Social Security Payment Dates: September-October 2025 Schedule Released
Knowing your ss payment dates is essential for planning your monthly budget, especially with the recent 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment adding nearly $50 to the average monthly benefit of about $1,900. We’ve compiled the official Social Security payment schedule for September and October 2025 to help you prepare accordingly.
Social Security payments typically occur on the third of each month, as well as on the second, third, and fourth Wednesday of each month. Specifically, September 2025 ssa payment dates follow this pattern: September 3 for beneficiaries who started receiving benefits before May 1997, while those with birthdays between the 1st and 10th will receive payments on September 10, birthdays between the 11th and 20th on September 17, and birthdays between the 21st and 31st on September 24. Furthermore, if your payment date falls on a weekend or holiday, you’ll receive your payment early.
Importantly, all federal benefit payments are now issued electronically, making them faster, more secure, and more convenient than paper checks. In addition, it’s worth noting that payments are made in arrears, meaning you receive your benefit for a given month in the following month.
SSA releases September 2025 payment schedule
The Social Security Administration has officially released the payment schedule for September 2025. Recipients should mark their calendars based on their specific eligibility criteria.
The SSA’s September distribution begins with payments on Wednesday, September 3rd for individuals who started receiving Social Security benefits prior to May 1997. This date also applies to beneficiaries who receive both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income.
For those who began receiving benefits after May 1997, payment dates depend entirely on birth dates:
September 10th: Recipients born between the 1st and 10th of any month
September 17th: Recipients born between the 11th and 20th of any month
September 24th: Recipients born between the 21st and 31st of any month
Notably, Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries should be aware of a scheduling adjustment. Since September 1st falls on Labor Day this year, SSI payments for September were distributed early on August 29th. This means SSI recipients received two payments in August—their regular August payment plus the early September payment.
The SSA reminds beneficiaries that whenever the first of the month falls on a weekend or federal holiday, SSI payments are automatically issued on the preceding business day. Therefore, no separate SSI payment will be made during September itself, since it was already distributed at the end of August.
SSA confirms October 2025 payment dates
The Social Security Administration has issued the complete schedule for October 2025 payments, with some recipients set to receive multiple benefits that month.
For SSI beneficiaries, October brings a unique situation—two payments in one month. The first SSI payment arrives on October 1 for October benefits, while a second payment will be distributed on October 31 for November benefits, as November 1 falls on a weekend.
“When the first day of the month falls on the weekend or a federal holiday, you receive your SSI payment on the last business day before the first day of the month. That means you may get two SSI payments in the same month,” the SSA explained in a statement.
For standard Social Security benefits, the schedule follows the established pattern:
October 3: Recipients who began collecting before May 1997 or those receiving both Social Security and SSI
October 8: Beneficiaries with birthdays between the 1st and 10th
October 15: Those born between the 11th and 20th
October 22: Individuals with birthdays between the 21st and 31st
The SSA clarifies that receiving two SSI payments in October doesn’t mean you’re getting extra money—it’s simply the November payment being delivered early. Consequently, most federal SSI recipients will not receive a payment in November itself.
SSA explains what to do if payment is delayed
Despite careful planning around ss payment dates, sometimes payments may be delayed. The SSA provides clear guidelines for beneficiaries who haven’t received expected funds.
If your payment doesn’t arrive on schedule, first contact your bank or financial institution to verify if there’s simply a delay in posting the payment to your account. Many apparent “missing” payments are actually processing delays within the banking system.
Should your bank confirm no pending deposits, your next step is contacting the Social Security Administration directly. Call the toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit your local SSA office. Officials will review your case and replace the payment if it’s determined to be due.
Before calling, gather essential information including your claim number, the payment period in question, and the name/address that should appear on the payment. The SSA typically recommends waiting three mailing days past your expected ssa payment dates before reporting issues.
For Direct Express cardholders experiencing potential fraud, contact the customer service number located on the back of your card immediately. Reporting lost or stolen cards promptly limits your liability to $50, whereas waiting longer than two business days could increase potential losses to $500.