If you receive Social Security benefits of any kind from the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA), whether they be Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), or other benefits (such as retirement or survivor benefits), knowing the SSA deposit dates for 2023 is key to your ability to set a monthly budget. The following guide will help—covering everything you need to know about the SSA check schedule for September of this year.
The SSA mails payments for retirement, disability, and survivor benefits according to the following schedule:
Payments are issued to recipients born between the 1st and the 10th of the month on the second Wednesday of the month. In regard to 2023’s September Social Security payments, September 13, 2023 is the second Wednesday. So, Social Security benefit recipients born between September 1st and September 10th will receive their checks on Wednesday, September 13th, 2023.
For recipients born between the 11th and 20th, payments will be issued on the third Wednesday of the month. This year, that specific date is September 20, 2023. So, Social Security benefit recipients born between September 11th and September 20th will receive their checks on Wednesday, September 20th, 2023.
The SSA issues payments to those born between the 21st and the 31st on the fourth Wednesday of the month, which is September 27 this year. So, Social Security benefit recipients born between September 21st and September 31st will receive their checks on Wednesday, September 27th, 2023.
(Important Note: If someone filed for benefits before May 1997, they will typically receive their benefits on the third Wednesday of the month (Wednesday, September 20th, 2023), regardless of their birthday.)
The schedule for receiving SSI checks is slightly different from the schedule outlined above. The SSA tends to issue SSI checks on the first of the month. Thus, SSI recipients will receive their checks on Friday, September 1, 2023.
The SSA also issues SSI checks on the last Friday of the month if the first of the upcoming month lands on a weekend. Because October 1st is a Sunday, the SSA will pay October SSI benefits on Friday, October 29th, 2023.
Understanding the SSA check schedule is key to responsible financial planning. As you learn about the SSA pay calendar, keep in mind that these benefits are meant to help you cover the cost of food, housing, and other such basic needs.
Plan your budget accordingly. You may also use a free Social Security benefit calculator to get a sense of how much money you might be eligible to receive every month.
Thanks to an 8.7% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), which accounts for inflation, Social Security recipients received higher payments in August of 2023 than they did in August of 2022. This adjustment ensures retirees, and other such individuals can still cover the costs of their basic needs without inflation preventing them from doing so.
Supplemental Security Income recipients may qualify for benefits if they:
Are disabled or elderly and can’t engage in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). In 2023, a person who isn’t blind may be found capable of engaging in SGA if they earn a minimum of $1,470 a month. If they are blind, the SGA rate is $2,460 a month.
Are a U.S. citizen or lawful alien.
Generally have limited income and resources.
Criteria to qualify for SSDI benefits include:
Having a condition that meets the SSA’s definition of a disability.
Having paid into Social Security and earned enough work credits due to having worked in the past.
Not being able to engage in SGA.
Being under 65 years of age, as SSDI benefits become retirement benefits once an individual turns 65.
A person might also qualify for retirement benefits if they have earned at least 40 work credits and have paid into Social Security. The age at which one may receive retirement benefits can vary depending on when they were born. Additionally, the spouses, children, surviving loved ones, and in some cases, parents of someone who paid into Social Security and was thus eligible to receive benefits, might also be eligible to receive benefits.
If you believe you may qualify for SSI or SSDI, check the SSA’s Blue Book to learn if your condition meets the SSA’s definition of a disability. Contact the SSA directly for more information about whether you qualify for other forms of benefits.
Although the SSA strives to adhere to a consistent payment schedule, sometimes, delays occur. Factors that can influence September 2023 Social Security payment dates include (but aren’t necessarily limited to):
The weather, as inclement weather can slow down the delivery of checks.
General postal service delays.
Weekends and holidays.
Changes to your address.
General delays at the SSA.
Changes to your bank account or other relevant financial information.
It’s worth noting that it’s becoming increasingly uncommon to receive a Social Security payment in the form of a physical check. Recipients can instead sign up for Social Security direct deposit.
Doing so may guard against delays. Additionally, recipients may accept payments via a Direct Express® card. This is essentially a debit card that allows an individual to accept, access, and use payment funds without necessarily having a bank account.
Familiarizing yourself with the Social Security payout chart and knowing when to expect Social Security payments in 2023 is critically important for a very basic and practical reason: knowing when you may receive funds allows you to budget more effectively. If you can plan your budget around the SSA’s 2023 payment dates, you’ll avoid unnecessary stress and be better able to pay your bills on time.
Social Security recipients may consider setting up a my Social Security account online. Through their accounts, recipients can set up and change direct deposit, change their addresses, and generally monitor payments to potentially receive them faster.
How you should respond if you haven’t received your SSDI or SSI check when you expected to can vary depending on how you receive your Social Security benefit payments. If you receive payments via direct deposit, contact the SSA right away if it appears a payment has not been processed.
If you receive payments via the mail, consider waiting one or two days before taking action. Any of the factors previously mentioned could have resulted in your check being delayed.
Hopefully, the information here will help you budget more effectively if you receive benefits from the SSA. Once again, it’s best to reach out to the SSA if you ever feel a payment has been missed. They can help you better understand when payments are made and what you can do to receive payments sooner than you otherwise might. Keep checking here to stay informed about future changes and updates as well.
You can contact the SSA by calling them toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or by contacting your local Social Security office to report a missing, late, or stolen Social Security payment.
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