This month, millions of Americans who receive Social Security benefits will get new checks. Although checks are sent out monthly by the Social Security Administration (SSA), the mailing date is determined by your birthdate or the date you began receiving benefits.
In September 2025, Social Security benefits will be paid on September 3, 10, 17, or 24. However, because September 1 is Labour Day and federal payments are prohibited on holidays, SSI recipients have already received an early monthly payment on August 29.
The schedule for Social Security payments
The SSA pays out monthly benefits according to a set schedule.
Your payment is always made on the third of the month if you began receiving benefits prior to May 1997.
Your payment date is determined by your birthday if you applied on or after May 1, 1997:
- Birthdays 1–10: September 10 is the second Wednesday.
- Birthdays from September 11 to September 20: third Wednesday.
- Birthdays from September 21 to September 31: fourth Wednesday.
The first of every month is typically when people who receive SSI benefits—monthly payments for those who are elderly, blind, or disabled and have little to no income—get paid. The payment is made on the prior business day if the first falls on a weekend or holiday.
On September 3, who will get paid?
On September 3, 2025, everyone who began receiving Social Security benefits prior to May 1997 will receive their cheque.
This group consists of disabled individuals who have been receiving checks for years, widows and widowers, and retirees. Depending on their work history and retirement age, these recipients’ monthly Social Security benefits can reach a maximum of $5,108.
SSI checks first appeared when?
On August 29, 2025, recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) should have received their September cheque already.
Since September 1st is Labour Day and government payments are never made on federal holidays, this is an advance payment.
How to handle a missing payment
First, give your bank a call if your Social Security payment isn’t deposited into your account on the appointed day. The payment may have been received by your bank but not yet posted.
Contact your local Social Security office or the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778) if the payment has been lost, delayed, or not received.
For future timely payments, the SSA advises utilising direct deposit.
The significance of these payments
More than 70 million Americans, including disabled workers, surviving spouses and children, and retirees, rely on Social Security benefits. For many families, Social Security benefits are a lifeline, helping with housing, food, and medical expenses.
Benefit payments this month are particularly welcome because they help offset inflation-driven increases in expenses. The most recent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), which keeps Social Security benefits in line with growing expenses, is already included in current benefit payments.
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Important dates to note in September 2025
- Payment for Social Security recipients prior to May 1997 is due on September 3.
- Payment for birthdays ages 1–10 is due on September 10.
- Payment for birthdays ages 11 to 20 is due on September 17.
- Payment for birthdays on September 21–31.
- August 29: September SSI payment (already received).
