Social Security payment dates in 2025 depend on your birth date, not when you file

Social Security sends payments on a fixed schedule each month based on the second digit of your Social Security number. If that digit is 0–2, you get paid the second Wednesday of the month. If it's 3–5, you get paid the third Wednesday. If it's 6–8, you get paid the fourth Wednesday. If it's 9, you get paid the first Wednesday of the following month. This schedule applies whether you receive retirement, survivor, or disability benefits.

The actual dollar amount you receive does not change based on the payment date — only when the money arrives in your bank account or on your payment card. If you receive a paper check instead of direct deposit, add 3 to 5 business days to the scheduled date for mail delivery.

In 2025, the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increased benefits by 2.67 percent compared to 2024. This increase was applied to all payments starting in January 2025. If you are newly approved for benefits in 2025, your first payment will arrive in the month after you are approved, following your assigned payment date.

Key Takeaways

  • Your payment date is determined by the second digit of your Social Security number and falls on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of each month, or the first Wednesday of the following month.
  • All Social Security beneficiaries received a 2.67 percent increase in their monthly payment amount starting in January 2025.
  • Direct deposit to a bank account is the fastest way to receive your payment; paper checks take an additional 3 to 5 business days.
  • If you are newly approved for benefits, your first payment arrives in the month after your approval date, on your assigned payment date.

2025 payment dates by birth date range

The Social Security Administration divides beneficiaries into four groups based on the second digit of their nine-digit Social Security number. Each group receives payments on a different Wednesday of the month. This system has been in place since 1997 and applies to all types of Social Security benefits — retirement, disability, survivor, and supplemental security income (SSI).

If the second digit of your Social Security number is 0, 1, or 2, you are in Group 1 and receive payment on the second Wednesday of each month. In 2025, those dates are January 8, February 12, March 12, April 9, May 14, June 11, July 9, August 13, September 10, October 8, November 12, and December 10.

If the second digit is 3, 4, or 5, you are in Group 2 and receive payment on the third Wednesday. In 2025, those dates are January 15, February 19, March 19, April 16, May 21, June 18, July 16, August 20, September 17, October 15, November 19, and December 17.

If the second digit is 6, 7, or 8, you are in Group 3 and receive payment on the fourth Wednesday. In 2025, those dates are January 22, February 26, March 26, April 23, May 28, June 25, July 23, August 27, September 24, October 22, November 26, and December 24.

If the second digit is 9, you are in Group 4 and receive payment on the first Wednesday of the following month. In 2025, those dates are February 5, March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4, July 2, August 6, September 3, October 1, November 5, December 3, and January 7, 2026.

How to find your payment date

Your Social Security number appears on your Social Security card, in your Social Security statement, and in any official correspondence from the Social Security Administration. Look at the nine-digit number and identify the second digit from the left. That single digit determines which payment group you belong to and therefore which Wednesday of the month you receive your payment.

You can also log into your personal account at ssa.gov using your username and password. Under "Benefit Verification," the system displays your current payment date and the amount you receive each month. If you do not have an online account, you can create one at ssa.gov/myaccount in about 10 minutes using your email address and a phone number.

If you receive benefits through a representative payee — someone authorized to manage your benefits on your behalf — the payment still arrives on your assigned date, but the money goes to the payee's account or address. The payee is responsible for using the funds for your care and support.

Direct deposit versus paper checks

Social Security strongly encourages direct deposit because it is faster, safer, and more reliable than paper checks. With direct deposit, the payment arrives in your bank account on your scheduled payment date. With a paper check, the check is mailed on your payment date, but you do not receive it for another 3 to 5 business days depending on mail service in your area.

To set up direct deposit, you need a bank account, credit union account, or prepaid debit card. You provide the Social Security Administration with your routing number and account number. You can set this up online at ssa.gov/myaccount, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office.

If you do not have a bank account, the Social Security Administration can deposit your payment onto a Direct Express card, which is a government-issued prepaid debit card. You can apply for a Direct Express card at directexpresscard.com or by calling 1-888-224-4829. There is no cost to open or maintain the card, and you can withdraw cash at ATMs or use it like a debit card at stores.

What happens if a payment date falls on a holiday

When your scheduled payment date falls on a federal holiday, Social Security advances the payment to the business day before the holiday. For example, if your payment date is Wednesday, January 1 (New Year's Day), you receive your payment on Tuesday, December 31 of the previous year. This ensures you have access to your money even when banks are closed.

The Social Security Administration publishes a holiday schedule each year. The federal holidays that affect payment dates are New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If you are unsure whether your upcoming payment date falls on a holiday, check the current year's schedule on ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213.

Changes to your payment amount in 2025

In October 2024, the Social Security Administration announced a 2.67 percent cost-of-living adjustment for 2025. This means every beneficiary's monthly payment increased by that percentage starting with the January 2025 payment. The increase was applied automatically — you did not need to do anything to receive it.

The exact dollar increase depends on your current benefit amount. Someone receiving $1,000 per month received an increase of about $26.70, bringing their new monthly amount to $1,026.70. Someone receiving $2,000 per month received an increase of about $53.40, bringing their new amount to $2,053.40. The increase is permanent and becomes your new baseline for future adjustments.

If you are newly approved for benefits in 2025, your payment is calculated based on your earnings record and the current benefit formula. You do not receive a retroactive adjustment for the 2025 COLA — your first payment reflects the current year's rates.

If your payment does not arrive on schedule

If your payment does not arrive on your scheduled date and you have direct deposit, check your bank account to confirm the deposit did not post. Banks sometimes process deposits a day early or late depending on their internal systems. If the payment is more than one business day late, contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office.

If you receive a paper check and it does not arrive within 5 business days of your payment date, contact Social Security to report it missing. The Administration can issue a replacement check or deposit the payment directly to your bank account. Bring your Social Security card and a photo ID to your local office, or call the national number to report the issue by phone.

If you suspect fraud or unauthorized access to your Social Security account, contact Social Security immediately and place a fraud alert with the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You can place a free fraud alert by calling any one of them, and they will notify the other two.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know which digit of my Social Security number determines my payment date?

Count from the left: the first digit is position 1, the second digit is position 2. That second digit (0 through 9) determines your payment group and therefore your payment date. For example, if your Social Security number is 123-45-6789, the second digit is 2, which puts you in Group 1 and means you are paid on the second Wednesday of each month.

Can I change my payment date if I do not like the one I was assigned?

No. Your payment date is fixed based on your Social Security number and cannot be changed. However, you can choose whether to receive your payment by direct deposit or paper check, and you can change that choice at any time by contacting Social Security.

What if I receive both Social Security and SSI (Supplemental Security Income)?

If you receive both benefits, they are paid on the same date. Your payment date is determined by the second digit of your Social Security number, and both benefits follow that schedule. The two payments may be combined into one deposit or kept separate depending on how your account is set up.

Do I get paid twice if I turn 62 in the middle of a month?

No. Your first payment arrives in the month after you are approved for benefits, on your assigned payment date. You do not receive a partial payment for the month you turned 62 or became disabled. Your first full monthly payment covers the entire month of benefits.

Will my payment date change if I move to a different state?

No. Your payment date is tied to your Social Security number, not your location. If you move, your payment continues to arrive on the same date. You should notify Social Security of your address change so they can update your records and ensure mail reaches you, but your payment schedule does not change.