Social Security Payments – Up to $4,873 If You Don’t Qualify for September 3 Payday

September is a busy month for Social Security beneficiaries, with payments scheduled across four distinct dates. If you’re a retiree or receive disability benefits, knowing when you’ll receive your money is crucial. Payments are tied to your date of birth, when you started receiving benefits, and whether you qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Payment Dates

Social Security retirement benefits are distributed on four different days in September: the 3rd, 11th, 18th, and 25th. Each date corresponds to specific groups of recipients:

1. September 3: This date is primarily for those who started receiving benefits before May 1997 or those who receive both Social Security retirement benefits and SSI. These recipients typically get their payments on the 3rd of each month.
2. September 11: If your birthday falls between the 1st and 10th of any month, and you began receiving Social Security after April 1997, your payment will be issued on this date.
3. September 18: Those born between the 11th and 20th will receive their payment on September 18, provided they started receiving Social Security after April 1997.
4. September 25: If your birthday is between the 21st and 31st, expect your payment on September 25, assuming you qualify under the same conditions as above.

Payment Amounts

Regardless of which payment date applies to you, the maximum Social Security benefit can reach up to $4,873 per month. However, achieving this maximum requires meeting specific criteria:

• Earning the Taxable Maximum: You must have consistently earned the maximum taxable income for Social Security for 35 years.
• Working 35 Years: To calculate benefits, Social Security uses your highest-earning 35 years of work. Working fewer years can significantly reduce your benefits.
• Jobs Covered by Social Security: Your income must have come from jobs covered by Social Security.
• Delaying Retirement Until Age 70: Maximizing your benefit also requires you to delay your claim until age 70, which increases your payout by about 8% for each year you delay after reaching full retirement age.

For those who have just earned the required 40 work credits (approximately ten years of work), the payment will likely be lower than the average benefit, which is around $1,919 per month.

Social Security Disability and SSI

If you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), your payment schedule mirrors that of retirement benefits. You’ll receive your money on the 3rd, 11th, 18th, or 25th, depending on the factors outlined above, including whether you started receiving benefits before May 1997 or qualify for SSI.

SSI Payments

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) operates on a different schedule. The September SSI payment was sent out early on August 30, 2024. The next payment will be on October 1, 2024, so there won’t be an SSI payment in September.

Summary

September’s Social Security payment schedule is divided across four key dates, determined by when you started receiving benefits and your birth date. Whether you’re receiving retirement benefits, SSDI, or SSI, knowing these dates ensures you know when to expect your payment. While the maximum benefit can reach nearly $5,000 a month, it’s tied to stringent requirements that include a long work history and delayed retirement.

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