Your Social Security retirement payments are paid out based on your birthday. Below is the monthly Social Security benefits payment schedule.
| Birthdate | Payment |
|---|---|
|
1st thru 10th |
Your benefits are paid on the second Wednesday of the month |
|
11th thru 20th |
Your benefits are paid on the third Wednesday of the month |
|
21st thru 31st |
Your benefits are paid on the fourth Wednesday of the month |
|
If you received benefits before May 1997, it will continue on the 3rd of the month |
|
What If My Payment Falls On A Holiday Or Weekend
If your regularly scheduled Social Security check is due on a weekend or holiday, you will receive it on the preceding business day.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Beneficiaries who usually receive their payments by check should wait three days after the due date before contacting the SSA. Those who receive direct deposits should report missing payments immediately.
- If you suspect misuse of your Social Security number, you should immediately take steps to reduce the impact.
Reporting A Missing Social Security Benefits Payment
If your benefits check ever goes missing, stolen, or lost, it can be replaced, but it could take a long time. Below is the process for each type of payment method:
If You Receive Payment By Mail
If you normally receive your check by mail, wait three days after the date you normally receive it before calling. To report a late, missing, or stolen check, contact the social security help center at 800-772-1213 (TTY 800-325-0778) between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. We strongly urge you to consider using direct deposit for future retirement benefit payments.
If You Receive Payment Through Direct Deposit
If you normally receive your check by direct deposit, report a non-receipt of payment immediately by calling 800-772-1213 (TTY 800-325-0778) between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
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Emergency Social Security Payments
If by chance you have not received your scheduled Social Security payment due to severe weather or other emergencies, then in most cases, you can go to any open Social Security office and request an immediate payment. To search for an open office near you, use our Social Security office locator.
How To Report Misuse Of Your Social Security Number
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, recommends that you take the following steps if you think someone is misusing your social security number:
Step 1: Fraud Alert
Place a fraud alert on your credit file by contacting one of the three companies:
Equifax 1-800-525-6285, Trans Union 1-800-680-7289, and Experian 1-888-397-3742. The credit agency you contact will then contact the other two, and the alert will be put on your credit report.
Step 2: Review Credit Report
Review your credit report for suspicious inquiries, accounts, or debts you cannot explain.
Step 3: Close Accounts
Close any accounts you know or believe have been hacked or opened fraudulently.
Step 4: File A Report
File a report with local police or police in the community where the identity theft occurred.
Step 5: File A Complaint
File a complaint with the FTC online or call them at 1-877-438-4338/TTY: 1-866-653-4261.
TIP
Missing a scheduled Social Security payment due to severe weather or other emergencies can be frustrating. You may be able to get your payment immediately by visiting a local Social Security office.
The Bottom Line
If you started receiving Social Security retirement benefits after May 1997, your birthdate will dictate which week in the month you will receive your check.
Occasionally, your Social Security payment may get lost or stolen, but don’t worry—you can take steps to get a replacement payment. You can visit your local Social Security office in an emergency to get a new check issued.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the type of benefit that you receive. If you receive Supplemental Security Income benefits, you will receive your payment on the first day of the month. If the first of the month falls on a holiday, you will receive your payment on the last Friday of the previous month.
For retirement and disability benefit recipients, your payment will be made according to when your birthday falls. The earliest you will receive your payment is the second Wednesday of the month, while the latest is the fourth Wednesday of the month.
Your Social Security check will arrive in your bank account when the payment is scheduled. This could change one day, but not in the foreseeable future. Since physical checks are no longer sent through the mail, you do not have to worry about transit time.
In the past, you may have waited a few days for your check to arrive in the mail.
However, your funds should be directly deposited into your bank account when the benefits payment is made. So, your funds will be available when the schedule shows the payment will be made. There is no longer waiting for the check to arrive in the mail.
Today, there are only two ways to receive your Social Security check. The option of mailing a physical check to your address is no longer available.
- The most common way to receive your check is via direct deposit. Your funds are deposited directly into your checking account on the payment date.
- The other option is loading the funds onto a Direct Express debit card. You can use this card to pay for items or withdraw cash, although some transactions might incur a usage fee.
- Most people choose the debit card option when they do not have a bank account that will support direct deposit or do not have a bank account at all.
You can find a Social Security Administration office near you by using our SSA office locator and searching for your closest location.
