Has your Social Security payment been delayed? This may be the reason why and what you should do

If your Social Security benefits haven’t arrived as you expected them to, there are several reasons why this might be the case.

Who gets Social Security payments in the U.S.?

As of January 2025, there were around 73 million recipients of monthly Social Security benefits across the U.S., of which the vast majority - around 71% - were retired workers.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) also distributes payments to disabled workers and surviving family members of deceased workers. In addition, the SSA runs a program known as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is aimed at people who have little or no income and have a disability or are over 65.

So if you belong to one of the above groups but are experiencing a longer-than-anticipated wait for your next payment, why might that be?

Are you a recent Social Security applicant?

When your application to receive Social Security benefits is approved, notes CNET expert Blake Stimac, the SSA will normally get in touch with you to confirm the expected start date of your benefits. If you haven’t received that confirmation communication yet, you may need to hold on a little longer.

The SSA says recipients of retirement and survivor benefits typically get their first benefits check within two weeks of applying. According to statistics provided by the agency, this was the case of 80.7% claimants in February 2025.

However, the process of receiving your approval confirmation “can take up to 30 days”, Stimac warns. He also cites Reddit users who have reported waits of several weeks before their first payment arrived.

For Social Security disability benefits - a program officially known as Social Security Disability Insurance - the SSA warns that the wait for the first check is usually longer than retirement and survivor pay.

The agency says a Social Security application involving disability typically takes six to eight months.

Although AS was unable to find the latest information on SSI application times, this seemingly recent SSA fact sheet says claimants should expect a three-to-five-month wait. Last year, the senior-citizens body AARP reported that applications for both SSDI and SSI were taking about seven months.

You can monitor the progress of your application for Social Security benefits on the My Social Security platform, an online portal that also allows you to update your contact and banking information. You can also call the SSA’s toll-free phone line 1-800-772-1213, or go to your local Social Security office. You’ll find an office locator on the SSA website.

Per this update on the SSA website, SSI beneficiaries cannot use My Social Security to update their banking info.

Could you have got your dates mixed up? Double-check the payment calendar:

The SSA’s monthly payment schedule is a staggered system, whereby different recipients get their money on different dates. SSI beneficiaries are paid on the first of the month, unless it’s a weekend day or a holiday.

For recipients of retirement, SSDI and survivors’ pay who began getting their money before May 1997, the payment date is the third of the month, unless it isn’t a working day.

Most other Social Security beneficiaries are paid on one of three Wednesdays, depending on their date of birth:

You can take a look at the SSA’s full payment calendar for 2025 on the agency’s website.

Is there a problem with your bank?

If you think you are missing a Social Security payment, you should check with your bank before contacting the SSA, the agency advises. Your financial institution might be experiencing a delay.

Have your banking details changed?

According to the SSA, all payments must either be made by direct debit or onto a Direct Express debit card.

If your banking details change, it’s up to you to notify the SSA. You can update your information on the My Social Security platform, unless you’re an SSI recipient.

Is the SSA unable to locate you? Or are you now earning too much money?

As is noted by Donna Fuscaldo of the over-50s organization Kiplinger, your Social Security benefits may be put on hold if the SSA can’t locate you when it contacts you to confirm you remain eligible for your benefits.

This state of affairs, Fuscaldo notes, leads to what is called a “whereabouts unknown suspension”.

Stimac and Fuscaldo both add, meanwhile, that another reason why you might stop receiving benefits is if you have a job and begin to exceed the earnings limit. For example, retirement-pay recipients who continue to work can only receive a certain amount until they reach what the SSA refers to as “full retirement age”.

On the SSA website, there is a tool for calculating your annual earnings limit in such a scenario.

Could there be a delay at a Social Security office?

If none of the above are the reason for your missing Social Security payment, there’s also the outside possibility there’s been a hold-up at the SSA, which has complained about the impact of staff shortages due to budget limitations.

The former Social Security commissioner, Martin O’Malley, who headed up the SSA under President Biden, this week told HuffPost that the agency “has been operating at a 50-year low in staffing”.

To make matter worse, the SSA is now a target of spending cuts implemented by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is working to slash federal spending. According to a DOGE count, nearly 50 Social Security offices have so far been closed across the U.S. due to cost-cutting measures.

While missed payments caused by SSA glitches do not currently appear to be a common occurrence, O’Malley has warned that Musk and President Trump’s bid to reduce the Social Security’s already-stretched workforce may see that change. “I think for the first time in 90 years, we’re going to see an interruption of benefits,” he told HuffPost. “I hope that doesn’t happen, but I believe it will.”

How to report a missing Social Security payment

If you need to report a missing payment to the SSA, you can call the agency on the toll-free telephone number 1-800-772-1213, or go to a Social Security branch (as long as it hasn’t fallen victim to DOGE cuts).

Related stories

Social Security

Social Security sends $7.5 billion in retroactive payments

Social Security

How to get $5,000 Social Security windfall

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.