Social Security is issuing payments today, Wednesday, Oct. 15: here’s who will receive a check.

Millions of Social Security recipients will continue to receive their monthly benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced today that it will maintain regular payment schedules despite the ongoing government shutdown.

SSA confirms payment dates remain unchanged

In a statement dated October 1, the SSA emphasized that the payment dates will not change.

The announcement came after Congress failed to pass a new funding bill before the midnight deadline on September 30.

For the past 14 days, lawmakers have been unable to reach an agreement over a spending package, caught in a divisive debate over health care funding between Republicans and Democrats.

As the shutdown extends into its third week, thousands of federal employees are furloughed, which includes around 6,000 SSA staff, according to the agency’s contingency plans.

Who is getting Social Security payments today, October 15?

Payments are being issued to specific groups, including retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and survivor benefits.

Out of over 70 million U.S. recipients of these benefits, most receive payments on three specific Wednesdays each month, starting from the second Wednesday.

The payment schedule is aligned with the date of birth of the workers, which determines when recipients can expect their checks based on their birth month.

For instance, if you claim retirement benefits based on your work, your own birth date matters. Conversely, if your benefits come from a spouse or parent’s work, it’s their birth date that counts.

Today, October 15, the SSA will issue benefits to those whose birth dates match within the 11th to 20th range.

Who gets checks on the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Wednesday of the month?

• Some long-term social security recipients

If you started to claim your retirement, SSDI, or survivor benefits before May 1997, your checks generally do not come on the 3rd of each month, regardless of your birth date.

These longstanding beneficiaries were scheduled to be paid on Friday, October 3.

Recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which serves low-income individuals over 65 or with disabilities, typically receive their payments on the 1st of every month.

This month’s SSI payments were issued on Wednesday, October 1st.

• Dual beneficiaries (SSI + regular Social Security)

More than 2.5 million Americans receive benefits from both SSI and regular SSA retirement, SSDI, or survivor benefits.

They were normally scheduled to see their SSI payment on October 1st and SSA payment on October 3rd.

You can check the Complete SSA Payment Schedule for 2025 on the official online calendar.

How much do retirees receive per month?

The majority of U.S. Social Security recipients are retired workers who receive an average of $2,008.31, according to SSA data.

How much do other SSA beneficiaries receive monthly?

Workers with disabilities get an average of $1,582.95 per month, while those receiving survivor benefits average about $1,575.30. SSI beneficiaries typically receive around $717.84 monthly.

How are Social Security payments disbursed?

Over 99% of payments are now made electronically, as the SSA aims to go completely paperless. As of September 30, the agency indicated that “in most cases,” the option for mailed paper checks is being phased out.

Beneficiaries have two primary methods for receiving electronic payments:

They can provide bank details for direct deposit through the SSA’s online portal, My Social Security.

Alternatively, recipients may opt to receive their benefits via a Direct Express card, a debit card for federal payments aimed at those who don’t have bank accounts.