With the dawn of 2025, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has released its official calendar for the distribution of monthly payments. This schedule applies to beneficiaries of Social Security (retirement) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), who will receive their payments on specific dates depending on their individual circumstances and birthdates.
Social Security Payment Schedule
Social Security payments, which include retirement, disability, and survivors (RSDI) benefits, will be distributed on Wednesdays each month. The exact payment date depends on the beneficiary’s birthdate and whether claims were filed after May 1, 1997. For those whose claims were filed prior to this date, payments will be issued on January 3, 2025, the first Wednesday of the year.
Here is the detailed January payment schedule for Social Security benefits:
- SSI Benefits: Payments will be delivered on December 31, 2024.
- Recipients with Claims Filed Before May 1997 or Receiving Both Social Security & SSI:
- Social Security: January 3, 2025
- SSI: December 31, 2024
- Recipients Born Between:
- 1st and 10th: January 8, 2025
- 11th and 20th: January 15, 2025
- 21st and 31st: January 22, 2025
Adjustments for Holidays
Recipients of SSI, which is designed for elderly individuals with low income or those with disabilities, typically receive payments on the first of each month. However, due to January 1 being a holiday, SSI payments will be advanced to December 31, 2024. Similarly, in February, as February 1 falls on a Saturday, SSI recipients will receive their checks on January 31, 2025.
Steps to Address Late Payments
In the event of delayed payments, the SSA advises beneficiaries to take the following actions:
- Check with your bank or financial institution to confirm if there was a delay in receiving the electronic payment.
- If the issue persists, contact the SSA directly at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778).
- Visit your local Social Security office for in-person assistance.
Social Security Fairness Act: Expanded Benefits for Millions
In an important legislative update, the U.S. Senate has approved the Social Security Fairness Act, which seeks to extend benefits to nearly three million Americans, including public pension workers such as teachers, firefighters, and postal employees.
The bill eliminates restrictions that previously prevented these groups from receiving full Social Security benefits. With a bipartisan vote of 76 to 20, the legislation now awaits President Biden’s signature. However, the bill faced resistance from some Republicans who expressed concerns about the financial implications and the potential impact on the Social Security trust fund’s solvency.
“All these workers are asking for is what they earned,” stated Senator Sherrod Brown during the debates.
The bill, passed just before the start of the 119th Congress, includes retroactive effects from December 2023. However, delays in calculating retroactive payments are expected. Advocates, including Senator Bill Cassidy, emphasized the law’s significance in ensuring fairness for retirees with public pensions.
