More than 7.4 million Americans who rely on Supplemental Security Income will not receive a payment in March 2026 because their checks are arriving early on February 27 instead. The shift happens because March 1 falls on a Sunday this year, and federal rules require SSI payments to go out on the last business day before the first of the month .
This is not a benefit cut. It is not a delay. It is simply a calendar adjustment. The Social Security Administration moves payments forward whenever the first lands on a weekend or federal holiday . Recipients will still get 12 payments in 2026. The total amount they receive over the year does not change.
Who gets paid when in March 2026?
The March payment schedule depends on which benefits you receive and when you were born.
SSI recipients get their March money on Friday, February 27, 2026 . This covers the entire month of March. There will be no SSI deposit in March itself. The next SSI payment arrives on April 1. People who started receiving retirement, spousal, or survivor benefits before May 1997 get paid on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 . This also applies to people who receive both Social Security and SSI. For everyone else receiving retirement or Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, payments go out on Wednesdays based on birth dates :
- Born between the 1st and 10th: Wednesday, March 11
- Born between the 11th and 20th: Wednesday, March 18
- Born between the 21st and 31st: Wednesday, March 25
Why does this happen and will it happen again in 2026?
The Social Security Administration follows a simple rule. SSI benefits are normally paid on the first of each month. When that date falls on a weekend or federal holiday, payments are issued on the previous business day .
This happens several times a year. In 2026, the same thing occurs in other months too :
- July 1 is a Wednesday. Payment arrives July 1.
- August 1 is a Saturday. Payment arrives Friday, July 31 instead.
- November 1 is a Sunday. Payment arrives Friday, October 30 instead.
- January 1, 2027 is a Friday. Payment arrives Thursday, December 31, 2026.
Some months have two payments. Some months have none. It all depends on the calendar.
What is Supplemental Security Income and who gets it?
Supplemental Security Income is a federal program run by the Social Security Administration . It provides monthly cash payments to people with limited income and limited resources. To qualify, you must be 65 or older, blind, or have a qualifying disability . Children with disabilities can also qualify if their families meet the income limits.
The program is not the same as Social Security retirement. You do not need a work history to get SSI. It is funded by general tax revenues, not payroll taxes . In January 2026, about 7.4 million people received SSI payments . That includes:
- 2.5 million people age 65 or older
- 3.8 million adults ages 18 to 64 with disabilities
- 1.0 million children under age 18 with disabilities
The average SSI payment in January 2026 was $737 per month . But amounts vary. Children receive higher payments on average at $872. Older adults receive less at $610 because many also get Social Security. The maximum federal payment in 2026 is $994 per month for an individual and $1,491 for a couple where both qualify .
Does this affect Social Security retirement or disability benefits?
No. This early payment only affects Supplemental Security Income recipients .Retirement benefits and Social Security Disability Insurance follow a different schedule. They are paid on Wednesdays based on birth dates. Those payments are not moving to February 27.
If you receive both SSI and regular Social Security, your March SSI payment comes early on February 27. But your regular Social Security payment still arrives on March 3 if you started benefits before May 1997, or on your regular Wednesday date if you started later .
How much is the 2026 COLA and is it included?
Yes. The 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment is already included in all payments . The COLA increase was 2.8 percent for 2026 . Beneficiaries received notices in late 2025 showing their new monthly amounts. The February 27 SSI payment reflects this higher amount. So do all the March retirement payments.
What should beneficiaries do now?
For SSI recipients, the most important thing is to plan your budget carefully .You will get your March money on February 27. That means you have to stretch that payment across the entire month of March. The next payment does not arrive until April 1.
If you usually pay rent or bills at the beginning of March, you might want to set that money aside now. For everyone else, check your birth date and mark your calendar. Payments arrive on the dates listed above. If your payment does not arrive on the expected date, wait three mailing days before contacting the Social Security Administration . Most delays are caused by bank processing times, not by the agency.
You can check your payment status by logging into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. You can also call 1-800-772-1213 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time on weekdays .
FAQs About March 2026 Social Security Payments
Q: Why am I not getting an SSI check in March 2026?
A: Your March SSI payment is arriving early on February 27 instead. This happens because March 1 falls on a Sunday. Federal rules require payments to go out on the last business day before the first of the month when the first lands on a weekend .
Q: Will I get two SSI payments in February 2026?
A: Yes, but it is not extra money. You get your regular February payment on February 1 and your March payment on February 27. That means no payment in March. The total amount for the year stays the same .
Q: When will I get my March retirement benefit?
A: It depends on your birth date. If you were born between the 1st and 10th, you get paid March 11. If you were born between the 11th and 20th, you get paid March 18. If you were born between the 21st and 31st, you get paid March 25 .
Q: What if I started receiving benefits before May 1997?
A: You get paid on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. This also applies if you receive both Social Security and SSI .
Q: Is the 2026 COLA included in these payments?
A: Yes. The 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment is already included in all February and March payments .
Q: What should I do if my payment is late?
A: Wait three business days. If it still has not arrived, contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 .
Disclaimer: This article is based on the official Social Security Administration payment calendar for 2026 and reports from news agencies covering the schedule. Payment dates are subject to change only if federal holiday schedules are updated.
