Millions of Americans who depend on Social Security benefits are seeing new payments this month. The Social Security Administration sends out checks monthly, but it depends on your birthday or when you first began receiving benefits as to when you’ll get yours.
September 2025 payments are on September 3, 10, 17, and 24. Since September 1 was Labor Day, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients were paid a day early—on August 29.
Let us summarize the whole schedule and everyone who receives payment and when.
The Social Security payment schedule
The SSA has a strict calendar for mailing benefits. Here’s how they do it:
If you started getting benefits before May 1997, you are paid on the third day of every month.
If you started getting benefits after May 1, 1997, your payment date depends on your birthday:
- Birthdays 1st–10th: paid September 10.
- Birthdays 11th–20th: paid September 17.
- Birthdays 21st–31st: paid September 24.
For individuals who get SSI, the check typically comes out on the first of the month. If the first of the month is a Saturday or a holiday, the check comes out before that. That is why the September SSI payment was mailed out on August 29.
Who got paid on September 3?
All individuals who started getting benefits before May 1997 got their check on September 3, 2025.
These recipients are long-term retirees, widows and widowers, and the disabled who have been receiving payments for many years.
Their maximum payment is $5,108 per month, depending on their work history and retirement age.
What about SSI payments?
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries who help older individuals, the blind, and individuals with very low income, saw their September payment disbursed on August 29.
The advance payment was made because September 1 was a holiday, Labor Day, and federal agencies never send payments on holidays.
What to do if your payment is lost
Sometimes payments are delayed or fail to come on time. If your check hasn’t reached you:
- Call your bank first – sometimes the money has been received but not yet posted.
- If the payment is still absent, call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778) or visit your local office.
- To prevent future delays, the SSA encourages using direct deposit. That way, your benefits are deposited directly into your bank account on the proper date.
Why these payments matter
More than 70 million Americans rely on Social Security monthly. They include retirees, disabled people, surviving spouses, and children.
For most families, these checks cover essential items like housing, food, and healthcare costs. Without them, millions of families would not be able to survive.
This month’s payments are significant as well because daily costs—groceries and utilities—continue to be higher due to inflation. The good news is that the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) has been factored into payments paid now, which keeps the benefits at parity with price increases.
Key dates to keep in mind for September 2025
Here is a quick summary of payment send dates this month:
- August 29 – SSI payment (otherwise mailed the next business day after Labor Day).
- September 3 – Payment for people who began benefits before May 1997.
- September 10 – Payment for people with birthdays on the 1st–10th.
- September 17 – Payment for people with birthdays on the 11th–20th.
- September 24 – Payment for people with birthdays on the 21st–31st.
Final thoughts
September is a big month for Social Security beneficiaries, with millions of Americans set to receive checks worth up to $5,108. For many families, these payments are not just money—they are peace of mind.
If you’re waiting for your payment, keep an eye on the schedule and remember that direct deposit is the safest way to ensure your benefits arrive on time.
Read this later
Bad news for retirees: despite COLAs buying power is falling
Three ways you can lose social security benefits: how to maximise your income
What services are available online for employers to deal with Social Security?
“You Earn It, You Keep it”: proposed bill would eliminate tax entirely on social security
