Social Security Administration’s Payment Schedule Update for October

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is the federal agency tasked with the distribution of monthly payments to eligible Americans under various programs, including retirement, survivor, and disability insurance (RSDI) as well as Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Each year, the SSA releases a payment schedule for its over 70 million beneficiaries across the United States. According to this schedule, a payment remains to be made on Wednesday, October 23.

Beneficiaries who claimed their benefits after May 1997 and were born between the 21st and 31st of the month are scheduled to receive the final Social Security check of October. It is noteworthy that these payments will already include the 3.2% cost of living adjustment (COLA) that was determined last October. Following this payment, the SSA will continue with its regular payment schedule starting November 1, which will entail a double payment due to adjusted dates.

While the Social Security Administration consistently delivers payments punctually, beneficiaries should be aware of potential delays due to bank processing times. It is generally advised that recipients wait at least three postal days if their payment is delayed before contacting the SSA’s customer service. Additionally, beneficiaries are encouraged to monitor their “My Social Security Account” for updates.

In a move to streamline its processes and improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities, the SSA has introduced new policy changes. The policy, entitled “Interim Improvements to the Disability Adjudication Process: Including How We Consider Past Work,” was enacted on April 18. This initiative is part of the broader Executive Order aimed at transforming federal customer experience and rebuilding public trust in government services.

The revisions focus on reducing the waiting period for claimants to receive their initial payment following an SSA decision. Key changes include simplifying the assessment process for determining a person’s ability to perform tasks related to previous work. Under the new criteria, applications involving past jobs that started or ended within 30 days of the application date will no longer be considered. Moreover, candidates are now required to document only five years of professional experience, compared to the previous requirement of fifteen years.