Social Security payments are distributed monthly to millions of recipients across the United States, and another round of payments will be issued this September. However, the exact timing of these payments varies based on the recipient’s date of birth and the type of benefit they receive. The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers many types of benefit programs, including retirement and disability benefits, each with its specific payment schedule.

For individuals who receive Social Security retirement benefits, the timing of payments largely depends on their date of birth. An additional layer of complexity exists for those who began receiving benefits before May 1997, as they follow a slightly different schedule. Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which provides financial assistance to elderly, blind, and disabled individuals with limited income and resources, typically disburses payments at the beginning of each month.

Recipients of Social Security retirement benefits have their payments scheduled throughout the month, according to their birth date. For September, the payment dates are as follows: September 11 for those born between the 1st and 10th; September 18 for those with birthdays from the 11th to 20th; and September 25 for individuals born between the 21st and 31st. For those receiving disability benefits under SSI, payments are generally made on the first of the month unless that date falls on a weekend or holiday. However, this will not be the case in September.

Since September 1 is a Sunday, SSI payments that would typically be distributed on that date will be made on August 31 instead. Specifically, SSI payments, which would usually be due on September 1, will be deposited on August 31 due to the timing of the first of the month falling on a weekend. If a beneficiary is receiving both retirement and SSI benefits, their retirement payment will be made on September 3 to avoid overlapping payments.

In instances where a payment does not arrive as scheduled, the SSA advises waiting three business days before contacting them. This buffer allows time for any potential delays in processing or banking transactions. Looking ahead, seniors may anticipate an increase in their Social Security payments due to the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). Mary Johnson, an independent Social Security and Medicare policy analyst, recently shared her expectations that seniors could see a 2.6 percent increase in their monthly payments.

This adjustment is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the months of July, August, and September. The official announcement regarding the increase will be made in October. The COLA is an essential feature of Social Security, designed to keep benefits in line with inflation. By tying these adjustments to the CPI-W, the SSA aims to ensure that the purchasing power of Social Security payments remains stable over time, reflecting changes in the cost of living for urban workers.