August is another wonky month for Social Security recipients, with two changes to the normal calendar due to payment dates falling on the weekend.

Roughly 68 million Americans receive Social Security benefits every month, including almost 9 out of every 10 people age 65 and up. Social Security funds aren’t just for older folks, though. Payments go out to retirees, survivors of late workers, those with little to no resources, disabled workers, the blind, dependents and more.

The average payments for those various demographics vary, but data from January shows the typical retirement benefit was $1,907.

When will I get my August Social Security payment?

Your Social Security payment date is determined by your birthday.

If you were born on the first through the 10th, you can expect to get your Social Security check on the second Wednesday of every month — in this case, Aug. 14.

If you were born on the 11th through the 20th, you can expect to get your Social Security check on the third Wednesday of every month — in this case, Aug. 21.

If you were born on the 21st through the 31st, you can expect to get your Social Security check on the fourth Wednesday of every month — in this case, Aug. 28.

Regardless of your birthday, Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, payments go out on the first of every month — in this case, Thursday.

Folks who get both SSI and Social Security, as well those who claimed Social Security prior to May 1997, usually get their Social Security payments on the third, but that’s where there’s a change for August.

When a payment date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday — as is the situation this month — the Social Security Administration sends out checks on the previous business day. In this case, that’s Friday, Aug. 2.

There’s a similar situation happening with the September SSI payment. Because Sept. 1 — the regular payment date — is on a Sunday in 2024, it’s been moved to Friday, Aug. 30. That means SSI beneficiaries will receive two payments in August and none in September.

Where is my August Social Security payment?

Check the payment schedule above.

If you think your money is missing, you can reach out to the Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSA has both local offices and a toll-free national number. The national phone number is 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. Pro tip: The agency says wait times are shortest in the morning, late in the week and late in the month.

In any case, the SSA asks that you wait three mailing days before contacting it about a missing Social Security payment.

What is the SSA payment schedule for 2024?

You can find the SSA’s payment calendar on its website. It largely follows the schedule laid out above, but as you can tell, some months are different. In addition to there being two SSI payments in August, there will be two in November due to the way the calendar is.

To learn more about your payment status or to get additional help with Medicare, retirement benefits, disability, SSI and more, make a “my Social Security” account for free at SSA.gov.

How do I calculate my Social Security payment?

Benefits are generally calculated according to your average indexed monthly earnings, which include up to 35 years of your highest-earning years. The SSA then applies a formula to determine your primary insurance amount.

The amount of money retirees actually receive depends partially on their age. Though you can start getting Social Security retirement payments at 62 years old, the longer you wait to claim Social Security, the higher your payments will be (until age 70).

For many Americans, this money is crucial — Social Security accounts for about 30% of the income received by folks over age 65. As people live longer and legislators wrestle over future of Social Security, the cost of retirement is surging: In 2022, federal data shows retired households spent an average of $54,975, including $11,186 on shelter, $8,065 on transportation and $7,505 on health care.

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August is a unique month for Social Security recipients, as there are two changes to the normal payment schedule due to weekends falling on payment dates. With approximately 68 million Americans receiving Social Security benefits each month, it is an essential source of income for many individuals, including retirees, survivors of late workers, those with limited resources, disabled workers, the blind, and dependents.

The average monthly payment varies depending on the demographic, but data from January shows that the typical retirement benefit was $1,907.

So, when can you expect to receive your August Social Security payment? Your payment date is determined by your birthday. If your birthday falls on the first through the 10th of the month, you can expect to receive your payment on the second Wednesday of the month, which is August 14th. If your birthday falls on the 11th through the 20th, your payment will arrive on the third Wednesday of the month, which is August 21st. And if your birthday falls on the 21st through the 31st, your payment will arrive on the fourth Wednesday of the month, which is August 28th. However, for those who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), payments are sent out on the first of every month, which in this case is Thursday, August 1st.

For individuals who receive both SSI and Social Security, or those who claimed Social Security before May 1997, payments are usually sent out on the third of the month. However, due to the payment date falling on a weekend, these individuals will receive their payment on the previous business day, which is Friday, August 2nd. This change also applies to the September SSI payment, which will be sent out on Friday, August 30th, instead of the regular payment date of Sunday, September 1st. This means that SSI beneficiaries will receive two payments in August and none in September.

If you are unsure about the status of your August Social Security payment, you can check the payment schedule provided above. If you believe that your payment is missing, you can contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) for assistance. The SSA has both local offices and a toll-free national number, 1-800-772-1213, which is available on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. The agency recommends contacting them in the morning, late in the week, or late in the month for shorter wait times. However, they also ask that you wait three mailing days before contacting them about a missing payment.

For those wondering about the SSA payment schedule for 2024, it can be found on their website. While it mostly follows the schedule outlined above, there are some variations in certain months. It is important to stay informed about any changes to the payment schedule to ensure you receive your benefits on time. 

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