Checks and Balances: Scheduling Factors for Disability Payments

It seems like everyone you know gets their disability payment on a different day of the month. You wish you could get yours closer to when your rent is due. What determines when you get paid?

Spreading the Wealth: Payment Factors and Scheduling to Disperse Disability Funds

The Social Security Administration’s fund balance is constantly changing. They have payments coming in throughout the month, so they must disperse funds in a similar manner. After all, the SSA pays out over $76 million each month to over 64,000 beneficiaries and there is no way they can do that all on one day. Therefore, in order to maintain a steady flow out, the SSA uses certain factors associated with each individual claim in order to determine who gets paid when.These factors include:

  • Date of birth. Social Security Disability (SSDI) payments are split into three separate scheduling dates based on the birth dates of claimants as follows:
    • If your birth date falls between the 1st and the 10th, payment will be made on the second Wednesday of the month.
    • If your birth date falls between the 11th and the 20th, payment will be made on the third Wednesday of the month.
    • If your birth date falls between the 21st and the 31st, payment will be made on the fourth Wednesday of the month.
  • Type of benefits. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is paid on the 1st of the month and if you receive both SSI and SSDI, your combined payments will be on the 3rd of month. 
  • Claim approval date. Once your claim is approved, payments won’t actually begin until six months later. Therefore, if your claim was approved in January, your first payment won’t be sent until June.
  • Benefit start date. If your claim was approved before May of 1997 your payments are scheduled for the 3rd of the month.
  • Holidays. If a payment day falls on a weekend or holiday, payment will be made on the first banking day prior to the holiday.

Need Help?

Have friends or family members who are having a rough time with their benefits? Please feel free to share this page with them. It’s our job to use our extensive knowledge and experience to help our clients get the support and advice they need.

Are You Looking for a Social Security Disability Attorney in Boston, MA?

If you are looking to apply for social security disability, you need to speak with an experienced social security disability lawyer as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Natick Office directly at 888.904.6847 to schedule your free consultation.

John L. Keefe
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Founding Attorney, Massachusetts Social Security Disability Lawyer
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Patra Nolan 08/30/2016 01:44 PM
What Grants that I can apply for?
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Geneva Morais 10/31/2017 06:46 AM
When do I get my deposit mine comes every month but different days last month September29th I need October My birthday is July 20 1976
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Linda Bourque 11/02/2017 03:26 PM
Used to always receive my benefit check on the 3rd if each month.Ladt month & this month it changed to the 2nd.I’m not complaining at all, just curious.Will the date continue to be the 2nd? Thank-you.
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