What happens if your social security check is late and how do you stop it from happening?

Those who receive social security get it either by check in the mail or direct deposited into their bank accounts.

Sometimes the payment doesn’t appear when it’s supposed to.

The Social Security Administration sends the checks in staggered ways to make sure people get them in the correct timeframe. The checks are deposited on Wednesdays normally.

Sometimes there are exceptions.

When you get the money depends on your birthday. If you have an earlier birthday, your check comes earlier in the month. Later birthdays will get later checks.

If your birthday is the 1st through 10th, you’ll get your payment on the second Wednesday of each month. If your birthday is the 11th through the 20th, you get your payments on the third Wednesday of each month. If your birthday is between the 21st and 31st, you’ll get your payment the fourth Wednesday of every month.

Reasons your payments may be late and what to do

If you’re getting your first payment, it may take up to 90 days to receive. If you get your payment regularly and over a week passes, that is a delay.

There may be a slowdown in processing checks at the SSA office. If you changed your address and forgot to notify the SSA, you may also experience a delay. You may also have changed bank accounts, which could cause a delay.

If you believe it’s late because it may have been stolen you need to notify the SSA office immediately.

If it’s due to a change in banking or personal information, notify the SSA office by phone during the week.

Any other delays, wait three days. If it does not arrive, contact the SSA office.

Related: What happens if you want to return to work after you already claimed social security?

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