SSA Payment Delayed in August — Here’s the New Scheduled Date

Every month, the Social Security Administration (SSA) sends out millions of payments to retirees, people with disabilities, and SSI beneficiaries. These payments don’t all arrive at once—they follow a specific schedule based on your birth date, the type of benefit you receive, and when you applied. If you’re wondering when your next payment is due, here’s a quick guide to everything you need to know for August.

Structure

The SSA provides support to about 70 million Americans. This includes retirees, people receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and those on disability benefits. Depending on which program you’re part of, your payment date may fall on a different day of the month.

For standard Social Security retirement or disability benefits, your birthdate determines your payment schedule:

Birth Date Range	Payment Date
1st – 10th of the month	2nd Wednesday
11th – 20th	3rd Wednesday
21st – 31st	4th Wednesday

However, not everyone follows this pattern. If you only receive SSI, your payment always arrives on the 1st of the month. If you get both SSI and Social Security (or claimed your benefits before May 1997), your payment comes on the 3rd of the month instead.

August

This month, August 6 falls on a Tuesday, meaning SSA payments will not start rolling out until the second Wednesday, which is August 13. If your birthday is between the 1st and the 10th, this is when you’ll receive your monthly benefit.

SSI recipients should have already received their August payment on August 1. There’s also something unusual happening this month—SSI-only beneficiaries will get a second payment on August 29. But don’t get too excited—this isn’t a bonus. It’s simply your September payment paid early because September 1 is Labor Day, a federal holiday.

Maximum

While most retirees receive an average monthly Social Security benefit of about $2,000, some beneficiaries qualify for the maximum payment of $5,108. To get this amount, a few specific conditions must be met:

• You must have worked for at least 35 years
• You must have earned the maximum taxable income each of those years
• You must have delayed claiming your benefits until age 70
• You must have earned at least 40 credits, the minimum needed to qualify for Social Security

Claiming your benefits early, like at 62, results in lower monthly payments. But if you wait until 70, the SSA rewards you with higher checks. Just keep in mind, there’s no added benefit in waiting beyond age 70.

Planning

If you’re still working or planning for retirement, there are strategies you can use to increase your future benefits. Things like working longer, boosting your income, and delaying your claim date can all result in a higher monthly payment down the line.

Knowing when your payment arrives and how much you might receive helps you better manage your budget and plan your financial future.

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