Social Security payment recipients across the country are monitoring their bank accounts to see if their funds will arrive this April.
The uncertainty comes on the heels of the Trump Administration and the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, aiming the Social Security Administration in their efforts to cut what they deem financial fraud and monetary waste in the department. The standoff got worse when a federal ruling blocked DOGE from accessing the personal data of Social Security recipients because it “intruded on the personal affairs of millions of Americans.”
The acting head of the SSA, Leland Dudek, cooperated with DOGE until that ruling was handed down and publicly decried the decision.
Will recipients still get their payments?
Despite the talk, the administration noted payments will go out as regularly scheduled in April.
Social Security payments for most recipients come out on Wednesdays throughout the month. So, if your birthdate falls between the first and 10th of the month, you are paid on the second Wednesday of the month; between the 11th and 20th, you’re paid on the third Wednesday, and if you were born after the 20th of the month, you get paid on the fourth Wednesday of the month, according to the Social Security Administration’s calendar.
What are the payment dates for 2025?
The administration’s calendar marks all the dates for the year when payments could be expected. They include:
Calendar irregularities with payments
In May, recipients will get two checks. The May payment is scheduled to be issued May 1, according to the SSA calendar, and the June SSI payment on May 30 – payments are issued early because June 1 falls on a weekend.
That means SSI beneficiaries will not receive a payment in June, as they did in March.
The administration also noted that SSI recipients will receive two checks in October but not one in November.
Do non-citizens receive payments?
The Social Security Administration, on its payment overview page, said “noncitizens of the United States must meet certain requirements to continue receiving benefits outside of the United States. We stop payments to noncitizens who do not meet these requirements after they are outside the United States for 6 calendar months in a row.”
The rule that allows them to receive payments applies to noncitizens “authorized to work in the United States who got a Social Security number after December 2003.”
My Social Security account
The administration also note it is changing its proof of identity requirements as of April 14, 2025.
“The updated measures will further safeguard Social Security records and benefits for millions of Americans against fraudulent activity,” the official website said.
Under the updated policy beginning April 14, 2025, individuals applying for Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare, or Supplemental Security Income who cannot use a personal my Social Security account can complete their claim entirely over the telephone without the need to come into an office.
Individuals who cannot use their personal My Social Security account to apply for benefits will only need to prove their identity at a Social Security office if applying for Retirement, Survivors, or Auxiliary (Spouse or Child) benefits.
Individuals who do not or cannot use the agency’s online My Social Security services to change their direct deposit information for any benefit will need to visit a Social Security office to process the change or can call 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an in-person appointment.
Kristian Jaime is the Top Story Reporter for the El Paso Times and is reachable at Kjaime@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Social Security payments April 2025 going to be on time amid DOGE worries?
Reporting by Kristian Jaime, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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