May 2026 Social Security Payment Schedule: Why Some Recipients Will Wait Longer for Their Money
Some Social Security recipients will wait up to 35 days between April and May payments, with the first regular May distribution set for May 13. The Social Security Administration will issue May payments on May 1, May 13, May 20, and May 27, depending on benefit type and birth date. The 2026 calendar shift affects timing but not benefit amounts, which rose 2.8% this year.