July 2023 SSDI payment schedule

In July 2023, Social Security sent Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments on July 3rd, and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments according to your birth date. If you were born between the 1st and 10th of any month, you received your payment on July 12th. If born between the 11th and 20th, your payment arrived July 19th. If born between the 21st and 31st, you received it July 26th.

The schedule follows the same pattern every month: SSI always arrives on the 3rd (or the last business day before if the 3rd falls on a weekend), and SSDI arrives on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday depending on your birth date. This system has been in place since 1997 to spread payments across the month and reduce processing strain on the system.

Key Takeaways

  • SSI payments in July 2023 were sent on July 3rd regardless of birth date.
  • SSDI payments in July 2023 arrived on July 12th, 19th, or 26th depending on whether you were born in the first, second, or third third of the month.
  • Your payment date stays the same every month and is determined by your birth date, not your claim date or when you started receiving benefits.
  • If you did not receive a payment on the expected date, contact Social Security directly rather than waiting for the next scheduled payment.

How birth date determines your SSDI payment date

Social Security groups SSDI recipients into three cohorts based on birth date to distribute payments evenly. The second Wednesday of the month goes to people born the 1st through 10th. The third Wednesday goes to people born the 11th through 20th. The fourth Wednesday goes to people born the 21st through 31st. This grouping has remained consistent since the staggered payment system began.

Your birth date is the only factor that determines which Wednesday you receive your payment. It does not matter when you filed for SSDI, when your claim was approved, or how long you have been receiving benefits. If you were born on March 15th, for example, you will always receive your SSDI payment on the third Wednesday of every month, including July 2023.

SSI payments arrived earlier in the month

If you received Supplemental Security Income (SSI) — the needs-based program for people with low income and limited resources — your July 2023 payment was sent on July 3rd. SSI does not use the birth-date staggering system that SSDI does. All SSI recipients receive their payment on the same day each month, which is the 3rd or the last business day before the 3rd if it falls on a weekend or holiday.

Some people receive both SSDI and SSI. If you do, you will see two separate payments: one on the 3rd (SSI) and one on your SSDI date (the 12th, 19th, or 26th). The amounts may be different because the two programs have different rules and payment formulas.

What to do if your payment did not arrive on time

If you expected a payment on your scheduled date in July 2023 and did not receive it, contact Social Security directly. You can call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. your local time. Have your Social Security number ready when you call.

Delays can happen for several reasons: a bank error, a change in your direct deposit information, a hold placed on your account, or a processing issue on Social Security's end. Social Security can look up your specific payment and tell you where it is. If the payment was sent but your bank has not posted it, they can provide the payment date and amount so you can follow up with your bank. If Social Security has not sent the payment yet, they can investigate why and work to resolve it.

Direct deposit is the fastest way to receive payments

If you receive SSDI or SSI by check or a paper statement instead of direct deposit, your payment took longer to arrive in July 2023 than it would have by bank transfer. Direct deposit payments post to your account on the scheduled date. Checks are mailed several days before and arrive depending on postal service speed, usually within a week but sometimes longer.

You can set up or change your direct deposit information by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, visiting your local Social Security office, or going online to your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Direct deposit is free and reduces the risk of a lost or stolen check.

Payment amounts in July 2023

The amount you received in July 2023 depended on your individual circumstances: your work history and earnings record for SSDI, or your income and resources for SSI. Social Security does not change payment amounts monthly. Your payment stays the same from month to month unless you report a change in your situation (such as a change in income, living arrangement, or marital status) or unless Social Security adjusts all payments for cost-of-living increases, which happens once per year in January.

If your July 2023 payment was different from your June payment without explanation, contact Social Security to ask why. A change in amount should come with a notice in the mail explaining the reason.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do SSDI payments come on different dates for different people?

Social Security staggered SSDI payments by birth date to spread the workload of processing and sending millions of payments across three weeks instead of one day. This reduces strain on the system and helps prevent processing errors. SSI payments are not staggered because there are fewer SSI recipients than SSDI recipients.

If I was born on the 20th, when did I get paid in July 2023?

You received your SSDI payment on July 19th, 2023. People born between the 11th and 20th of any month receive their payment on the third Wednesday of each month.

Can I change my payment date?

No. Your SSDI payment date is fixed based on your birth date and cannot be changed. If you need your payment on a different date for a specific reason, contact Social Security to discuss your situation, but the standard schedule cannot be altered.

What if I receive both SSDI and SSI?

You will receive two separate payments each month: SSI on the 3rd and SSDI on your birth-date-based Wednesday. Both payments go to the same bank account if you use direct deposit, so you will see both deposits on different dates.

How do I know if my payment was actually sent?

Log into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov to see your payment history, or call 1-800-772-1213 and ask Social Security to confirm the payment date and amount. Your bank can also tell you when a deposit posted to your account.