The same schedule typically applies if you’re collecting Social Security retirement benefits or Social Security disability benefits. However, if you’re receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, you’ll be paid on the first of the month.

Social Security Payment Schedule for Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Benefits

If you receive retirement, survivors, and disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and filed for benefits on or after May 1, 1997, your payment schedule is most likely determined based on the date you were born. You can expect your Social Security payment to be sent or deposited on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of the month. Children or spouses who receive benefits based on someone else’s work record should receive their payments on the same day as that individual.

Who Is Paid Social Security on the Third of the Month?

Your Social Security benefits will be paid out on the third of the month if you fall into one of the following categories:

Your state is paying your Medicare premiums You started receiving benefits prior to May 1, 1997 You reside in another country You’re receiving both Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments

SSI Payment Schedule

If you’re receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits due to disability, blindness, or age, you’ll be paid on the first of the month instead of the third. SSI is needs-based. It’s not something you paid into over the course of your working career, like Social Security retirement or disability benefits or Medicare, so it’s possible to collect for these reasons without also receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits. SSI is intended to pay for basic food, shelter, and clothing needs. You can find calendars on the Social Security Administration’s website to pin down the exact dates in 2023, depending on your circumstances.

When Will You Receive Your First Social Security Payment?

Social Security retirement benefits, as well as disability and survivor benefits, are paid one month later, so for April you would receive your payment in May. The money would be directly deposited into your account on the date that is based on the day of your birth, as shown in the table above.

Direct Deposit or Direct Express for Social Security Payments

The Social Security Administration no longer mails paper checks, although the U.S. Department of the Treasury does occasionally make some isolated exceptions to this rule. Otherwise, there are two ways you can receive your benefits:

You can request direct deposit: Payments will be automatically posted into your bank account on your payment date.Your benefits will be paid to a Direct Express debit card if you don’t have a bank account or if you don’t sign up for direct deposit: Payments are automatically posted to your card account on your payment day. The card works anywhere that takes debit Mastercard, and you can use it to get cash at ATMs, cash back at the grocery store, or can set up automatic payment of your monthly bills.

What If the Payment Doesn’t Come?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) asks that you first contact your bank or financial institution if your direct deposit or debit card funds aren’t received on time. You should then call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or contact your local Social Security office. The SSA asks that you wait three days before reaching out, however.