Social Security starts paying out July 2 — here’s when recipients will get their checks

According to the SSA, your check is on its way.

The Social Security Administration has set July payment dates for the millions of Americans enrolled in its benefits program.  

For recipients, the date of SSA’s recurring monthly payments varies by benefit type, date of birth, and enrollment date.

Beneficiaries who started receiving benefits before May 1997 typically receive their payment on the first Thursday of the month.

In July, that payday is slated for Thursday, July 2.

Social Security retirement, disability, and survivor (RSDI) beneficiaries who filed their claims after May 1, 1997, are assigned to either the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of the month.

If your birthday falls between the 1st and the 10th of the month, your payday is July 8.

If you were born between the 11th and the 20th of the month, look for your payment on July 15.

Finally, if your birthday falls between the 21st and 31st of the month, expect your benefits to arrive on July 22.

Beneficiaries who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a monthly payment for people with disabilities and/or older adults with little or no income or resources, get paid on the 1st of the month. 

July SSI payments will be disbursed on Wednesday, July 1.

SSI payments are typically distributed on the 1st of the month unless, of course, the 1st falls on a weekend or holiday, in which case payment is given the preceding weekday.

For instance, because August 1 falls on a Saturday, SSI recipients will receive their August payment on Friday, July 31.

As of September 30, 2025, the SSA ceased sending paper checks, except in certain circumstances, requiring all beneficiaries to complete their full transition to electronic payments.

According to the agency, paper checks are 16 times more likely to be lost, stolen, altered, or returned undeliverable than electronic payments.

While dead folks are still reportedly getting their SS checks, living recipients who are missing payments should first contact their bank or financial institution.

According to the Social Security Administration, these entities “may be experiencing a delay in posting your payment.”

As a secondary course of action, those who need to report a late, missing, or stolen Social Security payment should contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or contact their local Social Security office. 

“We will review the case, and if the payment is due, we will replace it,” the administration says on its website.

It remains to be seen whether the administration will replace its people.

According to recent reports, more than 7,100 employees have exited the Social Security Administration since last year — the largest workforce reduction in the agency’s history, which came as part of a Trump administration overhaul.

The departures, which reduced the agency’s workforce by more than 13%, came alongside office consolidations, expanded use of artificial intelligence tools and a push to move more services online.

In a bit of good news, it was revealed last month that Social Security recipients could soon see an increase in benefits amid the rising cost of living.

Seniors and others who receive Social Security benefits could receive a 2027 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) of 3.9%, according to a new estimate from the Senior Citizens League, an advocacy group for older American citizens.

The nearly 4% increase is up from this year’s 2.8%. As of January, the estimated average monthly Social Security retirement benefit is $2,071, according to the agency. An increase of 3.9% would add $80.77 to that monthly check, bringing it up to about $2,152.

The Social Security COLA for 2027 won’t be officially set until October.