As Social Security turns 90, Congress faces financial deadline
Social Security has a cash flow problem. For years, the agency has been paying out more benefits than it takes in via payroll taxes.
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The first Social Security payments for the month of September are set to be distributed to recipients this week, but those who were previously overpaid by the Social Security Administration may see smaller benefit checks.
Back in April, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced it would begin withholding 50% of a recipient’s monthly check to make up for any overpayment issued in the past.
The agency began issuing overpayment notices on April 25, 2025, and would start withholding 50% of the recipient’s benefits after about 90 days (or approximately July 24, at the earliest), until the overpayment is repaid.
Here’s what you need to know about this week’s Social Security payment.
Who gets their Social Security payment this week?
Beneficiaries who were born on the 1st through the 10th date of their birth month are set to receive their monthly Social Security benefit on Wednesday, Sept. 10, according to the SSA’s payment calendar.
When are Social Security payments sent?
Social Security benefits – paid mostly to recipients who are older or retired – are typically paid on Wednesdays.
If a recipient’s birthdate is between the first and 10th of the month, they are issued payments on the second Wednesday of the payment month, according to the SSA’s calendar.
Recipients born between the 11th and 20th are paid on the third Wednesday, and those born after the 20th of the month get payments on the fourth Wednesday, according to the SSA payment calendar.
Full 2025 Social Security payment calendarSSI payment schedule for August, rest of 2025 and into 2026
Recipients of Supplemental Security Income checks should have received payments on the first business day of the month – which was Sept. 1, 2025. However, since Sept. 1 is Labor Day, those payments were issued on Aug. 29.
SSI checks will be sent out on the following dates in 2025 and early 2026, according to the SSA calendar:
Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 (Check for October 2025)Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 (Check for November 2025)Monday, Dec. 1, 2025 (Check for December 2025)Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025 (Check for January 2026)Friday, Jan. 30, 2026 (Check for February 2026)Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 (Check for March 2026)
Contributing: Mike Snider, USA TODAY
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.