For those in the United States of America who are reliant on Social Security payments to keep their heads above water, a late payment can cause serious issues.
There could be bills that need to be paid the same day, or family-related expenses that simply can’t wait.
An estimated 68 million adults collected a check for the benefit in 2024 and that number is only going to rise with an ever-increasing human life expectancy. That, combined with the high cost of living, means Social Security is one of the most important support systems in the USA.
And a missed payment can be stressful with the combined factors alone, but also because of how the money for Social Security is collected too. Citizens pay into the scheme through payroll taxes throughout their working life.
They then claim this back upon retirement, which is usually between the age of 66 and 67. So a missed payment can also be frustrating because it feels as though all of the earned money through the last 40+ years is lost. But it is possible to claim it back through two simple steps.
First contact the bank. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will not issue any reimbursement without the bank being contacted first. The bank may be withholding the funds on grounds of account irregularities, verification issues, or pending debts.
If it’s not a problem with the bank, then contact the SSA. They will begin an investigation and thus give you the money you are missing and potentially correct any administrative errors such as the wrong address.
You can contact the Social Security Administration for free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
When should my check arrive in April?
In April 2025, SSI beneficiaries were scheduled to receive their deposit on Tuesday, April 1. If they do not receive it by the estimated date, the SSA recommends waiting three business days before filing a claim, as 99% of payments are processed electronically and in a timely manner.
In addition, those who receive SSI may see two checks next month. The first will arrive on Thursday, May 1, for that month; the second, on Friday, May 30, because June 1 will fall on a Sunday. According to the regulations, when the payment date coincides with a federal holiday or weekend, the SSA advances the delivery.