How Are Payment Dates Chosen for SSDI and SSI? 

The shortest answer to the question above is that your disability payments will arrive based on your birthdate as well as the type of benefit you receive. 
 

SSI Disability Payments 

Social Security Income payments arrive on the first day of the month. Should that day fall on a weekend or legal holiday, the monies will arrive the day before. As an example, if the first of the month is a Saturday, you will see the funds deposited, or a check will arrive on the Friday before.
 

How long does it take for the very first SSI payment to appear in a bank account (or a check to arrive)? Most recipients indicate that they receive their award letters and then see payments from three to seven weeks afterward. 

SSDI Disability Payments 

The Social Security Disability Insurance payments will appear based on your birthday (if you started to receive them after 1997). They are broken out into the following dates for mailed checks or direct deposits: 

• Birthdates of the first through the tenth of the month get their payments the second Wednesday of the month 
• Birthdates on the 11th through the 20th of the month get their payments the third Wednesday of the month 
• Birthdates on the 21st through the 31st of the month get checks the fourth Wednesday of the month 

And what if your benefits began prior to 1997? If so, your payments always arrive the third day of the month, and if that date falls on a weekend or a legal holiday, the funds are direct deposited or will be due to arrive the Friday or banking day prior. Those who are receiving payments on this basis may also elect to have a new payment date, with the same birthdate figures being used to apply the new payment date.  

SSI and SSDI Combined 

There are many who receive their Social Security Income and their Social Security Disability Insurance payments as a single monthly payment. If that is the case, the payment will be direct deposited on the third day of the month. Once again, if that day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday (meaning banks may be closed), the payment is sent the banking day prior to the weekend. This date can be changed to fall within that same formula that uses birthdates to determine deposit or mailing dates.
 

Right now, the Social Security Administration prefers that all Social Security Disability Insurance recipients have their payments issued via a direct deposit into their bank or through an electronic transfer account. They also use their Direct Express card program that works like a debit card.