Your benefit for January is deposited on or about February 1, and the December payment is always dated in early January for tax reasons. Supplemental payments (SBMA) arrive with the March, June, September and December benefits.
| Benefit month | Direct deposit | Check mailed |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Fri, Jan 30 | Wed, Jan 28 |
| February 2026 | Fri, Feb 27 | Wed, Feb 25 |
| March 2026 | Wed, Apr 1 | Mon, Mar 30 |
| April 2026 | Fri, May 1 | Tue, Apr 28 |
| May 2026 | Mon, Jun 1 | Thu, May 28 |
| June 2026 | Wed, Jul 1 | Mon, Jun 29 |
| July 2026 | Fri, Jul 31 | Wed, Jul 29 |
| August 2026 | Tue, Sep 1 | Fri, Aug 28 |
| September 2026 | Thu, Oct 1 | Mon, Sep 28 |
| October 2026 | Fri, Oct 30 | Wed, Oct 28 |
| November 2026 | Tue, Dec 1 | Wed, Nov 25 |
| December 2026 | Mon, Jan 4, 2027 | Tue, Dec 29 |
Questions
When does CalSTRS pay retirees?
CalSTRS pays at the start of each month for the month before.
Why did my payment not arrive on the date shown?
Direct deposits usually post on the date shown, but some banks release funds a day later. Paper checks are mailed before the payment date and can take several days to arrive. If a payment is more than five business days late, contact the plan.
Does the December payment count for this year or next?
CalSTRS pays the December benefit in early January, so it is reported as income on the next year's 1099-R.
Related
See the CalSTRS COLA page for when your check goes up, and the CalSTRS calculator to estimate the amount.