This coming Wednesday, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is due to round off the distribution of October’s Social Security benefits – although it is not the final payment run on the agency’s schedule for this month.
The early distribution of certain November benefits means the SSA also has a round of checks scheduled for Friday, October 31. Read more about that in this explainer.
Who’s getting a Social Security payment on Oct. 22?
On Wednesday, October 22, payments are to be made to particular recipients of retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or survivor pay.
Of the approximately 70 million people who claim retirement, SSDI or survivor benefits in the U.S., most get their payment on the second, third or fourth Wednesday in each month.
A recipient’s designated Wednesday is determined by the date of birth of the worker whose Social Security taxes have accumulated the benefits entitlement.
This Wednesday’s payments cover birthdays that fall between the 21st and 31st of each month.
Weds. payment schedule – Oct. 2025:
- Weds., Oct. 8: Workers born on 1st to 10th
- Weds., Oct. 15: Workers born on 11th to 20th
- Weds., Oct. 22: Workers born on 21st to 31st
Who isn’t paid on the 2nd, 3rd or 4th Wednesday of the month?
- Certain long-term Social Security beneficiaries
If you started receiving retirement, SSDI or survivor benefits before May 1997, your check typically goes out on the third day of each month, regardless of your date of birth.
These long-term beneficiaries were therefore scheduled to be paid their October money on Friday 3.
Beneficiaries of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program – a separate SSA scheme for low-income individuals who are over 65 or have a disability – are normally paid on the first of each month.
This month’s SSI payments therefore went out on Wednesday, October 1.
- Dual beneficiaries (SSI + regular Social Security)
Around 2.5 million people in the U.S. claim both SSI and one of the SSA’s retirement, SSDI or survivor benefits.
These recipients were due to get the former on October 1, followed by the latter on October 3.
Recipients outside 2nd, 3rd and 4th Weds. – Oct. 2025
- SSI beneficiaries: Weds., Oct. 1
- Pre-May ’97 Social Sec. recipients: Fri., Oct. 3
- Dual beneficiaries: SSI paid on Oct. 1; Social Sec. paid on Oct. 3
So the shutdown doesn’t affect Social Security payments?
No: The SSA has said the distribution of benefits “will continue with no change in payment dates”.
You can take a look at the agency’s complete benefits-distribution schedule for 2025 in this online calendar.
How much Social Security do retirees get per month?
Retired workers – who make up the majority of the U.S.’s Social Security beneficiaries – receive $2,008.31 per month on average, the SSA says. The maximum monthly retirement benefit stands at $5,108.
How much do other SSA beneficiaries get?
Disabled workers are paid $1,582.95 a month on average, while recipients of survivor benefits get an average of $1,575.30 a month. SSI beneficiaries are issued an average of $717.84 a month.
How are Social Security payments sent out?
Over 99% of checks are now paid electronically, as the SSA seeks to go fully paperless. Since September 30, indeed, the agency says recipients are “in most cases” no longer being given the option of being mailed a paper check.
The SSA offers its benefits recipients two methods of receiving electronic payments:
Beneficiaries can receive their money by direct deposit, by providing the agency with their bank details. You can supply this information on the “my Social Security” online portal.
Recipients can also have their benefits paid onto the Direct Express Card, a special debit card for federal payments made to people who do not have a bank account.
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