The final wave of Social Security payments for July is being distributed, but Michigan recipients face a slightly unique payment schedule for August.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will be sent out a day early on Friday, July 31, because August 1 falls on a Saturday. SSI payments are typically sent on the first of the month, but the date gets adjusted if the first falls on a weekend or holiday.
SSI is a program administered by the Social Security Administration to provide benefits for those with limited or no income or resources, those aged 65 or older, and those with a qualifying disability.
Social Security payments will land on Wednesdays per usual in August. The schedule is based on the birth dates of the recipients, according to the SSA.
On Tuesday, July 14, the nonpartisan senior advocacy group The Senior Citizens League released an updated prediction for the 2027 Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). The official 2027 COLA will be announced in October — though, in the meantime, The Senior Citizens League forecasts are released typically early each month.
Here’s more on when to expect your Social Security and SSI checks in August 2026. Here’s the full payment schedule for Social Security and SSI recipients:
According to the SSA, if you don’t receive your payment on the scheduled date, wait three additional days, then call the Social Security office. There are 48 offices in Michigan. To find an office near you, recipients may use the office locator via the Social Security website by entering your ZIP code for office hours, numbers, available services and more.
The Senior Citizens League’s July 14 update referenced data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. COLA for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, according to the SSA’s COLA Fact Sheet and American Association of Retired Persons, is expected to increase payments about $56 per month.
Most Social Security recipients don’t all get paid on the same day. Payments follow a staggered schedule tied to birthdays — but several groups follow a different calendar entirely.
Tuesday, July 1, and Friday, July 31: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients typically receive payments on the first of the month. However, because August 1 is a Saturday — and the Social Security Administration does not process payments on weekends or federal holidays — July’s SSI payment will be issued July 31.
Thursday, July 2: Several groups are usually paid on the third of the month but will receive July payments a day early because the federal government observes Independence Day on Friday, July 3. July 4 falls on a Saturday this year. This earlier date applies to beneficiaries who began receiving benefits before May 1, 1997, those who live abroad, those enrolled in Medicare Savings Programs, and those who collect both Social Security and SSI.
Wednesday, July 8: Beneficiaries with birthdays between the 1st and 10th of their birth month.
Wednesday, July 15: Beneficiaries with birthdays between the 11th and 20th of their birth month.
Wednesday, July 22: Beneficiaries with birthdays between the 21st and the end of their birth month.
For retirement and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients, payment dates are tied to the beneficiary’s birthday. For those collecting auxiliary benefits — such as a survivor or spouse benefit based on someone else’s earnings record — the payment date is determined by that person’s birthday, not the recipient’s.
It’s also worth noting that Social Security pays benefits for the prior month. The payment received in July covers June’s benefit.
The SSA adopted the staggered schedule in June 1997. Before that, all benefits went out on the third of the month — but as the number of beneficiaries grew, that became unmanageable.
Most people who began receiving benefits before May 1, 1997, are still paid on the third of each month. That date also applies to beneficiaries who live abroad, those enrolled in Medicare Savings Programs, and those who collect both Social Security and SSI. That last group receives SSI on the first of the month and their Social Security benefit on the third.
The SSA maintains an online calendar showing all 2026 payment dates.
All Social Security benefits are paid electronically — either by direct deposit to a bank account or through a Direct Express debit card. Direct deposit is the standard method. Beneficiaries can set it up when applying for benefits online through a My Social Security account, by phone at 800-772-1213, or in person at a local Social Security office. To update banking information later, identity verification is required and can be completed in person, online or by phone using the Security Authentication PIN (SAP) feature.
The Direct Express debit card is an alternative for those who prefer not to use a traditional bank account. Benefits are deposited directly onto the card, which works like any standard debit card for purchases, bill payments and cash withdrawals. Sign up by calling 800-333-1795.
The SSA stopped mailing paper checks to most beneficiaries in 2013 to cut postal costs. Under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in March 2025, federal agencies are working to fully phase out paper payments. Beneficiaries can find more information on the U.S. Treasury Department’s GoDirect website or by calling the Electronic Payments Solutions Center at 800-333-1795.
The SSA can issue a waiver permitting paper payments in limited circumstances — for example, when a beneficiary lacks access to banking or internet services or has a severe impairment that makes managing electronic payments difficult. To request a waiver, call 855-290-1545 or submit a waiver form.
If a scheduled payment falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the SSA issues it on the last preceding business day — which accounts for several of the adjusted dates in July 2026.
If a payment doesn’t arrive on time, the SSA recommends checking with your bank or financial institution first, as posting delays can occur on that end. To report a late, missing or stolen payment, call Social Security’s national customer service line at 800-772-1213 or contact your local field office. Beneficiaries with a My Social Security account can also verify their payment date online from their account home page. Those without an online account can call the customer service line and say, “Check delivery,” when prompted.
