Your October Social Security checks will begin arriving on the eighth of the month and will continue through Wednesday, the 22nd. When your first payment arrives depends on your birthday.
This is also the first month you will receive your payments under the agency's new paperless policy. Starting in October, you'll need to have a direct deposit set up with your bank account or use a Direct Express card.
The change from paper checks to direct deposit comes after President Trump signed an executive order ending paper checks issued by the federal government. The deadline to comply is Tuesday, September 30th.
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Beneficiaries who filed claims after May 1, 1997, and receive retirement, disability, or survivor benefits are paid on either the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of the month.
You also have a specific payment date if you received benefits before May 1997. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments are distributed monthly, usually on the first day of the month.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) prepares payment schedules before checks are sent, ensuring you receive your payments on time. The recent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), implemented in January, is factored into the current payment.
That means that starting this past January, you should have seen a slight uptick in your monthly Social Security checks. The 2.5% cost-of-living (COLA) increase added a little less than $50 to the average monthly benefit of about $1,900, according to the SSA.
The projected cost-of-living adjustment in 2026 is expected to be around 2.7% to 2.8%. The final announcement will be made on October 15, 2025.
Here's when you will see your October 2025 payments.
The October Social Security payment calendar
If you collect Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or retirement benefits, your benefit payment date is determined by your birthday.
If you get auxiliary benefits on someone else’s earnings record, spousal or survivor benefits, for example, your payment date is determined by that person’s birthday, not yours.
If your payment date falls on a weekend or holiday, you’ll receive your payment early. Payments will be issued on the weekday immediately prior to your expected payment date.
October Social Security payment dates
These are the dates you can expect your monthly payments for October 2025:
- October 1: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients
- October 3: You'll receive a Social Security payment on October 3rd if:
- You live outside the U.S.
- You receive both SSI and Social Security benefits
- Your state pays your Medicare premiums
- Or you filed for Social Security benefits before 1997
- October 8: You should receive your Social Security payment on the second Wednesday of the month if your birthday falls on any day from the first to the 10th of your birth month.
- October 15: If your birthday falls on any day from the 11th to the 20th of your birth month, you’ll get your Social Security payment on the third Wednesday of the month.
- October 25: You’ll get your Social Security payment on the fourth Wednesday of the month if your birthday falls after the 20th of your birth month.
- October 31: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients
Two SSI payments in October, none in November
Note: Recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will receive two payments in October — October 1 and 31 — because November 1 falls on a Saturday.
And, because the November payment is issued on October 31, there will be no separate SSI payment in November. Recipients should plan their budgets with the understanding that the next SSI payment after October will not arrive until December 1, 2025.
For a more detailed 2025 schedule, see our story, Social Security Payment Schedule for 2025
Bigger checks this past April
The SSA started sending out bigger monthly checks in April, thanks to the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA), a law signed in January.
The SSFA eliminated the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), which were intended to prevent anyone with a pension from “double-dipping” on federal benefits.
Payments have now been recalculated for certain recipients. Retroactive lump sums were sent this past February, with higher monthly payments starting in April.
If you are affected by the repeal of the WEP, you should see an average increase of $360 in your monthly checks.
Spouses affected by the GPO repeal should see a $700 increase, and surviving spouses should get a $1,190 increase, on average.
If you qualify, the adjustment to your benefits will be automatic, so you do not need to do anything.
How to report a missing Social Security payment
If you don’t receive your electronic payments on the scheduled date, contact your bank or financial institution. Sometimes, the Social Security Administration experiences a delay in posting your payment.
If you still need help, call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or contact your local Social Security office.
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