Millions of Americans depend on Social Security every month, and the September payment schedule is running as usual. However, for some beneficiaries, their checks could be smaller if they were previously overpaid by the Social Security Administration (SSA).
The agency has already started recovering such overpayments, which means recipients need to pay close attention.
Why some Social Security checks may be smaller
Back in April 2025, the SSA announced a new rule: if someone was overpaid in the past, the agency would begin deducting 50% of their monthly benefits to recover the money.
Overpayment notices were first sent on April 25, 2025.
Beneficiaries had 90 days (until late July) to respond, either by asking the SSA to review the notice, request a waiver, or negotiate a smaller repayment amount.
If no action was taken, the deductions automatically started after that 90-day window.
This means some people will now see reduced payments beginning with their September checks.
How common are Social Security overpayments?
Overpayments happen when benefits are miscalculated or when recipients do not update the SSA about income or living changes.
According to the SSA’s Office of Inspector General (August 2024 report):
Nearly $72 billion in improper payments were made between 2015 and 2022.
These errors accounted for less than 1% of the $8.6 trillion in benefits paid during that time.
As of September 2023, around $23 billion in overpayments remained uncollected.
So while overpayments are relatively rare, they still affect millions of people nationwide.
September 2025 Social Security payment schedule
Social Security follows a simple birthdate-based schedule:
Wednesday, Sept. 10: Birthdays between 1st–10th
Wednesday, Sept. 17: Birthdays between 11th–20th
Wednesday, Sept. 24: Birthdays between 21st–31st
Those who started receiving benefits before May 1997 are always paid on the 3rd of the month. This year, that date was Wednesday, Sept. 3.
This schedule helps recipients plan their monthly budgets in advance.
SSI payment schedule for September and beyond
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is paid on the first business day of the month, but holidays can shift dates. Since September 1, 2025, is Labor Day, SSI was issued early on Friday, Aug. 29.
Here are the upcoming SSI payment dates:
| Month Covered | Payment Date |
|---|---|
| September 2025 | Friday, Aug. 29, 2025 |
| October 2025 | Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 |
| November 2025 | Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 |
| December 2025 | Monday, Dec. 1, 2025 |
| January 2026 | Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025 |
| February 2026 | Friday, Jan. 30, 2026 |
| March 2026 | Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 |
What is SSI and who qualifies?
Supplemental Security Income is designed for people with limited income or resources. It covers:
Adults aged 65 and older
Adults or children who are blind
People with qualifying disabilities
To qualify, adults generally cannot earn more than $2,019 per month. Applications can be made online, at a local SSA office, or by calling 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
September brings a normal payment schedule for Social Security and SSI beneficiaries, but those affected by overpayment recovery will need to adjust their budgets.
With half of their monthly benefits withheld until debts are repaid, planning ahead becomes even more important. Knowing the exact dates of payments can help recipients prepare for expenses and avoid financial stress.
