Social Security: September and October payments out? All you need to know

The third wave of September Social Security payments will be sent this week, with recipients born between the 21st and 31st of the month expected to receive funds on Wednesday, September 24, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Beneficiaries who began receiving Social Security before May 1997 received their payment on September 1, while those with birthdays between the 1st and 20th have already been paid.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients, including people with disabilities and older adults with limited income, did not receive a September payment on the first due to Labor Day. Instead, payments were issued on August 29.

The maximum SSI payment in 2025 is $967 for individuals and $1,450 for couples. The next SSI payment is scheduled for Wednesday, October 1, with subsequent payments on October 31 and December 1. There will be no SSI payment in November, but two payments will be made in December, including one for January 2026.

Social Security benefits are usually paid on Wednesdays. The SSA calendar states that beneficiaries born between the 1st and 10th of a month receive payments on the second Wednesday, those born between the 11th and 20th on the third Wednesday, and those born after the 20th on the fourth Wednesday. Those receiving both Social Security and SSI will get Social Security on the third of the month and SSI on the first.

September will also mark the last month Social Security payments are issued by paper check. Starting in October, beneficiaries must receive payments via direct deposit or a Direct Express card following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in March.

Looking ahead, payments may be electronically dispersed from both Social Security and Veterans Affairs accounts due to the new directive. A projected cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2026 could be higher than this year’s 2.5%, with estimates suggesting a 2.7% increase, according to The Senior Citizens League. The official announcement is expected in mid-October.

SSA payment highlights for September and October 2025:

• September 24: Social Security payment for birthdays 21-31
• October 1: SSI payment for October
• October 31: SSI payment for November
• December 1: SSI payment for December
• December 31: SSI payment for January 2026
• January 30, 2026: SSI payment for February
• February 27, 2026: SSI payment for March

Beneficiaries are advised to check their payment dates and ensure direct deposit details are updated ahead of October, as paper checks will no longer be issued.