Retirement and Survivor Payments: Timing, Amounts, and Account Services

This guide presents selected U.S. government consumer education from Social Security Administration. References to “we” or “us” in the source material refer to the issuing agency. Source dates and links appear below.

Introduction

This booklet explains some of your rights and responsibilities when you receive retirement or survivors’ benefits. We suggest you take time now to read this booklet, and then, put it in a safe place to refer to in the future.

If you also get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, read What You Need to Know When You Get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) (Publication No. 05-11011).

About your benefits

When and how we pay your benefits

We pay Social Security benefits monthly. The benefits are paid in the month that follows the month for which they are due. For example, you would receive your July benefit in August. Generally, the day of the month you receive your benefit payment depends on the birth date of the person for whose earnings record you receive benefits. For example, if you receive benefits as a retired worker, we base your benefit payment date on your birth date. If you receive benefits based on your spouse’s work, we base your benefit payment date on your spouse’s birth date.

If you receive both Social Security benefits and SSI, your Social Security benefit will arrive on the third of the month and your SSI payment will arrive on the first of the month.

Electronic payments

When you applied for Social Security benefits, you should have signed up to receive your payments electronically.

If you didn’t, signing up for direct deposit is a simple, secure way to receive your benefits. Contact your bank to help you sign up or you can start or change direct deposit online with your personal my Social Security account. If you don’t have an account, you can create one easily at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. You can also call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 to sign up. If you don’t have a bank account, you can choose to receive your payment through the Direct Express card program. With Direct Express , deposits from federal payments go directly to the card account. You can sign up for the Direct Express® card quick and easy. Call the toll-free Treasury Electronic Payment Solution Contact Center at 1-800-333-1795. Or sign up online at www.godirect.gov. We can help you sign up, too.

If you don’t receive your electronic payment on its due date, please contact your bank or financial institution first. They may experience a delay when your payment is posted. If you still need to report a late, missing, or stolen Social Security payment, call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). You can also contact your local Social Security office. We will review the case and if the payment is due, we will replace it.

If you receive an electronic payment that you know is not due to you, have your financial institution return it to the U.S. Treasury Department. If you knowingly accept payments that aren’t due to you, you may face criminal charges.

Paying taxes on your benefits

About 40% of all people who receive Social Security benefits have to pay taxes on their benefits. You’ll have to pay taxes on your benefits if you file a federal tax return as an individual, and your total income is more than $25,000. If you file a joint return, you’ll have to pay taxes if you and your spouse have a total income that is more than $32,000. If you are married and file separate returns, you probably will pay taxes on your benefits.

If you receive Social Security benefits, you can ask us to withhold funds from your benefits, and we will credit them toward your federal taxes. You can sign in to or create a personal my Social Security account to check, start, change, or stop your Voluntary Tax Withholding (VTW) request rate online.

You can also get a Form W-4V from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) when you call their toll-free phone number, 1-800-829-3676. Or you can download the form from www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4v.pdf. After you complete and sign the form, return it to your local Social Security office by mail or in person.

Services we offer

Free Social Security services

Some businesses advertise that they can change names or provide Social Security cards for a fee. We provide these services free, so don’t pay for them. Visit our website or call us first. We are the best place to get information about our services.

Information updates

Occasionally, we’ll send you important information about your Social Security benefits, such as:

• Cost-of-living adjustments. If the cost of living has increased, your benefit amount will increase automatically in January. We’ll let you know your new payment amount in advance.
• Annual earnings limit. If you’re younger than full retirement age, there is a limit to how much you can earn and still receive all of your Social Security benefits. This amount usually changes each year. We’ll let you know the new amount in advance.

Online my Social Security account

You can easily set up a secure and personal my Social Security account. This allows you to access your Social Security Statement (Statement), verify your earnings, and receive benefit estimates. You can also use your personal my Social Security account to request a replacement Social Security number (SSN) card. This service is available in most states and the District of Columbia.

If you receive benefits, you can also:

• Get your benefit verification letter
• Change your address and phone number
• Request a replacement Medicare card
• Get a replacement SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S for tax season
• Opt out of receipt by mail (for those notices available online)
• Start or change your direct deposit
• Make your Advance Designation of Representative Payee should you need one in the future

You can create your personal my Social Security account if you’re at least age 18 years old, have an SSN, and a valid email address. To create an account, go to www.ssa.gov/myaccount. To learn more, read How to Create an Online Account (Publication No. 05-10540).

Sources and publication details

• What You Need To Know When You Get Retirement Or Survivors Benefits — Social Security Administration; source date: January 2026; selected sections: Introduction; About your benefits; Services we offer.

The federal agency source text is U.S. government work in the public domain. Fynoptic selected, adapted, and formatted it for this guide. No agency endorsement is implied. Follow the linked sources for current program details and the rules applicable to your circumstances.