Social Security is making payments on Wednesday, Aug. 20: find out who’s getting a check

Millions of Americans are set to receive a Social Security benefits payment this week.

On Wednesday, August 20, the U.S.’s Social Security Administration (SSA) is to issue the latest round of checks on its distribution schedule.

Who’s receiving a Social Security check on Aug. 20?

This Wednesday’s payments are to go out to certain recipients of retirement, disability (SSDI) or survivor benefits.

Of the just under 70 million people in the U.S. who receive retirement, SSDI or survivor benefits, most get their money on one of three Wednesdays each month, beginning on the second Wednesday.

A recipient’s designated Wednesday is determined by the date of birth of the worker whose Social Security taxes have accumulated the benefits entitlement.

For example, if you receive retirement pay based on your own work record, your birthday is used. If you claim retirement benefits based on a spouse or parent’s employment history, the spouse or parent’s date of birth is used.

On August 20, the SSA is to distribute payments to beneficiaries whose date of birth (or relevant family member’s date of birth) falls between the 11th and the 20th of each month.

Americans have faced a longer-than-normal wait for their Wednesday payment date this month. Because August began on a Friday, this pushed the second, third and fourth Wednesdays back to the second-latest point possible.

Who doesn’t get their benefits on a Wednesday?

• Certain long-term Social Security beneficiaries

If you began claiming retirement benefits, SSDI or survivor pay before May 1997, your check typically goes out on the third of each month, irrespective of your date of birth.

However, because August 3 was a Sunday, this payment date was brought forward to the nearest working day: Friday, August 1.

• SSI recipients

Recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - a separate SSA program for low-income individuals who are over 65 or have a disability - are paid on the first of each month (unless it’s a holiday or weekend day).

As a result, August’s SSI benefits were also scheduled to be sent out on Friday 1.

• Dual beneficiaries (SSI + regular Social Security)

Over 2.5 million people in the U.S. receive both SSI and one of the SSA’s retirement, SSDI or survivor benefits.

These recipients normally get the former on the first of each month and the latter on the third. But, as August 3 was a Sunday, they got both on the first.

You can check out the SSA’s full payment schedule for 2025 in this online calendar shared by the agency.

How much do Social Security retirement recipients get?

Retired workers - who account for the overwhelming majority of the U.S.’s Social Security beneficiaries - are paid an average of $2,006.69 per month, according to the SSA.

How much do other SSA beneficiaries get per month?

Disabled workers receive an average of $1,582.38 a month, while beneficiaries of survivor pay get an average of $1,574.28 a month. SSI recipients are paid a monthly average of $716.09.

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