Why is there no Social Security payment on January 31?

Wednesday is an important day for the Social Security Administration (SSA) as it is when payments are usually delivered to those receiving Social Security benefits. This is the largest benefit program administered by the SSA, with over 66.9 million recipients. However, the last Wednesday of January is a little different because it is the fifth Wednesday of the month, and all payments have already been made in the previous weeks.

When does the Social Security Administration make payments?

The millions of people who receive benefits from the SSA have their payment dates scattered throughout the month, depending in their birthday and type of benefit.

Supplemental Secuirty Income benefit schedule

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits are paid on the first of every month. If the first falls on a weekend or holiday, the payment is made on the last working day before the weekend or holiday. For example, last New Year’s Day fell on a Sunday so the first COLA-adjusted payment was delivered on Friday, 29 December. This means SSI beneficiaries received two payments in December and none in January.

Social Security benefit schedule

Social Security benefits are distributed to eligible recipients on the first three Wednesdays of every month. The specific Wednesday on which a person receives their benefits depends on their date of birth. However, if someone has been receiving benefits since before May 1997, their benefits are always sent on the third of every month. Similarly, if the third falls on a weekend or holiday, the payments are paid on the previous working day.