As the end of 2023 approaches, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is sending out the last batch of payments for the year.
Every month, the agency issues more than 70 million payments to program beneficiaries, which include individuals and adults with disabilities, as well as retired workers.
According to official SSA figures, the average payment for a retired worker in 2023 is $1,827. The exact figure received varies depending on various factors, such as years worked, salary received and the taxes paid during that same period, in addition to the beneficiary’s age at the time of requesting their retirement.
As for people with disabilities generally fall into the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) category of recipients, the average monthly check payment for 2023 is $914 for individuals and up to $1,371 for couples filing taxes together.
How are Social Security payments distributed?
The date of distribution of the payment depends on the day of birth of the person receiving the benefits. Those born from the 1st to the 10th receive the payment on the second Wednesday of the month. Those with a birth date from the 11th to the 20th receive it on the third Wednesday, and those from the 21st to the 31st, the last.
The only people who do not fall into the previous scheme are SSI beneficiaries and those retired workers who requested their benefits before May 1997, since they receive the checks during the first days of the month, regardless of their day of birth.
Who will receive $1,800 from Social Security on December 13?
Considering the average amount and payment schedule, the people who receive an approximate check of $1,800 this Wednesday, Dec. 20, are those retired workers who requested the benefit after May 1997 and were also born from the 11th to the 20th of their respective month. As for the rest of the beneficiaries, the missing payments for the month of December are as follows:
- December 27: Beneficiaries with a date of birth from the 21st to the 31st
- December 29: The January 2024 payment is brought forward for SSI beneficiaries since the usual payment day falls on a holiday.
Payments are sent via direct deposit to those who have provided a bank account to the Social Security Administration, which is now federally mandated since 2013. Less than one percent still receive their payment as a paper check via postal mail, which may take additional days to arrive.
The Social Security Administration recommends that those who still receive their benefits in the mail sign up for direct deposit either at their local office or using my Social Security account.
According to the SSA, if you don’t receive your payment when you expect it, wait three days to give allowance for additional shipping needs before contacting Social Security.