When it comes to managing your life as a retiree, it almost goes without saying that you’ll need to keep abreast of the yearly Social Security tweaks and adjust your budget accordingly. However, with so much new information to keep track of, it can be easy to forget some of the smaller details, such as when benefit payments are distributed—especially considering that this answer isn’t exactly clear-cut and varies from person to person. As such, we have put together a Social Security benefits payment schedule for 2022, which can be found below.

Understanding Social Security Payments

Social Security, officially known as the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program, provides monthly monetary benefits to qualified workers and their dependents (if any). It’s considered an “entitlement” program, wherein employees, employers, and the self-employed finance these benefits with their Social Security taxes, which are then put into two Social Security trust funds. Eligibility and benefit amounts are based on an individual’s contributions to Social Security and work history (or that of their spouse/parent(s)).

The SSA offers three types of Social Security benefits:

• Retirement: This is the best known variety of Social Security benefit, which is available for individuals age 62 or older who have worked a minimum of 10 years. The amount someone receives in retirement benefits is dependent on their pre-retirement salary and the age at which they begin collecting benefits. Additionally, a retiree’s spouse (whether currently married or divorced) may also be eligible for Social Security retirement benefits, regardless of whether or not they have paid into the program.
• Disability: People who are unable to work due to a disability are eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, so long as they have worked a certain number of years beforehand. The amount of work required varies based on an individual’s age, while the monthly payment depends on their pre-disability salary. Like retirement benefits, SSDI may also be available for a retiree’s spouse (whether current or former).
• Survivor: Survivors benefits are typically available for widows and widowers, qualifying divorced spouses, and the children of a deceased worker/retiree following their passing. The benefit amount varies based on the worker’s salary and age at death, in addition to the survivor’s age and relation to the deceased individual. An additional death benefit is also available, which is a one-time payment of $255 that is distributed to the spouse or children of a deceased retiree.

Supplemental Security Income

There is a fourth kind of benefit made available by the SSA, though it isn’t part of Social Security. Financed by general tax revenues, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs-based program designed to help those with limited income and resources who are unable to earn sufficient wages on their own.

Adults and children with disabilities, as well as individuals 65 or older, are eligible to receive SSI benefits. The amount retirees are given depends on federal and state laws, which take into account their place of residence, who lives with them, and their other sources of income. No work credits are required, and those with enough work history may be eligible for both SSI and Social Security benefits.

Cost-of-Living Adustments

Social Security benefit rates rise in tandem with the cost of living, as measured by the Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index (CPI-W). This index is boosted by increased inflation rates that raise the cost of goods and services. To offset these costs and ensure the purchasing power of Social Security benefits isn’t eroded by inflation, the SSA will issue what’s known as a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).

According to a formula outlined in the Social Security Act, COLAs are based on increases in the CPI-W. Specifically, a COLA is equal to the percentage increase in the CPI-W from the average for the current year’s third quarter to the average for Q3 of the prior year in which a COLA was enacted. Increases must be rounded to the nearest tenth of 1%. Should there be no increase, or if the end result rounds to zero, no COLA is issued for that year.

Payment Schedule for 2022

Approximately half of older Americans reside in households where Social Security benefits compose a least 50% of their income, and 25% of this group depend on their monthly payment for the majority (if not all) of their earnings. As such, it’s important for retirees to be aware of when they will be receiving their benefits. While this is especially crucial to the 0.8% of beneficiaries who need to be on the lookout for a physical check each month, the remaining 99.2% still ought to know when their Social Security income is being direct deposited to ensure they aren’t spending more money than they actually have.

Social Security retirement, disability, and survivors benefits all are distributed on one of three Wednesdays each month for beneficiaries who began receiving benefits after May 1997. When a beneficiary will receive their payments depends on their birth date, as described below:

• If you were born between the 1st–10th, you will receive your Social Security payments on the second Wednesday of each month.
• If you were born between the 11th–20th, you will receive your Social Security payments on the third Wednesday of each month.
• If you were born between the 21st–31st, you will receive your Social Security payments on the fourth Wednesday of each month.

SSI benefit payments follow a different schedule. Specifically, SSI benefits are distributed on the first of each month. Should the first of the month fall on a weekend, then the new payment date will be the last Friday of the prior month. For 2022, there will be no SSI benefit payments in January, May, and October, while beneficiaries will receive their payments at both the beginning and end of April, September, and December.

Exceptions to the Payment Schedule

There are several cases where the default payment schedule isn’t followed and Social Security benefits are paid at a different time. The current exceptions include:

• Payment to children or spouses who receive benefits based on someone else’s work record will be paid on the same day as that primary beneficiary.
• Payment to individuals who also receive Supplemental Security Income due to disability, age, or blindness will be paid on the 1st of each month.
• Payment to individuals whose payment date falls on a Federal holiday or weekend will be paid on the weekday immediately prior.

In addition, Social Security payments will automatically be issued on the 3rd of each month to individuals who:

• Filed for benefits before May 1, 1997.
• Also receive Supplemental Security Income payments.
• Have their Medicare premiums paid for by the state where they live.
• Live in a foreign country.

Delivery of Payment

The Social Security Administration began phasing out issuances of paper checks roughly a decade ago. Social Security benefits are now issued electronically, and individuals receiving benefits have a few digital options.

First, Social Security benefits can be distributed via direct deposit. Individuals can visit their local branch or contact their Social Security office to sign-up. Individuals should be prepared to present either with their social security number, their financial institution’s routing number, their account number, and their account type (checking or savings).

Social Security benefits can also be awarded via a Direct Express card. A Direct Express card is a debit card that can be used to access benefits without the use of a bank account. Monthly benefits are deposited directly to the card, and individuals can use the card when making purchases. The Direct Express card can also be used at ATMs, banks, or credit unions to get cash.

What If Your Payment Hasn’t Arrived Yet?

For several reasons, Social Security payments may sometimes be late. Those reasons can include but are not limited to:

• Delays for initial Social Security benefits.
• Process slow-downs for the Social Security Administration.
• Updates to your personal information such as your mailing address.
• Changes to your payment information such as new checking account.
• Inclement or severe weather.

If your Social Security payment is late, it’s advised to contact the Social Security Administration immediately. For delays potentially caused by changes in your personal information, contact your local SSA office.

The SSA often issues notices for delays that collectively impact a region or number of individuals. For example, the SSA may post updates on delayed payments in areas impacted by severe weather. For delays potentially impacting other individuals, monitor SSA communication and media channels.

It may also be advisable to wait a few business days for non-emergency delays. Benefits, though not yet received when they should have arrived, may already be in transit and caused by temporary delays due to the post office, bank, or SSA. Consider contacting the SSA when you feel appropriate, though be aware they may request you wait a longer period after your payment receipt date to ensure payment has truly gone missing.

What Beneficiaries Can Expect in 2022

On Oct 13, 2021, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced its annual changes to the Social Security program for 2022. Starting Jan. 1, 2022, approximately 64 million Americans will receive a 5.9% COLA to their Social Security benefits.

This represents the largest cost-of-living adjustment in 39 years, due to a spike in inflation resulting from ongoing economic difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, COLA averaged just 1.65% per year over the prior 10 years while inflation remained low.

According to estimates released by the SSA, this increase will amount to $92 for the average retired worker, raising their total benefits to $1,657 per month in 2022. Couples, meanwhile, will experience an average benefits increase of $154 to $2,753 per month.

Disability benefit payments will increase $76 to $1,358 per month. Disabled workers with a spouse and one or more children will experience an average $133 increase to $2,383 per month. Lastly, widows and widowers will find their average benefits increasing by $86 to $1,553 per month. Notably, widowed mothers with a minimum of two children will receive an average $178 increase to $3,187.

In addition to the COLA, several other major Social Security changes will go into effect in 2022:

• The maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax, also known as the taxable maximum, will increase to $147,000.
• The earnings limit for workers receiving retirement benefits who are younger than their full retirement age will increase to $19,560. Recipients who go above this limit will have $1 of benefits deducted for every $2 earned above $19,560.
• The earnings limit for still-employed beneficiaries who will reach their full retirement age in 2022 will increase to $51,960. Recipients who go above this limit will have $1 of benefits deducted for every $3 earned above $51,960 until the month they turn their full retirement age.
• The retirement age for Social Security is currently set to increase by two months each year until it reaches 67 for those born in 1960 or later. The full retirement age for anyone who turned 62 in 2021 is 66 and 10 months.
• For 2022, the credit-earning threshold will increase $40 to $1,510 in earnings per credit.

The Bottom Line

When it comes to Social Security, there are a lot of rules and information that one has to be mindful of. Even minor mistakes can have a noticeable impact on your life in retirement. Accidentally overspending on your weekly budget because you thought your monthly Social Security benefits had already been deposited shouldn’t be something you have to worry about, so consider marking your personal calendar with the appropriate dates listed here.