How Are Payment Dates Chosen for SSDI and SSI?

Are you wondering when you'll receive your Social Security check each month? The date you receive your monthly disability payments depends on whether you're receiving SSI or SSDI, or a combination of the two. If you're receiving SSDI alone, your payment date depends on your birthday. If you get SSI, your payment date is around the beginning of the month.

SSDI Disability Payment Dates Depend on Your Birthday

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

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

If you receive benefits based on your spouse's work record or a parent's word record, the payment date is based on your spouse's or parent's birth date.

Keep in mind that Social Security now wants all SSDI recipients to sign up to receive their payments through direct deposit, the Direct Express® card program, or through an Electronic Transfer Account.

SSDI Payment Schedule for 2023

You can click the calendar or see the lists below for the specific payment dates for 2023.

Here's the SSDI payment schedule for 2023 for those whose birthdays fall on the 1st through the 10th of their birth month:

• January 11
• February 8
• March 8
• April 12
• May 10
• June 14
• July 12
• August 9
• September 13
• October 11
• November 8
• December 13

This is the SSDI payment schedule for 2023 for those whose birthdays fall on the 11th through the 20th of their birth month:

• January 18
• February 15
• March 15
• April 19
• May 17
• June 21
• July 19
• August 16
• September 20
• October 18
• November 15
• December 20

This is the SSDI payment schedule for 2023 for those whose birthdays fall on the 21st through the 31st of their birth month:

• January 25
• February 22
• March 22
• April 26
• May 24
• June 28
• July 26
• August 23
• September 27
• October 25
• November 22
• December 27

Source: Social Security Publication No. 05-10031.

Who Receives Social Security Payments on the 3rd of the Month?

If you started receiving SSDI benefits in 1997 or earlier, you'll receive your payments on the 3rd day of the month, no matter when your birthday is. If the 3rd is on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, your benefits will be deposited on the banking day before.

This is the SSDI payment schedule for 2023 for people who were approved for benefits in 1997 or earlier (or who are also receiving SSI):

• January 3
• February 3
• March 3
• April 3
• May 3
• June 2
• July 3
• August 3
• September 1
• October 3
• November 3
• December 1

In some circumstances, if you're receiving SSDI benefits on the 3rd of the month, you can change your payment date. Your birth date would determine what day your benefits will arrive, based on the lists above.

SSI Disability Payment Dates

SSI benefits are paid on the 1st day of each month. If the 1st is on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, your benefits will be deposited on the banking day before. For example, if the 1st is a Sunday, you should receive your check the Friday before (assuming that Friday isn't a legal holiday).

Note that your payment that comes on the 1st of the month is actually your benefit from the prior month. For example, a March 1st check would actually be for the SSI benefits from February.

SSI checks come out early several times a year. Since January 1 is a holiday, SSI payments for January are usually paid on the last day of December that isn't a holiday. For instance, the SSI payment for January 2023 was deposited on Friday, December 30, 2022. SSI checks are also deposited early when the 1st of the month falls on a Saturday or Sunday, which happens in April, July, and October of 2023.

SSI recipients are now required to receive their payments through direct deposit, the Direct Express® card program, or through an Electronic Transfer Account.

SSI Payment Schedule for 2023

See the specific payment dates for 2023 by clicking the calendar or seeing the list below.

This is the SSI payment schedule for 2023:

• December 30, 2022 (January 2023 payment)
• February 1
• March 1
• March 31
• May 1
• June 1
• June 30
• August 1
• September 1
• September 29
• November 1
• December 1

Source: Social Security Publication No. 05-10031.

SSI and SSDI Combined Payment Schedule

If you're receiving SSI and SSDI payments at the same time, your SSDI payment date will be on the 3rd day of the month and your SSI payment will be on the 1st day of the month (with the exception of weekends and legal holidays). If the 3rd of the month falls on a Monday, you should see the deposit on Monday morning.

If you'd like to change the date of your Social Security payment, you may be able to move it to one based on your birthday (see the SSDI payment schedule section, above).

What If I Haven't Received My SSI Check This Month?

If you haven't received your check or deposit by the 4th banking day of the month, the Social Security Administration (SSA) recommends calling the agency at 800-772-1213.

How Long Does it Take to Get Your First SSI Check?

If you've just been approved for SSI, you're probably wondering when you'll receive your first SSI check. The SSA says it should take about a month, but some people have to wait a bit longer. In our disability survey, over half (52%) of SSI recipients said it took three to seven weeks to receive their first SSI check (from the date of the award letter).

Learn more about your monthly disability payments.

^{Updated January 4, 2023}