Social Security

Social Security is sending out payments today - Wednesday, Nov. 12: here’s who gets a check

Certain beneficiaries are getting a payment today, as Social Security checks continue to go out amid the U.S. government shutdown.

Kevin Dietsch

William Allen

British journalist and translator who joined Diario AS in 2013. Focuses on soccer – chiefly the Premier League, LaLiga, the Champions League, the Liga MX and MLS. On occasion, also covers American sports, general news and entertainment. Fascinated by the language of sport – particularly the under-appreciated art of translating cliché-speak.

Update: Nov 12th, 2025 02:59 EST

The U.S.’s Social Security Administration (SSA) is due to issue benefits to millions of recipients across the country today, in the latest payment run on the agency’s distribution schedule for November.

Who gets a Social Security payment today, Nov. 12?

Checks are to be sent out to certain recipients of retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or survivor pay.

Of the roughly 70 million Americans who get retirement, SSDI or survivor benefits in the U.S., most are paid their money on the second, third or fourth Wednesday in each month.

A recipient’s designated Wednesday is determined by the date of birth of the worker whose Social Security taxes have accumulated the benefits entitlement.

Today’s payments cover birthdays between the first and 10th of each month.

At a glance: November’s Wednesday payment schedule:

Born on 1st-10th of month: Weds., Nov. 12
Born on 11th-20th of month: Weds., Nov. 19
Born on 21st-31st of month: Weds., Nov. 26

Who doesn’t receive their benefits on a Wednesday in Nov.?

Some long-term Social Security recipients

If you began receiving retirement, SSDI or survivor benefits before May 1997, your check typically goes out on the third day of each month, irrespective of your date of birth.

These long-term beneficiaries were therefore scheduled to be paid their November money on Monday, November 3.

SSI recipients

Beneficiaries of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program - a separate SSA scheme for low-income individuals who are over 65 or have a disability - are normally paid on the first day of each month.

However, as November began on a Saturday, this month’s SSI payments were issued to their nearly 7.5 million recipients a day early: on Friday, October 31.

Dual beneficiaries (SSI + regular Social Security)

Around 2.5 million people in the U.S. claim both SSI and one of the SSA’s retirement, SSDI or survivor benefits.

These recipients were due to get the former on October 31, followed by the latter on November 3.

At a glance: non-Wednesday beneficiaries in Nov.:

SSI recipients: Fri., Oct. 31
Pre-May ’97 Social Sec. beneficiaries: Mon., Nov. 3
Dual recipients: SSI on Oct. 31; Social Sec. on Nov. 3

So the shutdown isn’t delaying Social Security checks?

No: Despite the record-breaking federal government shutdown, whose end now appears to be in sight, the SSA says the distribution of benefits is continuing “with no change in payment dates”.

You can check out the agency’s complete benefits-distribution schedule for 2025 in this online calendar.

How much are Social Security monthly retirement benefits?

Retired workers - who represent the majority of the U.S.’s Social Security beneficiaries - are paid $2,008.31 per month on average, the SSA says. The maximum monthly retirement benefit in currently stands at $5,108.

How much do disability, survivor and SSI beneficiaries get per month?

Disabled workers are paid an average of $1,582.95 a month, while recipients of survivor benefits get a monthly average of $1,575.30. Beneficiaries of the SSI scheme receive $717.84 a month on average.

Social Security to raise benefits

Late last month, the SSA confirmed that its recipients will benefit from a 2.8% increase in their monthly payments from January 2026, as part of the agency’s annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).

For beneficiaries of retirement pay, this will translate into an average monthly hike of $56, the SSA says.

BREAKING! 75 million Americans will get a 2.8 percent increase in monthly Social Security benefits and SSI payments in 2026. Check our blog for more information: https://t.co/5tyMKftWyD. pic.twitter.com/X0ZZR28a2j
— Social Security (@SocialSecurity) October 24, 2025

How does Social Security send out benefits?

Almost all benefits checks are now paid electronically, as the SSA goes fully paperless. As of September 30, the agency says beneficiaries are “in most cases” no longer being given the option of receiving a paper check in the mail.

The SSA provides its recipients with two ways of receiving electronic payments:

Direct deposit

Beneficiaries can get their money by direct deposit, by providing the agency with their bank details. You can supply this information on the “my Social Security” online portal.

Debit Express Card

Recipients can also have their benefits paid onto the Direct Express Card, a special debit card for federal payments made to people who do not have a bank account.