Overview
- Retirement benefits follow the birth‑date schedule, with the first April round landing Wednesday, April 8, for people born on the 1st–10th, then April 15 for the 11th–20th, and April 22 for the 21st–31st.
- Supplemental Security Income recipients received their April payment earlier in the month, and people who started benefits before May 1997 or who also get SSI are paid on the month’s early legacy date.
- The 2026 cost‑of‑living increase of 2.8% adds about $56 to the typical check, raising the average monthly retirement benefit to roughly $2,071.
- If a payment does not show up, the Social Security Administration says to check with your bank first, then contact the agency or visit a local office if the bank finds no issue, noting most deposits arrive on time because nearly all are electronic.
- Budget analysts warn the main trust fund could run dry in the early 2030s, with a CBO estimate of 2032 that would force smaller checks unless Congress changes the program.