September 2018 SSDI payment schedule

Social Security Disability Insurance payments in September 2018 follow the standard schedule based on your birth date, not when you filed or when your claim was approved. The Social Security Administration divides beneficiaries into three groups and pays each group on a different Wednesday of the month. Your payment date does not change month to month — it stays the same unless you report a change in circumstances that affects your case.

If your birth date falls between the 1st and 10th of any month, you receive your payment on the second Wednesday of September 2018, which is September 12. If you were born between the 11th and 20th, your payment arrives on the third Wednesday, September 19. If your birth date is between the 21st and 31st, you receive payment on the fourth Wednesday, September 26. These dates explore whether you receive your payment by direct deposit or by check.

The only exception is if you were receiving SSDI before May 1997. In that case, you receive your payment on the third of each month regardless of your birth date. If you are unsure which group you belong to, you can check your Social Security account online or call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 to confirm your payment date.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI payments in September 2018 arrive on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday depending on whether you were born in the 1st–10th, 11th–20th, or 21st–31st of any month.
  • Your payment date remains the same every month and is based on your birth date, not your approval date or filing date.
  • Beneficiaries who received SSDI before May 1997 receive payment on the 3rd of each month instead of following the birth-date schedule.
  • Direct deposit and check payments follow the same schedule, so your delivery method does not change when your payment arrives.

How the birth-date schedule works

The Social Security Administration created the birth-date payment schedule in 1997 to spread out the volume of payments across the month. Before that, all beneficiaries received payment on the same day, which created processing bottlenecks and made it harder for the agency to manage cash flow. The schedule has remained the same since then.

Your birth date determines your group permanently once you start receiving SSDI. If you were born on September 15, for example, you will always receive your payment on the third Wednesday because your birth date falls in the 11th–20th range. This does not change if you move to a different state, change your banking information, or have any other change in your case — only your birth date matters.

What happens if you receive payment by check

If you receive your SSDI payment by check rather than direct deposit, the check is mailed on the same Wednesday as the direct deposit payment. However, the check takes several business days to arrive in the mail after it is sent. A check mailed on September 12 typically arrives within three to five business days, meaning you would receive it around September 17 or 18.

If you have not received your check by the Friday after your scheduled payment date, contact the Social Security Administration to report it. They can issue a replacement check or help you switch to direct deposit, which eliminates mail delays. Direct deposit payments post to your bank account on the scheduled date itself, not days later.

Reporting a missing or late payment

If your payment does not arrive on your scheduled date, first confirm that you have the correct payment date. Log into your Social Security account at ssa.gov and select "View my payment history" to see when your last payment posted and when the next one is scheduled. If the date shown matches your birth-date group, wait until the Friday after your scheduled Wednesday before reporting it as missing.

If the payment is still missing after Friday, call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213. Have your Social Security number and bank account information ready. The agency can tell you whether the payment was sent and, if so, whether it is still in processing. If the payment was sent but lost in the mail or rejected by your bank, they can issue a replacement.

Changes that affect your payment date

Your birth-date payment schedule does not change under normal circumstances, but certain events can interrupt your payments temporarily. If you report work income that exceeds the monthly earnings limit, the Social Security Administration may suspend your payment for that month while they review your case. If you are hospitalized or incarcerated, your payment may be held pending verification of your status.

If you change your banking information or request a change in how you receive payment, there may be a one-month delay while the new arrangement takes effect. For example, if you switch from check to direct deposit in August, your September payment may still arrive by check while the system processes the change. Your October payment would then arrive by direct deposit on your scheduled date.

Direct deposit versus check payment

Direct deposit is faster and more reliable than check payment. With direct deposit, your payment posts to your bank account on your scheduled payment date — September 12, 19, or 26 in 2018, depending on your birth date. The money is available to withdraw when ready. With check payment, you must wait for the check to arrive in the mail, which typically takes three to five business days after it is mailed.

You can switch to direct deposit at any time by logging into your Social Security account online, calling 1-800-772-1213, or visiting a local Social Security office. The change usually takes effect within one or two months. If you do not have a bank account, you can use a prepaid debit card or a representative payee account to receive direct deposit payments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do some people get paid on different Wednesdays?

The Social Security Administration spreads payments across three Wednesdays each month based on birth date to manage processing volume. This system has been in place since 1997. Your birth date determines which Wednesday you receive payment, and that date stays the same every month.

What if my birthday is on the 31st but my birth month only has 30 days?

If you were born on the 31st of any month, you are in the third payment group (21st–31st) and receive payment on the fourth Wednesday. This applies even if your birth month has fewer than 31 days. The Social Security Administration uses your actual birth date from your records, not the calendar of your birth month.

Can I request a different payment date?

No, you cannot change your payment date. It is determined by your birth date and cannot be moved to a different Wednesday. However, you can choose whether to receive payment by direct deposit or check, and you can change your bank account or mailing address at any time.

Will my September 2018 payment be different because of a cost-of-living adjustment?

The cost-of-living adjustment for 2018 was announced in October 2017 and took effect in January 2018, so your September 2018 payment reflects that adjustment. There is no mid-year adjustment. Your payment amount in September will be the same as it was in August unless you reported a change in your work income or living situation.

What if I am in a hospital or nursing home in September?

If you are hospitalized or in a nursing home, your SSDI payment continues unless you are also receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI). If you receive both SSDI and SSI, your SSI payment may be reduced or suspended while you are in a medical facility, but your SSDI payment is not affected. Report your hospitalization to Social Security to avoid overpayment issues.