Waiting for your Social Security check can feel like watching paint dry when bills are stacking up. If you’re wondering whether your Social Security payment will arrive on the 3rd of the month, I’ve got all the answers you need right here!
Who Gets Social Security Payments on the 3rd?
Not everyone gets their Social Security check on the 3rd, but some beneficiaries definitely do. According to the official Social Security Administration schedule for 2025, you’ll receive your payment on the 3rd of each month if you fall into one of these categories:
- You started receiving Social Security benefits before May 1997
- You receive both Social Security benefits AND Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Your state pays your Medicare premiums
- You live outside the United States
For these folks, the 3rd of the month is your regular payday for Social Security benefits. If the 3rd happens to fall on a weekend or federal holiday you’ll typically receive your payment on the last business day before the 3rd.
The Complete Social Security Payment Schedule for 2025
For most beneficiaries, your birthday determines when you’ll receive your Social Security payment:
| Birth Date | Payment Date |
|---|---|
| 1st-10th of the month | Second Wednesday |
| 11th-20th of the month | Third Wednesday |
| 21st-31st of the month | Fourth Wednesday |
For October 2025 specifically the payment dates are
- October 1: SSI payments
- October 3: Social Security payments for those who qualify for the 3rd
- October 8: Social Security payments for those born 1st-10th
- October 15: Social Security payments for those born 11th-20th
- October 22: Social Security payments for those born 21st-31st
- October 31: Early SSI payment for November
Who Gets Three Social Security Checks in October 2025?
Here’s something interesting – over 2.5 million Americans will receive THREE benefit checks in October 2025! According to the Motley Fool this applies to people who receive both Social Security and SSI benefits.
Why three checks? They’ll get:
- Their October SSI payment on October 1
- Their regular Social Security payment on October 3
- Their November SSI payment on October 31 (since November 1 falls on a Saturday)
That’s right – the third check isn’t a bonus but an early payment of the November SSI benefit. So if you get all three, remember that you won’t receive another SSI payment until December 1.
And if you’re a married couple where both spouses receive both Social Security and SSI, you could see a total of SIX payments between you in October! That’s quite a windfall, even if it’s just a timing quirk.
What About Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) follows a different schedule than regular Social Security benefits. SSI payments normally arrive on the 1st of each month.
However, when the 1st falls on a weekend or holiday, SSI payments are issued on the last business day of the previous month. That’s why SSI recipients will get their November payment on October 31, 2025 (since November 1 is a Saturday).
What If My Social Security Payment is Late?
If your electronic payment doesn’t show up when expected, don’t panic right away. Here’s what to do:
- Contact your bank first – sometimes there’s just a delay in posting payments to your account
- If your bank confirms the payment hasn’t arrived, call the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213
- For paper checks (which are rare now), wait three business days after the usual mail date before contacting SSA
Important Changes to Watch For
The Social Security Administration will announce the 2026 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) on October 15, 2025. This will tell you how much your benefits will increase next year.
Also, if you’ve been receiving paper checks in September, you’ll transition to electronic payments in October as the SSA completes its move to fully electronic payments. Be sure your direct deposit information is up to date!
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the 3rd falls on a weekend or holiday?
If the 3rd falls on a weekend or holiday, your payment will be issued on the previous business day. For example, if the 3rd is a Sunday, you’ll get paid on Friday the 1st.
Can I change my payment date?
Unfortunately, no. Your payment date is determined by when you were born or when you first applied for benefits, and cannot be changed.
Why did my neighbor get their check before me?
Payment dates vary based on birthdays and when you started receiving benefits. Your neighbor might have a different birthday or might have started receiving benefits before May 1997.
Will direct deposit arrive faster than a paper check?
Yes! Direct deposit is faster, safer, and more reliable than paper checks. In fact, the Social Security Administration now requires electronic payments for almost all beneficiaries.
Conclusion
So, will your Social Security check come out on the 3rd? The answer is yes if you:
- Started receiving benefits before May 1997
- Receive both Social Security and SSI
- Have Medicare premiums paid by your state
- Live outside the U.S.
For everyone else, your birthday determines your payment date, with payments coming on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of each month.
October 2025 is special for some beneficiaries who’ll receive three checks due to the payment schedule. If you’re one of them, remember that the third check is just your November SSI payment arriving early!
Have you experienced any issues with receiving your Social Security payments on time? Drop a comment below and share your experience!
Why is my Social Security check smaller this month? What to know about Social Security repayments
Those who have been overpaid by the Social Security Administration and havent 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 agencys 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.
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Under its new policies, the SSA said it would begin issuing overpayment notices on April 25, 2025, and would start withholding 50% of the recipients 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 wasnt your fault
- You cant afford to repay
- Repayment would be unfair
Waiver and repayment information is available on the SSA website.
What is the Social Security full retirement age for 2025?
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.
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