Social Security beneficiaries may notice that their payments are arriving a bit later this month, a quirk of the payment calendar associated with the program.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) sets payment dates based on the beneficiaries’ birth dates. If you were born between the 1st and the 10th, expect your payment on the second Wednesday of the month. Those with birthdays from the 11th to the 20th will see their checks drop on the third Wednesday, while anyone born after the 20th will receive their funds on the fourth Wednesday.
In May, payments for the second Wednesday were delayed until May 14th, marking the latest date for any initial payment that month for the entirety of 2025.
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There are a few other months throughout the year where the payments are later than usual. Specifically, this will also occur on February 12th, as well as the 12th and 13th of November.
For those who’ve been receiving benefits since May 1997 or who get both Social Security and Supplementary Security Income (SSI), the payment timing will differ. Social Security is typically paid in the first month, while SSIs will arrive later on the designated day.
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It’s important for beneficiaries to report any deferred payments to the SSA, especially if there’s a delay longer than three days. However, it’s good practice to first check with your bank to see if there’s an issue on their end.
This month, some recipients who also get SSI will receive payments twice. The first for May was issued on the 1st, but those eligible for June payments will see their checks distributed over the weekend.
The SSA advises that if you haven’t received your electronic payment on schedule, your first step should be contacting your bank. In cases of delays beyond three days, beneficiaries are instructed to reach out to the SSA to report the issue.
Interestingly, around 99% of Social Security recipients receive their payments electronically.
