Planning out your monthly budget can help you stay on top of your finances and prepare for bills and other purchases. This is especially true for those who rely on their Social Security benefits, as knowing when to expect the payments to arrive can make budgeting so much easier. While the payment schedule is usually consistent, some months—like August—can see benefit checks being paid at unusual times. Keep reading to find out more about when Social Security payments for August are being sent out, plus the details on when paper checks are being discontinued. 

When are Social Security payments sent?

Social Security payments follow a specific schedule each month, but because there are so many people receiving benefits, payments have to be staggered to accommodate everyone. This is particularly true for older and retired adults, who receive benefits on a certain week based on their birth date. The payments for most are on a Wednesday, but each person usually only receives their retirement benefits once per month.

According to the Social Security Administration Payment Calendar for 2025, benefits are paid on the:

• Second Wednesday for those born on the 1st through the 10th
• Third Wednesday for those born on the 11th through the 20th
• Fourth Wednesday for those born on the 21st through the 31st

The payment schedule doesn’t only follow Wednesdays, however. There are exceptions for other beneficiaries based on age or if they receive additional benefits. 

People who started receiving Social Security benefits (retirement, spousal or survivor ) before May 1997, for example, are paid on the third of each month. Americans who receive both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are also paid their Social Security checks on the third, while their SSI benefits are paid on the first.

While Social Security is based only on earnings and has no income limit, SSI is available to help people who have little or no income. It’s generally for Americans who earn less than $2,019 from work each month or have less than $2,000 (for singles) or $3,000 (for couples) worth of resources available. 

Other qualifications for SSI include blindness, having a disability, or being age 65 or older. (However, anyone who is over the age of 65 doesn’t need a disability to qualify.) 

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When will I receive my August 2025 Social Security check?

Some beneficiaries may see their payments arrive outside of the traditional schedule this month due to where the dates fall on the calendar. For example, SSI is normally paid on the first of the month and Social Security on the third for those receiving benefits since before 1997 or if they collect both benefits.

Since August 3 falls on a weekend, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will be making those payments on the Friday before. In this case, both sets of payments will fall on the same date.

There will also be what seems like an extra check for that same group of beneficiaries when they receive SSI benefits on August 29, as well. This is due to Labor Day occurring on September 1 this year. While the payment is going out at the end of August, it’s actually the check for September. 

Here’s a breakdown of when Social Security checks are being sent in August:

• Friday, August 1: SSI payments and benefits for retirees born before 1997 

• Wednesday, August 13: Those born between 1st and the 10th

• Wednesday, August 20: Those born between the 11th and the 20th

• Wednesday, August 27: Those born between the 21st and the 31st

• Friday, August 29: SSI payments for September

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Paper checks are ending: what you need to know

Although the payment schedule isn’t expected to change, how people receive their benefits will soon be different. Starting September 30, the SSA will be discontinuing paper checks for anyone who receives Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Instead, electronic payment methods will be utilized. 

With the transition quickly approaching, the administration is reportedly helping those still receiving checks make the switch. The payments sent out in September will be the last to show up in people’s mailboxes, so it’s important to enroll in Direct Deposit or Direct Express for Social Security if you have not already done so.