How Are Payment Dates Chosen for SSDI and SSI?

The date you receive your disability payments each month depends on whether you are receiving SSI or SSDI.

SSI Disability Payments

Your SSI benefits are paid on the first day of each month. If the first is on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, your benefits will be paid on the banking day before. For example, if the first is a Sunday, you should receive your check the Friday before (assuming that Friday is not a legal holiday). Remember though, that if you are receiving your payments by mail, the mail is occasionally delayed and if that happens, your payments may not reach you on the first of the month. The SSA recommends calling them if you have not received your check by the fourth banking day of the month.

Keep in mind that if you applied for SSI on or after May 1, 2011, you must receive your payments by direct deposit (or another form of electronic payment). If you applied for SSI before May 1, 2011, and have not signed up to receive payments electronically, you must sign up for electronic payments by March 1, 2013. You can sign up to receive your payments through direct deposit, the Direct Express® card program, or through an Electronic Transfer Account. The SSA can help you decide which option is best for you.

SSDI Disability Payments

If you started receiving SSDI benefits after 1997, the date you receive your check depends on your birthday.

• If your birthday is on the 1st – 10th of a month, your SSDI checks will arrive on the second Wednesday of every month.
• If your birthday is on the 11th – 20th of a month, your SSDI checks will arrive on the third Wednesday of every month.
•  If your birthday is on the 21st – 31st of a month, your SSDI checks will arrive on the fourth Wednesday of every month.

Keep in mind that if you applied for SSDI on or after May 1, 2011, you must receive your payments by direct deposit, or another form of electronic payment. If you applied for SSDI before May 1, 2011, and didn't sign up to receive payments electronically, you must sign up for electronic payments by March 1, 2013. You can sign up to receive your payments through direct deposit, the Direct Express® card program, or through an Electronic Transfer Account. The SSA can help you decide which option is best for you.

If you started receiving benefits before 1997, you will receive you checks on the third day of the month, no matter when your birthday is. If the third is on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, your benefits will be paid on the banking day before. In some circumstance, if you are still receiving SSDI benefits on the third of the month, you can change your payment date. However, you cannot choose any day of the month you want for your new payment date. Your birth date will determine what day your benefits will arrive, based on the same list above.

SSI and SSDI Combined

If you receive SSI and SSDI payments together in one payment, your payment date will the on the third day of the month (with the exception of weekends and legal holidays). If you would like to change the payment date, you may be able to change it to one based on your birthday (see SSDI, above).

Learn more about your monthly disability payments.