Social Security Sets 3 Wednesday Paydays by Birthdate, With Pre-1997 Filers Paid on the 3rd
Updated
Updated · Money · Jul 4
Social Security Sets 3 Wednesday Paydays by Birthdate, With Pre-1997 Filers Paid on the 3rd
2 articles · Updated · Money · Jul 4
Summary
Social Security retirement checks usually arrive on the second, third or fourth Wednesday of each month, with the payment date tied to the beneficiary’s birthdate.
Birthdays from the 1st to 10th are paid on the second Wednesday, the 11th to 20th on the third Wednesday, and dates after the 20th on the fourth Wednesday.
May 1, 1997 marks the main cutoff: people who filed before then typically receive benefits on the 3rd of each month, while some later filers also follow that schedule if they get SSI, have state-paid Medicare premiums or live abroad.
SSI follows a separate timetable, usually paying on the 1st of the month and sometimes earlier when that date falls on a weekend or federal holiday.
3 extra mailing days are the SSA’s rule before beneficiaries report a missing payment after checking the agency’s official schedule.