If you receive or expect to receive Social Security benefits, you may want to know when they are going to be paid every month. In this article, we explain how payment dates for Social Security benefits are set and list the payment dates for each month in 2023.

Key Takeaways

• The payment schedule for Social Security benefits depends on the type of benefit
• Retirement, disability, and survivors benefits are paid on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of each month depending on the beneficiary’s birthdate
• Supplemental security income benefits are paid on the first of each month

What Are Payment Dates for Social Security Benefits?

The payment schedule for Social Security benefits depends on the type of benefit. Retirement, disability, and survivor benefits are paid depending on the recipient’s birthdate. SSI (Supplemental Security Income) benefits are paid on a different schedule.

Payment Dates for Retirement and Disability Benefits

For beneficiaries who began receiving benefits after May 1997, Social Security retirement and disability (as well as survivors) benefits are distributed on one of three Wednesdays each month. The exact Wednesday depends on the recipient’s birth date. Specifically:

• Beneficiaries born between the 1st and 10th receive Social Security benefits on the second Wednesday of the month
• Beneficiaries born between the 11th and 20th receive Social Security benefits on the third Wednesday of the month
• Beneficiaries born between the 21st and 31st receive Social Security benefits on the fourth Wednesday of the month

If the Wednesday of regularly scheduled payment delivery falls on a Federal legal holiday, benefits will be paid on the first preceding day that is not a Federal legal holiday.

For beneficiaries who began receiving benefits prior to May 1997, benefits are paid on the third of the month regardless of birth date. 

Dependents who receive benefits based on somebody else’s work record will receive them on the same day as the worker.

Payment Dates for SSI Benefits

The payment schedule for Supplemental Security Income benefits is much simpler. SSI benefits are distributed on the first of each month. If the first falls on a weekend, the benefits are distributed on the Friday before the first. 

2023 Social Security Payment Dates

In order to view the official Social Security benefits payment dates for 2023, click here. 

At a glance, the payment dates are as follows: