August Social Security Payments Will Come Earlier Than Usual For Some: Here’s When You'll Get Paid

Once you're retired, the timing of your Social Security benefits can make a big difference to your monthly budget.

For the most part, you can expect your Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments to arrive on the same schedule month over month — but events like weekends and holidays can throw off the schedule, which is what's going to happen in August.

Keep reading to find out when your Social Security and SSI payments are scheduled to arrive this August and what to do if they don't show up on time.

Generally speaking, Social Security and SSI payments are made on a regular schedule depending on factors like the date of your birth, which types of benefits you receive, and when you started receiving Social Security benefits in the first place.

For instance, if you receive both SSI and Social Security payments, you usually receive your SSI payment on the first of the month and your Social Security payment on the third of the month.

However, the Social Security Administration (SSA) doesn't make payments on weekends or federal holidays. If your typical payment date falls on one of those dates, you'll receive your payment on the earliest regular weekday closest to your regular payday. For instance, if the first of the month falls on a Saturday, you'll be paid on the Friday before the first, which is the last day of the preceding month.

Supplemental Security Income is a type of government payment meant to help low-income individuals with limited resources, especially disabled individuals and retirement-age adults. Depending on your circumstances, you could qualify to receive both SSI and Social Security benefits, in which case you're used to getting your SSI check on the first of the month and your Social Security check on the third.

August 1, 2025, falls on a Friday, so SSI benefits for the month of August will be paid out on the first as usual. However, the third — or the day you should get your Social Security check — falls on a Sunday. As a result, you'll receive both your SSI benefit and your Social Security benefit on Friday, Aug. 1.

This payment date also applies to anyone who started receiving Social Security benefits earlier than May 1997. Ordinarily, you'd receive your Social Security benefits on the third, but this month you can look forward to seeing them on the first instead.

If you don't receive SSI benefits and you retired later than May 1997, your Social Security benefits arrive on either the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of every month. The Wednesday on which you're paid depends on the day of your birth. Depending on when you were born, you'll receive your August benefits on the following dates:

• If you were born between the 1st and 10th day of the month, you'll receive benefits on Wednesday, Aug. 13.
• If you were born between the 11th and 20th day of the month, you'll receive benefits on Wednesday, Aug. 20.
• If you were born between the 21st and 31st day of the month, you'll receive benefits on Wednesday, Aug. 27.

Did your payment fail to arrive on the expected date? First things first: don't panic. Holidays and weekends — the very things that change payment schedules to begin with — can also impact banks. Before contacting the Social Security Administration, check with your bank to determine if the issue is occurring on their end.

Once you've ruled out the bank, check your online Social Security account to make sure all your personal details are up to date. If you've recently moved, you need to update your address and banking information to make sure your payments continue as scheduled. If the information is outdated, update it as soon as possible to get your payments back on track.

If you follow these two steps and still haven't received your payment, the SSA asks that you wait three additional mailing days (excluding Sundays and federal holidays) before contacting them. You can call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213, or you can swing by your nearest SSA office to address the issue in person.

Knowing when your SSI and Social Security benefits will be deposited is just one of many smart money moves for seniors that help you keep more cash in your wallet. Along with keeping an eye on your bank account, you can make sure your money goes further by making smart investment decisions, downsizing to a smaller home, or picking up a part-time side gig.

Talk to a retirement planner to get more personalized advice on how to make your retirement income last as long as possible.