Waiting for your Social Security benefits can be nerve-wracking. However, the Social Security Administration follows a regular payment schedule so recipients can anticipate when they will receive their payments. Under this schedule, people get their funds on different days of the month, depending on their birth date and the type of assistance they receive.
The National Disability Alliance assists individuals who need help understanding their benefits and eligibility. We also help resolve payment issues and have compiled this guide to the Social Security payment schedule for 2025.
What Is the Social Security Payment Schedule for 2025?
There are different payment schedules for various types of benefits. These schedules depend on the source of the payments. Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, and retirement benefits are paid from separate Social Security trust funds financed by payroll taxes. Meanwhile, Supplemental Security Income benefits, or SSI, are paid from the U.S. Treasury’s general revenues, funded by sources like income taxes.
Under Social Security rules, if you receive only SSI payments, your payments arrive on the first of the month. However, the payment date for all other benefits depends on your birth date and when you began receiving benefits. If you received or applied for benefits before May 1, 1997, or collect both Supplemental Security Income and retirement or disability payments, you can expect to receive benefits on the third of each month.
If your payment date falls on a weekend or holiday, Social Security delivers payments on the preceding business day. For example, suppose you receive SSI benefits. Because November 1 is a Saturday in 2025, you can expect to receive your November benefit payment on Halloween—October 31.
If you only receive Social Security disability or retirement benefits and applied for them after May 1, 1997, you will receive your payment on one of three Wednesdays, depending on your birth date. Here’s how that schedule breaks down:
Birth Date | January | February | March | April |
1st–10th | January 8, 2025 | February 12, 2025 | March 12, 2025 | April 9, 2025 |
11th–20th | January 15, 2025 | February 19, 2025 | March 19, 2025 | April 16, 2025 |
21st–31st | January 22, 2025 | February 26, 2026 | March 26, 2025 | April 23, 2025 |
Birth Date | May | June | July | August |
1st–10th | May 14, 2025 | June 11, 2025 | July 9, 2025 | August 13, 2025 |
11th–20th | May 21, 2025 | June 18, 2025 | July 16, 2025 | August 20, 2025 |
21st–31st | May 28, 2025 | June 25, 2025 | July 23, 2025 | August 27, 2025 |
Birth Date | September | October | November | December |
1st–10th | September 10, 2025 | October 8, 2025 | November 12, 2025 | December 10, 2025 |
11th–20th | September 17, 2025 | October 15, 2025 | November 19, 2025 | December 17, 2025 |
21st–31st | September 24, 2025 | October 22, 2025 | November 26, 2025 | December 24, 2025 |
Payment Dates
Note that all disability benefits payment dates fall on a Wednesday. Thus, regardless of the month and year, here’s when you can expect to receive your benefit:
Birth Date | Payment Date |
1st through 10th of the month | Second Wednesday |
11th through 20th of the month | Third Wednesday |
21st through 31st of the month | Fourth Wednesday |
What Should You Do if Your Payment Is Late or Doesn't Arrive?
The SSA is an enormous bureaucracy, so delays occasionally happen. Don’t panic—you’re not alone. Chances are, many other people are also awaiting late payments.
If it’s late, your payment is likely already on its way. Therefore, patience is your best bet. Wait for three mailing days to see if the payment shows up before taking action. If you still haven’t received your payment after three mailing days, you can contact the SSA to report it as late.
You can reach the SSA via the following methods:
- By email: Submit an email request online to request a message from an SSA representative.
- By phone: Call the SSA’s customer service line at 800-722-1213 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. in your local time zone, Monday through Friday. The SSA states that wait times are typically shorter in the morning and later in the week or month. If you use teletypewriter technology, the number is 800-325-0778.
To speak to someone in person, use the SSA’s website to find an office near you. Enter your ZIP code into the office locator tool to find the address. A local phone number may not be available.
How Can You Check Your Social Security Benefit Status?
The most efficient way to check your benefit status is on the My Social Security portal on the SSA website. The portal makes it simple to do the following:
- Request a replacement card
- Upload documents and forms
- Download a 1099 tax form
- Print a benefits verification form
- Change your contact information
If you don’t currently receive benefits, you can still use the portal for the following:
- Learn if you might qualify for benefits
- Get benefits estimates for you or your spouse
- Check the status of your application
- Verify that you do not receive benefits
- Get a Social Security Statement with your updated earnings history and future benefit eligibility
However, the SSA is a complex bureaucracy. Contact us if you need help navigating the SSA system or understanding your benefits.
Get the Support You Need From National Disability Alliance
The SSA sends benefit payments once a month. If you applied for or began collecting benefits before May 1, 1997, you will receive payments on the first or third of the month, depending on the type of benefits you collect. If you applied after that point, you can expect to receive your disability or retirement benefit payments on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday, depending on your birth date. Meanwhile, SSI payments are made on the first of each month.
Getting the benefits you deserve can be challenging, but representation by a qualified advocate gives you the best chance of success. At National Disability Alliance, we have the knowledge and experience to guide you through the application process, handle denials, and represent you at hearings. We’re here to answer your questions about Social Security benefits.
To learn more about your payment dates, benefits eligibility, or SSA tools, call 833-693-4722 or contact us online.
