The Social Security Administration has confirmed that retirement and disability payments will go out on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. But not everyone will receive their money that day.
The SSA says the February 18 deposit is only for beneficiaries whose birthdays fall between the 11th and 20th of any month. This applies to people who started receiving benefits after May 1997.
If your birthday is outside that range, you will not be paid on February 18.
Millions of retirees and disabled workers are scheduled to receive benefits this month. The SSA follows a strict payment calendar based on birth dates. Many people do not realize their payment date depends on when they were born.
According to the SSA, beneficiaries are divided into four payment groups. The first group already received their money on February 3. That payment went to people who started benefits before May 1997, regardless of birthday.
The second group was paid on February 11. Those checks went to beneficiaries with birthdays between the 1st and 10th.
Wednesday’s payment is the third group. It covers birthdays from the 11th through the 20th. The SSA confirmed that deposits should appear by early morning on February 18.
The final group will be paid on February 25. That includes everyone with birthdays from the 21st through the 31st.
SSI recipients already got their February payment early. The SSA issued those checks on January 30 because February 1 fell on a Sunday.
All payments this month include the 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment for 2026, which took effect in January. The average retirement benefit is now around $2,074 per month. For disabled workers on SSDI, the average is about $1,633.
High earners who delayed benefits until age 70 can receive up to $5,108 per month under the new COLA.
The SSA warns that some people may not see their deposit right away. Banks can take extra time to process payments. If your money does not arrive on February 18, the agency says to wait three business days before calling.
Presidents’ Day was observed on February 16, but the SSA says that holiday should not affect the February 18 deposit schedule.
If you do not receive your payment by February 21, contact the Social Security Administration directly. You can call the national helpline or visit your local SSA office.
Beneficiaries can also check their payment status online using their My Social Security account. The SSA posts deposit dates and benefit amounts on the portal.
The agency reminds everyone to verify their birthday group before expecting a payment. Confusion over payment dates is one of the most common issues reported to SSA offices each month.