SSA Announces New September Payment Schedule for Social Security Benefits

Social Security payments are delivered monthly to millions of recipients throughout the United States, and another round of payments will be issued in September. However, the exact timing of these payments depends on the recipient’s date of birth and the type of benefit they get. The Social Security Administration (SSA) manages a variety of benefit programs, including retirement and disability benefits, which are among the most popular, each with its payment schedule.

Individuals who receive Social Security retirement benefits are paid mostly based on their date of birth, with an additional layer of complexity for those who began receiving benefits before May 1997, who follow a somewhat modified payment schedule. Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which offers financial support to the elderly, blind, and disabled with limited income and resources, usually pays out at the beginning of each month.

Social Security Retirement Benefit Payment Schedule

Social Security retirement benefit recipients get monthly payments arranged based on their birth date. The September payment dates are as follows:

• September 11: Anyone born between the first and tenth of any month will get their retirement benefit payment on this date.
• September 18: Recipients having birthdays falling between the 11th and 20th of any month will get their retirement benefit payment on September 18.
• September 25: People born between the 21st and 31st of any month can expect to get their retirement benefits on September 25.

Disability Benefits Payment Schedule

SSI disability payments are normally made on the first of the month unless that date falls on a weekend or holiday. But this will not be the case in September. Because September 1 is a Sunday, SSI payments that would normally be disbursed on that day will be made on August 31 instead.

• August 31: SSI payments, which are normally due on September 1, will be deposited on August 30 because the first of the month falls on a weekend.
• September 3; If a beneficiary receives both retirement and SSI benefits, the retirement payment will be made on September 3 to avoid overlapping payments.

When a payment does not arrive as scheduled, the SSA recommends waiting three business days before contacting them. This buffer allows for any possible delays in processing or banking transactions.

Future Expectations: Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)

Seniors may expect an increase in their Social Security payments due to the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). Mary Johnson, an independent Social Security and Medicare policy researcher, has stated that seniors could get a 2.6 percent rise in monthly payouts. This adjustment is calculated using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for July, August, and September. The official announcement for the raise will be made in October.

The COLA is a critical component of Social Security, meant to keep benefits consistent with inflation. By connecting these adjustments to the CPI-W, the SSA hopes to ensure that the buying power of Social Security benefits remains steady over time, reflecting changes in the cost of living for urban workers.