How the 2025 Social Security payment schedule works
Social Security payments in 2025 arrive on a fixed schedule based on your birth date, not on when you file or how much you receive. The Social Security Administration sends payments on the second, third, and fourth Wednesday of each month. Which Wednesday you receive your payment depends on when you were born — this is set by the SSA and does not change year to year.
If your birth date falls between the 1st and 10th of any month, you receive payment on the second Wednesday. Birth dates between the 11th and 20th arrive on the third Wednesday. Birth dates from the 21st through the end of the month arrive on the fourth Wednesday. If a Wednesday falls on a federal holiday, the SSA sends the payment the day before.
The payment schedule applies whether you receive Social Security retirement, survivor benefits, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Direct deposit is the only way the SSA sends payments now — they stopped mailing checks in 2013. Your payment goes to the bank account you registered with the SSA, and it typically appears the same day it is sent.
Key Takeaways
- Social Security payments arrive on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of each month, determined by your birth date.
- Birth dates 1–10 arrive on the second Wednesday; 11–20 on the third Wednesday; 21–31 on the fourth Wednesday.
- If a Wednesday is a federal holiday, the SSA sends your payment the day before.
- All payments go by direct deposit to a bank account you have registered with the SSA.
- The 2025 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increased payments by 2.5 percent compared to 2024.
The 2025 payment calendar by birth date
Below is the full 2025 schedule showing which Wednesday each birth-date group receives their payment. Mark your calendar with your payment date so you know when to expect the deposit.
| Birth Date Range | Payment Wednesday | 2025 Payment Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 1st–10th of any month | Second Wednesday | January 8, February 12, March 12, April 9, May 14, June 11, July 9, August 13, September 10, October 8, November 12, December 10 |
| 11th–20th of any month | Third Wednesday | January 15, February 19, March 19, April 16, May 21, June 18, July 16, August 20, September 17, October 15, November 19, December 17 |
| 21st–31st of any month | Fourth Wednesday | January 22, February 26, March 26, April 23, May 28, June 25, July 23, August 27, September 24, October 22, November 26, December 24 |
Federal holidays that fall on a Wednesday in 2025 are New Year's Day (January 1, but this is a Wednesday in 2025 so payments for that week move to Tuesday, December 31, 2024), Presidents' Day (February 17), Memorial Day (May 28), Independence Day (July 4, a Friday, so no shift), Labor Day (September 1, a Monday, so no shift), Thanksgiving (November 27, a Thursday, so no shift), and Christmas (December 25, a Thursday, so no shift). When a holiday falls on the Wednesday you normally receive payment, the SSA sends it the business day before.
What changed in 2025: the cost-of-living adjustment
The 2025 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increased all Social Security payments by 2.5 percent. This means if you received $1,000 per month in December 2024, your January 2025 payment would be $1,025. The COLA is calculated by the SSA each year based on inflation data and is the same percentage for all recipients.
The SSA announced the 2025 COLA in October 2024, so you knew the increase before payments began. If you did not see the increase in your January payment, contact the SSA to confirm your account was updated correctly. The COLA does not require you to do anything — it is automatic.
How to confirm your payment date
The easiest way to find your exact payment date is to log into your Social Security account at ssa.gov. Click "Sign in" and use your username and password, or create an account if you do not have one. Once logged in, go to "Benefit Verification" and look for the line that says "Payment Date." This shows the Wednesday you receive your payment each month.
You can also call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask a representative to confirm your payment date. Have your Social Security number ready. The phone line is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time.
If you receive SSI (Supplemental Security Income) instead of retirement or survivor benefits, your payment date may be the 1st of each month rather than a Wednesday. Check your account or call the SSA to confirm which schedule you are on.
What to do if your payment is late or missing
If your payment does not arrive by the end of the business day on your scheduled payment date, first check your bank account to make sure the deposit has not already posted. Bank processing times vary, and some deposits take until the next business day to appear, even though the SSA sent it on time.
If a full business day has passed and the payment is still missing, log into your Social Security account and check the "Payment History" section. This shows whether the SSA sent the payment and on what date. If the SSA shows the payment was sent but your bank did not receive it, contact your bank's customer service line and ask them to trace the deposit. Provide them with the date the SSA sent it and the amount.
If the SSA's records show no payment was sent, or if you cannot access your account, call 1-800-772-1213 and speak to a representative. They can look up your account, confirm whether a payment was issued, and help you file a claim if the payment is truly missing. Missing payments are rare, but the SSA can reissue one if they confirm it was sent but never arrived.
Direct deposit and changing your bank account
Social Security payments only go to a bank account by direct deposit. If you do not have a bank account, you can open one at most banks or credit unions with a government-issued ID and proof of address. Some banks offer accounts specifically for people receiving government benefits and charge no monthly fee.
If you need to change the bank account where your payments go, log into your Social Security account and update your direct deposit information under "Payment Information." The change usually takes effect within one or two payment cycles. You can also call 1-800-772-1213 and ask a representative to update your account over the phone.
If your bank account is closed or compromised, contact the SSA right away. They can temporarily hold your payment while you provide a new account number, or they can issue a replacement payment once you confirm the old account is no longer valid.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I was born on the 20th — do I get paid on the third or fourth Wednesday?
If you were born on the 20th, you receive payment on the third Wednesday. The SSA groups birth dates 11–20 together on the third Wednesday, and 21–31 on the fourth Wednesday.
Can I change which Wednesday I get paid?
No. Your payment date is fixed based on your birth date and does not change. The SSA uses this system to spread payments across the month so banks and post offices are not overwhelmed on a single day.
What happens if I miss a payment because I was not expecting it?
Social Security payments go directly to your bank account, so you do not have to do anything to receive them. If you did not expect a payment, check your Social Security account or call 1-800-772-1213 to confirm the amount and reason. Unexpected payments are usually a COLA increase or a correction to a prior month's amount.
Do I get paid on the 1st of the month like I used to?
No. The SSA stopped paying on the 1st of the month in 2015. Now all payments arrive on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday based on your birth date. If you were receiving payments on the 1st before 2015, your payment date changed to a Wednesday at that time.
Can I receive my payment by check instead of direct deposit?
No. The SSA ended check payments in 2013 and now requires all recipients to use direct deposit. If you do not have a bank account, you can open one at a bank or credit union, or ask the SSA about a Direct Express card, which is a prepaid debit card that receives your payment.