There are approximately 67 million Americans who rely on Social Security every month. According to government data, approximately 173,226 of them call New Jersey home. Even though the program is fairly well known, there are sometimes where one may be confused, as figuring out when payments arrive or which program a person is on can be challenging.
Why Your Check Might Be Smaller This Month
If you have noticed that your Social Security benefit payment may have decreased, there is a good change that it’s because the Social Security Administration (SSA) is recovering an overpayment that was made to you in the past.
It is important to remember that overpayments can occur for various reasons. Perhaps beneficiaries may have forgotten to update their personal details or maybe the SSA incorrectly calculated benefits.
The SSA started alerting beneficiaries who were overpaid in the past. Beneficiaries had 90 days from the date of the notice to either (a) request a waiver, (b) dispute the amount, or (c) apply for a lower repayment rate. The grace period ended in late July. As of 24th July, the SSA started withholding 50% benefits until the overpayment amount was repaid.
According to the SSA’s Office of the Inspector General, between the years 2015 and 2022, approximately $72 billion in improper payments were sent.
When to Expect Your Social Security Check in August
Your payment date is determined by your birthdate:
- Wednesday, August 13 – for people born between the 1st and the 10th
- Wednesday, August 20 – for people born between the 11th and the 20th
- Wednesday, August 27 – for people born between the 21st and the 31st
These payments are the usual retirement benefits which are based on taxable income. During your years of employment, you and your employer paid taxes which contributed to Social Security. Now, in your retirement years, those payments come to you as monthly income. This can significantly help you manage your essential expenses.
What About SSI (Supplemental Security Income)?
It is important to remember that not all payments are for retirement benefits. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a separate program which is based on needs. This program is meant for individuals who are 65 or older, blind, or disable.
In order to meet the requirements off this program, most recipients must earn less than $2,019 per month. SSI payments follow a different payment schedule as compared to Social Security retirement payments. SSI payments are sent out on the first day of the month, unless that day falls on a weekend or government holiday.
Here’s the upcoming SSI payment calendar:
- Friday, August 1, 2025 – August payment (already sent)
- Friday, August 29, 2025 – for September
- Wednesday, October 1, 2025 – for October
- Friday, October 31, 2025 – for November
- Monday, December 1, 2025 – for December
- Wednesday, December 31, 2025 – for January 2026
- Friday, January 30, 2026 – for February 2026
- Friday, February 27, 2026 – for March 2026
What Can You Expect for the 2026 COLA Increase?
Each year, the Social Security benefits are adjusted in order for beneficiaries to keep up with inflation. This is referred to as Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). This information is calculated using data from the third-quarter of the previous and is usually announced in October.
Currently, the projected COLA is a 2.5% increase for 2026. That projection comes from Mary Johnson, a longtime Social Security and Medicare policy expert with the Senior Citizens League.
Mary also notes that the final value could increase, depending on the economic circumstances. Even though this value seems likely, it may change in the future, especially if President Donald Trump’s tariff grows stronger.