31 because August 1 is a Saturday. That means you'll receive two checks (July 1 and July 31) in July but no checks in August.
Also, if you get auxiliary benefits on someone else’s earnings record, spousal or survivor benefits, for example, your payment date is determined by that person’s birthday, not yours.
August Social Security payment dates
The Social Security Administration (SSA) prepares payment schedules before distributing benefits, ensuring you receive your payments on time.
These are the dates you can expect your monthly payments for August 2026 (PDF):
- August 3 - Because July 4 falls on a Saturday, payments will be made on the previous business day. You'll receive a Social Security payment on this date if:
- You live outside the U.S.
- You receive both SSI and Social Security benefits
- Your state pays your Medicare premiums
- You filed for Social Security benefits before 1997
- August 12- You should receive your Social Security payment on the second Wednesday of the month if your birthday falls on any day from the first to the 10th of your birth month.
- August 19- If your birthday falls on any day from the 11th to the 20th of your birth month, you’ll get your Social Security payment on the third Wednesday of the month.
- August 26 - You’ll get your Social Security payment on the fourth Wednesday of the month if your birthday falls after the 20th of your birth month.
For a more detailed schedule, see Social Security Payment Schedule for 2026.
Medicare Part B premiums taking a bigger chunk out of your Social Security checks
If you're like most Social Security beneficiaries who have their Medicare Part B premiums deducted directly from their Social Security check each month, by now you've likely noticed a bigger chunk taken out of your check. In 2025, the Part B premium was $185 per month. The premium climbed to $202.90 in 2026. That's a $17.90 difference each month.
But don't panic just yet. Medicare has a hold harmless provision that ensures that any increase to your Medicare Part B premium never causes your Social Security benefit to decrease. At worst, you'll continue to receive the same benefit you got in 2025.
How to report a missing Social Security payment
If you don’t receive your electronic payments on the scheduled date, contact your bank or financial institution. Sometimes, the Social Security Administration experiences a delay in posting your payment.
If you still need help, call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or contact your local Social Security office.
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