When Americans sign up for Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits they should also sign up to receive their payments via direct deposit. This fast convenient way to receive payments ensures that recipients can have the payments the same day that their benefits supposed to be sent.
Beneficiaries who don’t have a bank account can receive help setting one up through the agency’s online tool my Social Security or the Treasury’s Go Direct website. Beneficiaries also have the option of receiving payments electronically on a Direct Express Debit Mastercard.
Also see:
- How to calculate your Social Security benefits
- A guide to Supplemental Security Income in 2022
- Will Social Security beneficiaries get a fourth stimulus check?
- The rules regarding Medicare enrollment
When are Social Security benefits paid each month?
The Social Security Administration spreads out payments for beneficiaries over four weeks each month depending on the type of payment, when a beneficiary began to claim their entitlement or the day of the month they were born.
Electronic payments should be in recipients bank accounts first thing in the morning on the day of their scheduled payment. For all recipients, the Social Security Administration cautions not to contact the agency immediately if a payment isn’t received but to allow three additional mailing days.
Additionally, it recommends contacting your financial institution first if a payment doesn’t arrive on the date it is due. If your bank isn’t experiencing a delay and you need to report your Social Security payment late, missing, or stolen, you can call the agency toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or contact your local Social Security office.
To learn more about Social Security Administration benefits, the agency provides a guidebook for Retirement or Survivors Benefits and for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Social Security Benefits payments schedule
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments go out the first of each month, or when that day is a holiday or a Sunday, the last workday of the prior month.
Social Security beneficiaries who started receiving their monthly Social Security payments prior to May 1997 can expect their entitlement the third of each month. Those who receive both SSI and Social Security also receive their payments on the third of each month. Likewise, if that day is a holiday or falls on a Sunday the payment will be moved forward to the previous business day.
For the rest of recipients, the Social Security Administration spreads them over the three following weeks based on their date of birth. Payments go out on Wednesdays each week for Social Security beneficiaries that signed up after May 1997.
The order is fairly logical, those who were born during the first ten days of a month receive their payments in the second week of each month. Birthdays that fall on the next ten calendar days of a month receive their payment in the third week. And the fourth week payments are made to all recipients with birthdays that fall within the final eleven days of a month.
Some recent news articles have caused confusion regarding Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for 2022. We’re here to clear things up! SSI benefits are paid of the 1st of the month. If the 1st falls on the weekend payments are issued the Friday before the 1st. Social Security payments, including Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), are paid based on an individual’s birthday as follows: For those who began receiving Social Security before May 1997, or who receive Social Security and SSI, Social Security is paid on the 3rd and SSI on the 1st. Again, if the 1st falls on the weekend payments are issued the Friday before the 1st.
Individuals should be reassured that Medicaid has specific regulations noting that if a deposit is made at the end of the month due to the 1st falling on a weekend, the deposit will be counted toward the next month’s resource limit. For example, May 1, 2022 falls on a Sunday. This means the SSI payment for the month of May will be deposited on Friday, April 29. This will not count as income or resource in April because the funds are meant for May.
Click here to view a calendar showing when individuals will receive Social Security and SSI payments in 2022.
If you have questions or concerns, please call us at 317-977-2375 or 800-382-9100 and ask to speak with a family advocate.