Social Security Update: Seniors Will Wait Longer for Benefits Next Month

If monthly Social Security payments are a key part of your retirement plan, then you might have to wait a bit longer to receive your May benefits compared to April. That shift isn't due to a policy change or a delay, but is simply a reflection of how the Social Security Administration's (SSA's) calendar-based payment schedule works. Still, it means that some Social Security recipients are going to face a slightly longer delay for their May benefits, so it's important to be aware and prepared.

Here's what to know about how the SSA schedule might affect your benefits.

How the SSA birthday-based payment schedule works

The SSA uses a staggered payment schedule based on recipients' birthdays. Most retirement, disability, and survivor recipients typically receive their monthly SSA payment on either the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of the month. However, the day of the week that the month begins on could affect just where payments fall in the month.

When to expect your payment based on your birthday

Social Security recipients with birthdays between the first and the 10th usually receive payments on the second Wednesday. Individuals with birthdays between the 11th and 20th usually receive payments on the third Wednesday, and individuals with birthdays that fall after the 20th usually receive payments on the fourth Wednesday of the month. There are a few exceptions to this schedule, but this is what applies to many recipients. 

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments are usually issued on the first of each month and don't follow the same birthday schedule.

Why May Social Security payments may seem to take longer

This year, May 1 falls on a Friday, and that creates a short delay in when Social Security recipients receive their May payments, compared to April. In April, payments were scheduled to go out on the 8th, 15th, and 22nd. But because of how the calendar falls, May payments are scheduled for the 13th, 20th, and 27th, which is unusually late in the month.

How long Social Security recipients are going to wait for May payments

Since May 1 is a Friday, the second Wednesday in the month falls later than it typically does, pushing scheduled payments out by approximately a week. Recipients who received their April payments on the 8th may have to wait five weeks, not four, to receive their May payments on the 13th. The same is true of Social Security recipients who received their payments in the third or fourth week of April; they may have to wait about five weeks for their May payments.

How the longer wait for payments may affect Social Security recipients

With some households waiting for an extra week for their May payments, they may have to stretch their monthly budget longer, which could be very challenging. That extra week's time may place a financial strain on households that are already on tight budgets and that really don't have extra wiggle room in their spending. Households may need to be prepared to temporarily cover extra expenses, like grocery purchases and gas, until they receive their next payment and have more cash to cover the costs.

How households receiving Social Security and SSI may be affected

Households in which members receive Social Security and SSI may experience noticeable differences in their income in May. Since SSI payments are issued on the first of each month, these payments won't experience the extra week delay that Social Security payments are going to. However, the fact that the SSI payments should be more timely in May could help these households stretch their budgets until they receive their Social Security payments.

What to do if your Social Security payment doesn't arrive

If you experience a late electronic payment, even after accounting for the delayed May payment dates, contact your bank or financial institution. Sometimes there are delays in posting payments to your account, so check with your bank first to verify whether the payment is processing or hasn't been received.

If you find that there has been an actual payment delay or if your payment is missing, contact the SSA or reach out to your local Social Security office to have them track the payment and identify the issue.

Bottom line

Many households rely on Social Security benefits as a significant portion of their monthly income, so the delay in payments, even though it's caused by how the calendar falls in May, could cause financial strain and stress. Knowing that the May payments are arriving a little later gives you some time to prepare. The payments are not being cut or delayed by the government, but are going to be delayed simply because of the benefits schedule. You may also check your My Social Security account for updates on your payment status.

Sometimes the unexpected happens, and you'll need a little extra cash to get you through times like this. If you haven't done so already, consider reviewing your retirement plan and making sure you have some extra funds set aside so you are able to periodically stretch your budget if you need to.

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