Did you know February is about to drop its final cash bomb of the month? Yes, you heard that correctly. The Social Security Administration (SSA, for users) is all set to disburse the much-anticipated funds.
And, if your birthday is in the second half of the month, keep reading—this will shine brighter than a new penny in your pocket.
Get comfortable: February 26th is the big day. That’s when the SSA distributes the money to the final group: those born between the 21st and 31st of the month. Why those dates? It turns out that the Social Security Administration organises payments similarly to a guest list for a birthday party.
First comes the early-month crew, followed by the mid-month squad… just kidding. They divided the month into three birthday “weeks”: on the second, third, and fourth Wednesdays of the month.
The three payments of the month for Social Security recipients
The SSA organises the benefits’ delivery on three different dates, and they’re separate from other beneficiaries such as disability recipients (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients:
- Second Wednesday of the month: Birthdays 1st–10th (they already got their cash).
- Third Wednesday: Birthdays 11th–20th (they’re already chilling with their deposit too).
- Fourth Wednesday (this February 26th): The late bloomers, born 21st–31st.
What if I’m on SSI or have been collecting since pre-1997?
If you’re one of the recipients who receives both Social Security and SSI, don’t worry: the SSA has your back. Those receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and those who have been cashing checks since the Backstreet Boys were rookies (yes, before May 1997) have their own VIP schedule:
- SSI: Paid on the 1st of the month (if that’s a weekend or holiday, you get paid the last business day before).
- Old-school crew (pre-1997): You get paid on the 3rd of the month, same weekend/holiday rule applies.
So if you’re in these groups, forget the birthday shuffle. You’ve got fixed dates, no surprises. Well, it might change if the date falls on a weekend or a holiday. In such case, the payment might be advanced to the closest business day.