When will I get my October Social Security check? Why there are 2 SSI payments in the month

Of the over 71 million Americans who receive regular Social Security payments, some may have begun receiving smaller checks. However, the payments should arrive on schedule nonetheless. October’s SSI payment arrives this week, and the first round of disability checks will come next week.

Here’s what to know about October’s Social Security payments.

The Social Security Administration’s yearly distribution schedules for 2025 and 2026 are available online so that you can use the calendar for budgeting purposes.

Regular Social Security retirement benefits are being sent out on the SSA’s schedule, with the first October payment arriving next week:

• Wednesday, Oct. 8: Birth dates between the first and 10th of the month
• Wednesday, Oct. 15: Birth dates between the 11th and the 20th of the month
• Wednesday, Oct. 22: Birth dates between the 21st and the last day of the month

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Those who get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can expect their October 2025 payment on Wednesday, Oct. 1. The Social Security Administration suggests that if you didn’t receive your payment on the expected date, allow three additional mailing days before contacting the agency; most arrive timely because 99% of beneficiaries are paid electronically.

A second payment will arrive later in the month, on Oct. 31. Nov. 1 falls on a Saturday, and the SSA doesn’t issue payments on weekends or federal holidays. In such instances, SSI benefits arrive early. This also means November’s payment will be distributed in October, and there will be no payment made during the month of November.

Recipients will also get two checks in December. SSI checks will be sent out on the following dates remaining in 2025, 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)

Looking ahead: 2026 SSI payment schedule

The SSI payment schedule in 2026 will be untraditional for the first quarter. The first days of February and March fall on Sundays, which means those payments will be dispersed at the end of the previous month: February’s payment comes on Friday, Jan. 30 and March’s comes on Friday, Feb. 27.

Those who have been overpaid by the Social Security Administration and haven’t begun the repayment process may have noticed their monthly benefits shrinking. At the end of July, the SSA began withholding 50% of monthly benefits from individuals with outstanding overpayments. This marks a new phase in the agency’s effort to recover billions in accidental overpayments.

While the SSA hasn’t publicly confirmed how many beneficiaries are affected, records obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request show the agency attempted to reclaim overpayments from about 2 million people in the fiscal year ending September 2023, according to KFF and Cox Media Group.

If you received more money than you were entitled to through Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and haven’t arranged a repayment plan, your benefits may be reduced by half. This applies even if the overpayment wasn’t your fault.

Under its new policies, the SSA said it would begin 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.

• Withholding began: Around July 24, 2025, depending on when you received your overpayment notice
• Repayment options: Online bill pay, credit card or check
• Waiver requests: You can ask the SSA to waive the repayment if:
  • The overpayment wasn’t your fault
  • You can’t afford to repay
  • Repayment would be unfair

Waiver and repayment information is available on the SSA website.

Supplemental Security Income provides monthly benefits to those with limited income or resources who are 65 or older, blind or have a qualifying disability. Children with a qualifying disability can also get SSI, according to the SSA’s website.

Generally, adults who qualify for SSI do not earn monthly wages exceeding $2,019.

Those who may be eligible for SSI can begin the application process online, in person at their local Social Security office, or by calling 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday.

The SSA will replace a lost or stolen Social Security card for free, with three options available.

The most convenient and secure method, you may request a new Social Security card online if you:

• are a U.S. citizen age 18 or older
• have a U.S. mailing address
• don’t need to change the name or other information on the card
• have a driver’s license or state-issued ID
• have a personal my Social Security account

An application for a new card can be completed by visiting a local Social Security office. You may be able to start the application (Form SS-5) online before scheduling an appointment, or fill out the entire application in-office. In addition to Form SS-5, you must bring unexpired identification documents to the office.

The third and final option for getting a new Social Security card is by mail. You can complete the application (Form SS-5) and mail it along with original or certified copies of required documents, which include those that verify:

• identity: U.S. driver’s license, state-issued non-driver identification card or U.S. passport
• U.S. citizenship: U.S. birth certificate or U.S. passport.

Once approved, the SSA will typically send you a replacement card within 7 to 10 business days.

The full, or “normal,” retirement age has gradually increased in recent years, rising by two months for each successive birth year. For example, if you were born in 1958, your full retirement age is 66 years and 8 months, while those born in 1959 will reach it at 66 years and 10 months.

According to the SSA, individuals born between May 2, 1958, and February 28, 1959, will reach their full retirement age in 2025. For those born in 1960 and later, the full retirement age will increase to 67.

Yes, but there are consequences for tapping in too early. Workers can choose to receive benefits as early as age 62, though at a reduced amount. However, those who delay claiming benefits until age 70 are rewarded with a higher monthly payout.

Other changes to Social Security in 2025 include a smaller cost-of-living adjustment (2.5%, down from 3.4%), an increase in the maximum taxable earnings limit from $168,000 to $176,100, and expanded appointment-based services at Social Security offices nationwide.

In 2024, the highest Social Security benefit for individuals retiring at full retirement age was $3,822 per month, according to the SSA. Due to certain inflation adjustments in how Social Security is calculated and how past earnings are adjusted for inflation, this maximum benefit will rise to $4,018 per month, totaling over $48,000 annually in 2025.

Click here to find a Social Security office near you.