Social Security payment schedule for September: Here's when you'll get yours

Social Security payment schedule for September: Here's when you'll get yours As we are heading into the third week of September, millions of Americans are expecting to receive their Social Security payments this week. Millions of Social Security recipients are set to receive payouts of up to $5,181, scheduled to go out on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. The Social Security Administration (SSA) normally releases payments on the second, third, and fourth Wednesdays of the month, but with some exceptions. Let's find out when you will be getting your COLA increase for the month of September. When will Social Security payments arrive? The Social Security Administration has set out a criteria for the payments based on the recipient's birth date. Around 75 million Americans receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. To be qualified for Social Security post-retirement benefits, you must be at least 62 years old and have earned at least 40 credits, which is about 10 years of work while paying Social Security taxes. So, if your birthday falls between the first and 10th of the month, you are likely to get your Social Security payout on the second Wednesday of that month. And if you were born between the 11th and 20th, you'll get payments on the third Wednesday of the month, which is falling on September 16, 2026, as per the SSA calendar. While those born on the 21st to the 31st of the month will receive their checks on the fourth Wednesday of the month (September 22). The latest round of payments arriving just a few days after new inflation figures depicts a clearer scenario now of how much Social Security benefits could increase in 2027. The latest forecasts now place next year's cost-of-living adjustment known as COLA, at nearly 3.4 percent to 3.6 percent, which would come in higher than the 2.8 percent increase given to recipients in 2026.