Social Security

Social Security’s sending out payments today, Wednesday, Nov. 19: here’s who’s getting a check

Today, the Social Security Administration is scheduled to distribute benefits checks across the U.S., as part of the agency’s latest November payment run.

Kevin Dietsch

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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 19th, 2025 02:40 EST

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is today due to disburse benefits to millions of people across the United States, in the next payment run on the agency’s distribution schedule for November 2025.

Who’s getting a Social Security check today, Nov. 19?

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

Of the 70 million people who receive 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 11th and 20th of each month. This follows last Wednesday’s payment run (November 12), which applied to birthdays between the first and 10th of each month.

At a glance - November 2025’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 get their benefits on a Wednesday in November?

Certain long-term Social Security beneficiaries

If you started claiming retirement, SSDI or survivor benefits before May 1997, your check typically goes out on the third day of each month, regardless 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)

Just over 2.5 million Americans 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 November:

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

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

Social Security payments uninterrupted by shutdown

The U.S.’s record-breaking government shutdown finally ended last Wednesday - but the 43-day-long stoppage did not prevent Social Security payments from being paid during October and the first 12 days of November.

On October 1, the day the shutdown began, the SSA had reassured recipients that the distribution of benefits would continue “with no change in payment dates”.

Payments remained uninterrupted because the SSA receives mandatory funding through the Social Security Act.

The federal government shutdown has ended and Social Security has resumed normal operations. Remember, you can always securely access your benefits online with your personal my Social Security account. Sign up today: https://t.co/LtdqZDNttX pic.twitter.com/a66QhZo5tC
— Social Security (@SocialSecurity) November 13, 2025

How much monthly money do recipients of Social Security retirement get?

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

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

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

Social Security to increase benefits next year

In late October, the SSA confirmed that its beneficiaries will receive a 2.8% rise in their monthly payments, beginning inJanuary 2026. This comes as part of the agency’s annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).

For beneficiaries of Social Security retirement pay, this COLA increase will lead to an average monthly pay rise of $56, the SSA says.

How does the SSA distribute benefits?

Almost all benefits checks are now issued electronically, as the SSA bids to 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 beneficiaries 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 without a bank account.