If you’re a Social Security retiree born between the 1st and the 20th of the month, your August benefit has already been issued, meaning your next payment won’t arrive until September.
This schedule follows the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) official payment calendar, which distributes checks based on birth dates. Understanding this system is critical for retirees who rely on benefits as their main source of income.
How the Social Security Schedule Works
Social Security benefits are deposited on one of three Wednesdays each month, depending on when your birthday falls:
| Birthday Range | Payment Date Each Month |
|---|---|
| 1st – 10th | Second Wednesday |
| 11th – 20th | Third Wednesday |
| 21st – 31st | Fourth Wednesday |
August 2025 Payment Dates
- August 13: Retirees born from the 1st to the 10th
- August 20: Retirees born from the 11th to the 20th
- August 27: Retirees born from the 21st to the 31st
This means retirees with birthdays from the 1st through the 20th have already received their benefits in August. Their next scheduled payment will not come until their September payment date.
SSI Recipients Have a Different Calendar
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients follow a separate schedule:
- Payments are normally issued on the 1st of every month.
- For September 2025, since the 1st falls on a federal holiday, payments were advanced to August 29.
- This resulted in two SSI payments in August (August 1 and August 29) and no SSI payment in September.
Upcoming Payment Schedule
Here is the schedule moving forward into September and beyond:
| Month | Birthdays 1–10 | Birthdays 11–20 | Birthdays 21–31 |
|---|---|---|---|
| September | September 10 | September 17 | September 24 |
| October | October 8 | October 15 | October 22 |
| November | November 12 | November 19 | November 26 |
| December | December 10 | December 17 | December 24 |
Why Some Retirees Face a “Gap”
For retirees born between the 1st and 20th, the gap between payments can feel like a delay. After receiving their August checks on the 13th or 20th, the next deposit won’t arrive until September, creating a stretch of more than four weeks. While not technically a missed payment, it can cause budgeting challenges for those with fixed expenses.
What to Do If a Payment Is Missing
If your scheduled deposit does not arrive:
- Wait three business days past the due date before reporting it missing.
- Check with your bank to confirm whether the deposit is pending or delayed.
- Contact the SSA through:
- Phone: 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778)
- Your my Social Security online account
- A local SSA office
These steps will help confirm whether your payment has been processed or if a trace is required.
Retirees born between the 1st and 20th will not receive another Social Security check in August. Their next payment will arrive on the appropriate September date, based on their birthday.
By keeping track of the official schedule, retirees can better plan their budgets and avoid unnecessary worry when payments don’t align with expectations. SSI recipients should also note the advance September payment issued in late August.
FAQs
Why won’t retirees born between the 1st and 20th get another payment in August?
Because their scheduled August payments were already issued on the 13th and 20th. The next payment comes in September.
What happens if my Social Security payment doesn’t arrive on time?
Wait three business days, check with your bank, and if still missing, contact SSA by phone, online, or in person.
Why did SSI recipients get two payments in August 2025?
Because September 1 is a federal holiday, SSI recipients received their September payment early on August 29, resulting in two payments that month.