Millions of Americans on hold to see their Social Security checks this week can exhale when they spot none arriving. Panic is unnecessary, however—an interruption such as this is only part of how the Social Security Administration (SSA) makes its year-long payment schedule work. As shown on the SSA’s 2025 payment schedule, May 5-10 is one of two weeks within the year with no standard payments set to disburse.
This is not due to a delay, error, or fiscal issue. Instead, it is an inbuilt anomaly of the revolving monthly payment schedule that the SSA possesses. The other week that this happens in 2025 is between August 4 and August 9.
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Who receives social security, and when
Social Security benefits help around 68.5 million Americans, according to 2024 SSA data, including survivors, retirees, disabled persons, and others who qualify. While most are used to noticing weekly benefit activity, it is important to remember that not every week witnesses a payment.
Here’s how the SSA schedules benefits:
- Recipients born between the 1st and 10th of any month get paid on the second Wednesday, this month, May 14.
- Those born from the 11th to the 20th receive checks on the third Wednesday, which is May 21.
- Recipients born after the 20th are paid on the fourth Wednesday, or May 28, in May 2025.
The people who began receiving benefits before May 1997 receive their payments on the 3rd of each month—this year, that date was May 3, which was last week.
Because of the staggered arrangement, May’s first full week has no pay dates.
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Why, it’s like a delay
Though this annual break is planned, it may catch some recipients off guard, especially those who live frugally on expected deposits. But fear not, the number of payments received annually remains the same. There is no reduction in total benefits; only the timing is changed.
The SSA notes that these temporary delays are routine and built into their formula for scheduling. Even though it might appear to be a delay, it’s just the manner the monthly cycle has been scheduled this year.
Next payments coming soon
The next round of payments will resume on
- May 14 for birthdays between the 1st and 10th,
- May 21 for those born from the 11th to the 20th, and
- May 28 for people born after the 20th.
Beneficiaries are also encouraged to check the SSA official payment schedule and wait three business days after the expected payment date before contacting the agency. Remember that weekends and public holidays are not business days.
Looking ahead
Social Security benefits checks are still a lifeline for many. An occasional calendar discrepancy may puzzle individuals, but it isn’t a signal of an issue. To receive the most recent information, recipients can look up SSA materials and stay apprised about when their next installment should be disbursed.
