Social Security Payment Dates for May: Know When You’ll Get Paid
More than 75 million Americans received Social Security payments last month. Most recipients — about 58 million — were age 65 or older. Slightly over 11 million people with disabilities get combinations of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income. An additional 5.5 million are early retirees or young survivors receiving Social Security benefits.
The average monthly Social Security benefit is $2,071. That follows a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment that took effect in January. SSI payments average roughly $700 per month. Maximum SSI is $994 for individuals and $1,491 for couples. SSI amounts vary by income, living arrangements, and state supplements.
How payments are scheduled
Social Security benefits are paid based on the recipient’s day of birth. SSI follows a fixed monthly calendar. Both programs shift payments when dates fall on weekends or federal holidays.
Social Security dates in May
For May, the agency divides payments by birth‑date groups. Recipients born on the 1st through the 10th are paid on the second Wednesday. Those born from the 11th through the 20th are paid on the third Wednesday. People born on the 21st through the 31st receive payments on the fourth Wednesday.
| Birth‑date range | May payment date |
|---|---|
| 1–10 | May 13 |
| 11–20 | May 20 |
| 21–31 | May 27 |
If you are checking Social Security payment dates for May, know when you’ll get paid by matching your birth day to these slots.
SSI timing and special cases
SSI benefits are normally disbursed on the first of each month. If the first lands on a weekend or holiday, the payment moves to the nearest weekday.
Recipients who began taking Social Security before May 1997 follow a different timetable. The same applies to people who receive both Social Security and SSI. For those groups, SSI is paid on the first and Social Security is usually paid on the third of each month.
In May, both SSI and Social Security payments will be issued on May 1 for those on the combined schedule. That adjustment occurs because May 3 falls on a Sunday.
Scheduled adjustments later in the year
The Social Security pay calendar stays unchanged in June. Changes arrive in July and beyond.
- SSI will be paid on July 1 and again on July 31. This occurs because August 1 is a Saturday.
- SSI payments resume on September 1 and October 1.
- The November SSI payment will be made on Friday, October 30, because November 1 is a Sunday.
- In December, SSI will be paid on December 1 and December 31, due to the January 1, 2027 holiday.
Filmogaz.com reminds readers that exact dates may shift if holidays or weekends affect the schedule. Check with the Social Security Administration for account‑specific information.
