Government Benefits Timing at Chime: SSI, SSA, and VA Payments

Government benefits payments are available to a wide range of people: retired Americans, veterans with disabilities, and people with limited income who are blind or have a qualifying disability.

Here are the three most common types of government benefits in the US:

• Social Security payments: When you retire, you’ll probably receive Social Security Administration (SSA) payments. You’re eligible for this monthly benefit if you’re 62 or older and worked (and paid into Social Security) for at least 10 years. You may also be entitled to benefits based on a current or former spouse’s employment.¹
• SSI payments: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits are designed for people with limited income who 1) are blind, 2) are 65 or older, or 3) have a qualifying disability. These payments are separate from SSA payments; you can qualify for both.²
• VA payments: If you are a veteran with a service-connected condition (an illness or injury caused or exacerbated by your time in the military), you can qualify for tax-free, monthly benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.³
  Wondering when you’ll receive your government benefits in your Checking Account? Find out how bank holiday schedules can impact direct deposits.

So when are Social Security benefits paid, and how do those payment dates differ from SSI payments and VA benefits? Let’s look at the payment schedule for each type of government benefit:

When do I get Social Security (SSA) benefits?

The calendar for Social Security benefits can seem a little confusing at first glance, but once you know how it operates, it’s fairly straightforward.

If you started to receive your SSA payments before May 1, 1997, you will always receive your monthly Social Security benefit on the 1st of the month (or the first business day of the month, depending on weekends and holidays).

If you made your first SSA claim after May 1, 1997, your payment will fall on either the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of the month, depending on your day of birth:

If the Wednesday of your payment is a federal holiday, you’ll receive your payment on the first preceding day that is not a government holiday (or weekend).⁴

When do I get SSI benefits?

Supplemental Security Income payments are more straightforward than SSA monthly benefits. Everyone, regardless of birth date, receives their SSI payments on the first of the month.

If the 1st of the month falls on a weekend or bank holiday, recipients will receive their payment on the final Friday of the month before.⁴

When do I get VA benefits?

Similarly, VA benefits are paid out on the 1st of the month. If the 1st falls on a weekend or holiday, recipients will get their payment early, on the last business day of the preceding month.⁵

Having trouble envisioning when you’ll get your VA, SSI, and SSA monthly benefits? The calendars below detail payment dates through the end of 2025 for each of these benefit types:

November 2024

December 2024

While the timing of your government benefits is generally predictable, a couple of factors can impact when the payments actually land in your bank account, including:

Government payment delays

Your SSA, SSI, and VA payments may rarely be delayed by issues with processing and clearing times, though this is not common. Wait three business days⁶ before contacting Social Security or the VA if you don’t see your benefit payment in your bank account by the scheduled date.

Weekends and holidays

Great news: government benefits sometimes hit your account early if the scheduled date is on a weekend or government holiday! Check out our federal and banking holiday schedule to track all the dates that might prompt early benefits payments.

There’s another reason you might get your benefits payments early: some financial institutions help you get payments, including your paycheck and government benefits, ahead of schedule.

For instance, when you set up direct deposit with Chime, you can automatically get your paycheck up to 2 days early.^*

Want to access your paycheck and government benefits before your scheduled date? Here’s how to set up direct deposit through Chime.

Early access to your government benefits is just one of the many ways that Chime takes the stress out of managing your money. Open a Chime^® checking account and set up direct deposit to unlock other benefits, like fee-free overdraft⁷ and a network of more than 50,000 fee-free ATMs.⁸

Want to do more with your Chime account? Join our community groups on Reddit and Facebook for helpful resources, including real-time updates about government benefits payment dates.