The third round of Social Security checks will arrive on Wednesday. The January Social Security checks will cover the 2023 adjustment of the cost of living, or COLA. Expect a big increase in your benefit amounts as benefits are increased by 8.7% this year to help combat ongoing inflation. It is the largest increase in nearly 40 years.
If you haven’t received your Social Security check yet, don’t panic. It is on its way.
Read on to find out when your Social Security payment is due and how your payment date is determined.
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When will I get my January Social Security check?
The January checks include the first COLA raise for 2023. Here is the January schedule (PDF) for when you should receive your Social Security check and/or SSI money:
- December 30: January SSI payments.
- January 3rd: Social Security benefits for those who receive both SSI and Social Security or have received Social Security since before May 1997.
- Jan. 11: Social Security benefits for people whose birthday is between the first and tenth of a given month.
- Jan. 18: social security benefits for people with a birthday between the 11th and the 20th of a given month.
- Jan. 25: Social Security benefits for people with birthdays between the 21st and 31st of a given month.
How are Social Security payment dates determined?
The Social Security Administration typically sends payments on the second, third, and fourth Wednesday of each month. The day you receive your check depends on your date of birth.
- If your birthday is between the 1st and 10th of the month, your payment will be sent on the second Wednesday of the month.
- If your birthday is between the 11th and 20th of the month, your payment will be sent on the third Wednesday of the month.
- If your birthday is between the 21st and 31st of the month, your payment will be sent on the fourth Wednesday of the month.
Payments for SSI recipients generally arrive on the first of each month.
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What if I receive both Social Security and SSI?
If you received Social Security benefits before May 1997, or if you receive both Social Security and SSI, the payment schedule is different. Instead of receiving your payments on a Wednesday, you will receive your Social Security benefits on the third day of each month and your SSI on the first day of each month.
However, those payment dates change if the first or third day of the month falls on a weekend or holiday. January 1 falls on a Sunday this year, so SSI recipients received their January payments a day early on December 30 and their Social Security benefits on Tuesday, January 3. Because of this calendar configuration, SSI beneficiaries will not receive an SSI check in January.
What if I don’t receive my check on the expected date?
If your check doesn’t arrive by the date listed above based on your date of birth or other circumstances, the Social Security Administration tells you to wait another three days before making contact.
If you still haven’t received it, you can speak to a representative at 800-772-1213. (The SSA notes that wait times are shorter Wednesday through Friday and between 4 and 7 p.m. on weekday afternoons.)
You can also access your Social Security benefits online.
This article will be updated monthly as payment dates change.
