Social Security is to send out payments today, Wednesday, Sep. 17: find out who is receiving a check

Many Social Security recipients in the United States are poised to get a benefits payment.

Today - Wednesday, September 17 - the Social Security Administration (SSA) is to issue the next batch of checks on its distribution schedule.

Who’s getting a Social Security check today, Sep. 17?

Today’s payment run benefits certain recipients of retirement, disability (SSDI) or survivor pay.

Of the 70 million Americans who receive retirement, SSDI or survivor benefits from the SSA, most get their money on one of three Wednesdays each month, beginning on the second Wednesday.

A recipient’s designated Wednesday is decided 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.

Today, 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.

Who isn’t paid on the second, third or fourth 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, regardless of your date of birth.

These long-term beneficiaries were therefore scheduled to be paid on Wednesday two weeks ago.

• SSI beneficiaries

Recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - a separate SSA program for low-income individuals who are over 65 or have a disability - are normally paid on the first of each month.

However, as September began on a federal holiday, this month’s SSI payment date was brought forward to the nearest working day, which was Friday, August 29.

• Dual beneficiaries (SSI + regular Social Security)

Just 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 September 1 was a holiday, they got their SSI money on August 29.

You can take a look at the SSA’s full payment schedule for 2025 in this online calendar.

How much money do Social Security retirement beneficiaries get?

Retired workers - who make up the vast majority of the U.S.’s Social Security beneficiaries - are paid an average of $2,008.31 per month, per the SSA.

How much do other beneficiaries receive each month?

Disabled workers get an average of $1,582.95 a month, while recipients of survivor benefits are paid a monthly average of $1,575.30. SSI beneficiaries receive an average of $717.84 a month.

How does the SSA send out Social Security payments?

Most Social Security checks are now distributed using electronic payment systems. Indeed, the SSA says less than 1% of recipients continue to receive paper checks, as the agency seeks to go fully paperless.

The SSA offers its recipients two forms of electronic payment:

• Direct deposit

Beneficiaries can receive their money by direct deposit, by providing the agency with their bank details. You can supply this information on the “my Social Security” online portal.

• Debit Express Card

Alternatively, recipients can have their benefits paid onto the Direct Express Card, a special debit card that allows federal payments to be made to people who do not have a bank account.

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