I have always gotten direct deposit from SS on the 3rd of the month. Always. Today I got a letter in the mail that says 'You will be receiving the benefit on or about December 31, 2015.

Anyone else have this happen?. I asked a friend and they changed hers also. Alan didn't get his letter yet.

For me, this is good becasue it's before the 1st and it's 4 days earlier than I usually get it.

Just curious

Thanks much

Melody

January 3 is a Sunday. In the days of US Mail, Sunday or Saturday checks are always issued on the Friday before. But the Friday before is a holiday. So the 31st is it.

Ah, so they actually didn't change anything. I will get it on December 31 (which is my January SS check, 2015, and in 2016, I'll get it February 3rd, right? did I get this right? I'm such a dummy when it comes to math. I can speak 5 languages but forget about me and math.

Thanks so much,

Melody

Did the letter say for this one time payment or , all payment dates into the future?
The letter should have been be more clearly written if you are not sure what it is telling you..

In former years, everyone got their check on the 3rd of the month.

I was under the impression that direct deposits are made according to the DATE of your birthday. I don't remember the EXACT schedule but it is something like this,......

born on the first through 6th of any month, your $ is deposited the FIRST WEDNESDAY of the month.

born on a date falling from the 7th through the 13th, your $ is deposited the SECOND WEDNESDAY of the month.

born on a date falling from the 14th through the 20th, your $ is deposited on the THIRD WEDNESDAY of the month.

born on a date falling from the 21st through the 31st, your $ is deposited on the FOURTH WEDNESDAY of the month.

Remember these are NOT the exact dates. I need to look them up to post the correct ones.

The MONTH and YEAR you were born have nothing to do with the schedule. It is the DATE, the middle number of your birthdate that decides where you fall on the schedule.

I also do not know if this schedule is just for people that went onto Social Security AFTER this was developed and those receiving benefits stayed on the OLD schedule of the 3rd of the month or not.

I will post another message with the CORRECT dates in a few minutes when I look them up.

https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10031-2016.pdf

OK, I looked it up. The link above is the schedule. I had it wrong.

If you were receiving benefits prior to May 1997, you remain on the schedule of the 3rd of every month.

If you began receiving benefits AFTER that date, you get your benefits on the 2nd Wed of the month if born on the 1st through 10th.

On the 3rd Wed of the month if born from the 11th through the 20th.

And on the 4th Wed of the month if born from the 21st to the 31st.

The first Wednesday of the month is not a payment date.

Before someone getting benefits says they get their benefits on the first of the month,... that is for SSI payments.

Bottom line, I think Janke gave you the PROPER answer. Of course, I should have realized that when I saw from whom the post was made.

Sorry I spoke before checking my facts. From your post, I thought maybe they were moving EVERYONE to the staggered Wednesday schedule.

Always trust Janke. That is all I can say.