Millions of Social Security beneficiaries will receive a nice surprise this October. The normal payment that normally is received on November 1 has been advanced to October 31. This shift means recipients who are eligible receive two Social Security payments in October—the October payment and an advance payment for November.
Why the payment dates are changing
Social Security benefit payments are paid according to birth month. Those who have birthdays between the first and tenth of a month get paid the second Wednesday. Those with birthdays between the 11th and 20th are paid on the third Wednesday. Lastly, those born between the 21st and the 31st are paid on the fourth Wednesday. In October of 2025, these would be October 8, 15 and 22.
According to law, if the payment date of the deposit falls on a Saturday or federal holiday, then the Social Security Administration shifts the deposit to the previous working day. This year November 1 is a Saturday, so that payment which was originally scheduled for November 1 will actually come on the final working day of October—Friday, October 31. October will thus have:
- An October payment on October 8, 15 or 22 depending upon birth date
- A November advance payment on October 31 to all recipients
Who receives two payments
All Social Security retirees, disability beneficiaries and survivor beneficiaries who receive monthly Social Security payments qualify for the double deposit during October. They include:
- Retired workers and their dependents or spouses
- Disabled workers younger than 65 and their families
- Families of deceased workers who receive survivor benefits
Supplemental Security Income recipients are excluded, since SSI benefits have a different pay schedule.
How much money will be deposited
The amount of each payment doesn’t vary. Beneficiaries will receive their regular monthly benefit according to their Personal Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement (PEBES) or Social Security statement annually. For example, a beneficiary who is due for $1,800 a month will receive $1,800 on their October payment date and another $1,800 on October 31.
Two checks in the same month can help families meet end-of-year costs. Many elderly and disabled individuals have constant income and rising housing, utility, and medical care costs. A second deposit in October can cover holiday shopping costs, winter heating bills, or prescription costs. Financial planners generally advise beneficiaries to use the advance payment as a means of creating an emergency fund or for paying off high-cost debt.
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