Even though the month of March has only just begun, many households in the United States have already exhausted their Social Security benefits. This is because the administration’s payment schedule follows a set pattern that we cannot change.
Thus, if we have regular expenses to consider, we must always plan our activities around the day of Social Security collection. This ensures that we always have enough money to pay our bills, mortgage, and other expenses like groceries and gas.
However, there are some retirees who get paid almost at the end of the month. In this case, it is possible that we will need some kind of extra benefit, such as SNAP or SSI, in order to pay all the bills without having to delay those payments.
Last Social Security payment for a group
Group 1 retirees receive the last of their Social Security payments this week in March. This group can receive payment on two different days, depending on the collection method they select. After receiving this payment, the beneficiary will need to wait until April for a new check.
If we are in group 1, which means we have a benefit accepted before May 1997, we can receive the March payment on:
- March 3rd. If we have activated Direct Deposit, the payment arrives immediately.
- March 4th, 5th or 6th. Without this method of collection the money may arrive a few days later. It usually takes a maximum of three days to appear in the checking account.
After that collection we will have to wait until April 3rd to be able to receive a new check. Therefore, it is important to always keep in mind that payments arrive from month to month and we must make a budget with the money we receive.
How to claim a late payment from Social Security?
Social Security payments are rarely late, but if we do not receive them on time, we should file a claim. There are two steps to claiming late payments.
The first of these steps is to contact your bank. Our bank should be able to notify us if there is an issue with the Social Security check. It’s also possible that the bank is withholding the money for a variety of reasons, including a debt.
If the bank is unable to assist us in determining the status of our benefit, we must contact the Social Security Administration. They should be able to resolve any issues concerning the delay in our payments.