The Social Security Administration pays monthly benefits to people who are disabled and can’t work, or who have other struggles that make it difficult for them to get by. People who receive benefits from the Social Security Administration can use the money from those benefits to help pay for rent or mortgage, food, utilities, medical costs, and other expenses.
The Social Security Administration uses a consistent benefit payment schedule so that you will always know when you will receive your monthly Social Security benefits.
Knowing when your 2024 Social Security benefits will arrive will make it easier for you to plan your budget, make sure that your bills get paid on time, maintain good credit, and make sure that there is plenty of food in the house.
When people think of Social Security benefits, they usually think of Social Security disability benefits or Social Security retirement benefits. But those are just two types of benefits that the SSA offers. There are several total types of benefits that the SSA pays out monthly like:
Retirement Benefits
If you have worked and paid into the Social Security system through money deducted from your paychecks you are eligible for Social Security retirement benefits after you reach a certain age. To qualify for Social Security retirement benefits you must have at least 40 work credits that were earned while you were working.
The exception to this rule is if you were a stay-at-home spouse and didn’t work but your spouse did. You may be eligible to get Social Security retirement benefits based on your spouse’s work earnings. Even if you are divorced, if you were married for at least 10 years and you have not remarried you are still eligible for retirement benefits based on your ex-spouse’s work history.
To start drawing your Social Security retirement benefits you must be at least 62 years old. However, you will get more money if you wait longer to start receiving your benefits. If you wait until you are 70 to start receiving your retirement benefits you will get the maximum payment. People who start taking benefits between ages 62-69 will only receive a portion of the total possible benefit amount.
Disability Benefits (SSDI)
If you worked for some time but became disabled because of an injury or illness and now you can’t work any longer you are eligible for Social Security disability benefits. Before your application for Social Security disability benefits will be approved you will have to submit an application and extensive medical documentation proving your disability makes it impossible for you to work.
You will also have to prove that you have one of the conditions listed in the SSA’s Blue Book and that you meet the requirements in that listing. You can search through the Blue Book on the SSA’s website or view a copy at your local SSA office. There are more than 200 physical and mental health conditions that the SSA considers disabling.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Supplemental Security Income, also called SSI, is money paid by the Social Security Administration to adults who have been disabled since childhood. SSI also is paid to low-income parents who have a sick or disabled child. A child that has a disability can apply for SSI on their own when they turn 18 and get benefits to help them pay for their living expenses.
Parents of children who have a severe illness or disability can apply for SSI on behalf of the child. But, if you apply for SSI for your child you will have to submit proof of your income to show that your total household income is below the income cap set by the Social Security Administration. Anyone in the household who works full time will need to submit their W-2s, tax returns, or bank statements that show their income.
If you apply for SSI for your child and are approved, you will receive the benefit money each month, but you will need to document how that money is spent. It must go towards the child’s living and medical expenses.
Survivor Benefits
If your spouse worked and they pass away, you may be entitled to survivor benefits for you and your children. Children can receive survivor benefits if they are under 18, or over 19 and still in high school, or if they are an adult that was disabled before they turned 22. Adopted children and stepchildren qualify for survivor benefits too.
Spouses who are 50 or older and disabled can receive survivor benefits. Spouses who are 60 or older and not disabled can also qualify for survivor benefits. If a deceased worker’s parents are elderly and depended on the worker for 50% or more of their income, they can also qualify for survivor benefits.
The Social Security payment schedule for 2024 doesn’t change much from month to month. The SSA keeps the schedule consistent so that it’s easier for you to keep track of when you will receive your 2024 Social Security benefit payments.
If you’re receiving benefits for yourself then the benefit payment date will be based on your birthdate. But if you’re receiving survivor benefits the benefit payment date will depend on the birthdate of the deceased worker.
If you are receiving SSI for yourself or a child, you will always receive SSI at the beginning of the month, or the last date of the month if the first day of the month falls on a weekend or holiday, regardless of your birthdate or the child’s birthdate.
Social Security benefit payment dates for August 2024 fall on:
- Thursday, August 1st
- Wednesday, August 14th
- Wednesday, August 21st
- Wednesday, August 28th
If you are scheduled to receive any type of payment from the Social Security Administration it should arrive on one of those days, depending on when your date of birth is.
August 2024 Payment Dates for SSI Benefits. If you are receiving SSI you will get your August 2024 SSI payment on Thursday, August 1st.
August 2024 Payment Dates for All Other Social Security Benefits. People who are receiving other types of Social Security benefits will receive their August 2024 Social Security benefits on these dates:
- Wednesday, August 14th – If your birthdate is the 1st-10th of the month.
- Wednesday, August 21st- If your birthdate is the 11th-20th of the month.
- Wednesday, August 28th- If your birthdate is 21st -31st of the month.
If you are not sure what date your benefits should arrive you can also check your account on the Social Security Administration’s website.
Because of the way that the calendar runs there are some months where there is an extra Social Security benefit payment in that month. That is the case in August for anyone who is receiving SSI. Because September 1st falls on a Sunday, anyone who is receiving SSI for themselves or their child will receive that payment on Friday, August 30th.
So, if you are receiving SSI remember that you will receive your usual monthly benefit amount on both August 1 and August 30th. But you will not receive an additional payment on September 1st. The payment on August 30th is your September 2024 SSI benefit payment.
The Social Security Administration used to offer people a choice of receiving their monthly benefit payment electronically or receiving a paper check in the mail. But, the SSA no longer offers the option of receiving a paper check.
Most people prefer to receive their benefits electronically anyway, because then they don’t have to worry about a mail delay resulting in a late benefit payment. Now you can choose to have your Social Security benefit payment deposited electronically into a checking or savings account, or you can have the money deposited onto the SSA’s Direct Express card.
If you don’t have a bank account, then you must choose the SSA’s Direct Express card option. You can sign up for the Direct Express card through your account on the SSA’s website . The Direct Express card works like a regular debit or credit card. The money is electronically loaded onto the card, then you can use the card to pay bills or withdraw cash at an ATM.
The amount of money that you receive for your monthly Social Security benefit should be the same as previous months. Cost-of-Living-Adjustments are only made once a year, at the beginning of the year, so the amount of benefit should remain the same until 2025.
Holidays can sometimes impact when Social Security benefits are received, but there are no major holidays in August 2024. You should receive your Social Security benefits in August 2024 on time.
If you have questions about what date your Social Security benefit payment will be deposited into your account or onto your Direct Express card you can always check your account on the SSA’s website. You can also call or email the SSA directly and ask about your payment date.
Many people struggle to manage their Social Security benefit money effectively. It can be very difficult to stretch one benefit payment for a whole month. If you are worried about how to make your benefit payment last all month and still pay your bills on time, try some strategies that work for many people like:
- Get on budget billing plans if your utilities offer them. That way you know exactly how much money you will owe for your utilities each month.
- Plan your meals weekly and shop according to sales so that you can get the most food for your money.
- Stock up on pantry essentials when they’re on sale like flour, sugar, and whole ingredients. If the money is running low before your next payment date you can use those pantry staples to make good meals.
- Set money aside for emergencies. When you do receive your benefit payment stick some of it into a savings account or use your Direct Express card to withdraw some cash and keep that to help out if things get tight at the end of the month.
There are lots of online tools and resources that can help you find new ways to manage your monthly benefit payment effectively. You can join groups on Facebook and other social media where people share tips on everything from cooking to covering household emergencies when you are receiving only one payment per month.
If your benefits don’t arrive on time call the SSA right away to find out if there is a problem with your benefits. You can either call the SSA toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), or you can also contact your local Social Security office.
If you are receiving SSI, you should always receive your 2024 SSI payment on the 1st of the month, or the Friday before the first if the first falls on a weekend or holiday. In August 2024 anyone receiving SSI will receive their SSI payment for August 2024 on Thursday, August 1st. They will receive an SSI payment for September 2024 on Friday, August 30th.
If you are receiving any other kind of Social Security benefit payment the payment date for those benefits is based on your birthdate. You can check your specific Social Security benefit payment date in your My SSA account.
If you are waiting for your SSDI because your disability application hasn’t been approved yet you should speak with a disability lawyer. Getting your application for SSDI approved can be a slow process because it’s complicated. Working with a disability attorney is a good way to make the process easier.
A disability attorney can help you understand the application process, how to fill out the application documents, and advise you what documentation you need to include with your application to increase the chances of approval.
Disability lawyers work on a contingency basis- that means you don’t have to pay anything up front.
Disability attorneys don’t get paid until your application is approved. And their fee is paid by the SSA directly, so you don’t ever have to pay out of pocket or up front.
Fill out a Free Case Evaluation now to get connected with a participating disability attorney who can answer your questions and advise you on your particular case.
Additional Resources
- Tips For Applying For Disability
- Social Security Benefits Calculator: How Much Money Can You Get?
- What Exactly Can A Disability Lawyer Do For My Case?
Sources:
- https://www.investopedia.com/social-security-payment-schedule-5213627
- https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10031-2024.pdf
- https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/calendar.htm
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/social-security/social-sec…
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/social-security-payment-schedule-2023-14…
- https://www.ssa.gov/kc/rp_paybenefits.htm
