Social Security

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

Certain SSA beneficiaries are to receive a check next Wednesday, as Social Security payments continue despite the record-breaking 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 6th, 2025 07:20 EST

The U.S.’s Social Security Administration (SSA) is to issue benefits checks to millions of Americans next week, in the latest payment run on the agency’s November distribution schedule.

Who’s receiving a Social Security payment on Nov. 12?

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

Of the roughly 70 million people who claim retirement, SSDI or survivor benefits in the U.S., most get 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.

Next Wednesday’s payments cover birthdays between the 1st and 10th of each month.

At a glance: November’s Wednesday payment schedule:

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

Who isn’t paid on a Wednesday in November?

Some long-term Social Security beneficiaries

If you began claiming 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 1st of each month.

However, as November began on a Saturday, this month’s SSI payments went out a day early: on Friday, October 31.

Dual beneficiaries (SSI + regular Social Security)

Just over 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 recipients in November:

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

So the government shutdown isn’t impacting Social Security payments?

No: Despite the federal government shutdown, which is now the longest in U.S. history, the SSA says the distribution of benefits “will continue with no change in payment dates”.

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

How much are Social Security retirement benefits?

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

How much money is paid to disability, survivor and SSI beneficiaries?

Disabled workers receive $1,582.95 a month on average, while recipients of survivor pay get a monthly average of $1,575.30. SSI beneficiaries are issued $717.84 a month on average.

Social Security to raise benefits in 2026

The SSA has 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 recipients of retirement benefits, this will translate into an average monthly rise of $56, the SSA says.

How does the Social Security Administration send out benefits?

Almost all benefits checks are now paid electronically, as the SSA seeks to go fully paperless. As of September 30 this year, the agency says recipients are “in most cases” no longer being given the option of being mailed a paper check.

The SSA provides 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.