Social Security Payments in September: When to Expect Your Check
Tens of millions of Americans rely on Social Security payments every month, and September is no different. However, the exact date your benefits arrive depends on your date of birth, the type of benefit you receive, and when you began claiming. While the majority of retirement benefit recipients receive their payments throughout the month, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, which are designed to help elderly, blind, and disabled individuals with limited income and assets, are usually distributed at the beginning of each month. Here’s a breakdown of when to expect your September payments:
Key Takeaways:
- Retirement benefit payments will be dispersed throughout September.
- SSI payments will be paid earlier than usual in September due to the Labor Day holiday.
- A cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is expected to increase Social Security benefits by around 2.6%, a decision that will be finalized in October.
Retirement Benefits: A Month-Long Distribution
For those receiving solely Social Security retirement benefits, payments will be made on the following dates:
August 30th
Due to the Labor Day holiday, those claiming retirement benefits since before May 1997 will receive their payments two days earlier than usual.
"We do this to avoid putting you at a financial disadvantage and make sure that you don’t have to wait beyond the first of the month to get your payment," the Social Security Administration (SSA) explained in a 2022 blog post. "It does not mean that you are receiving a duplicate payment in the previous month, so you do not need to contact us to report the second payment."
September 11th
If your birthday falls between the 1st and 10th of any month, your payment will arrive on September 11th.
September 18th
Claimants with a birthday between the 11th and 20th of any month receive their payment on September 18th.
September 25th
Those born between the 21st and 31st of any month will receive their benefits on September 25th.
Disability Benefits: A Shift in Schedule
While SSI payments, along with retirement benefits issued before May 1997, are generally paid on the first day of the month, this schedule will be altered in September.
August 30th
SSI payments traditionally made on September 1st will be paid on August 30th due to Labor Day.
September 3rd
If you’re receiving both retirement benefits and SSI, your retirement payment will be issued on September 3rd.
The SSA advises waiting three business days before contacting them if a payment is delayed.
The Outlook for 2025: Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)
Mary Johnson, a renowned independent analyst specializing in Social Security and Medicare policies, recently stated to Newsweek that seniors can anticipate a 2.6% increase in their monthly benefits due to the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA).
The COLA is calculated 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 COLA amount will be announced by the SSA in October.
