Social Security payment missing? Here’s what you can do

(NewsNation) — Social Security payments have been adjusted, with larger payments coming for some recipients. But what should you do if you don’t receive your payment?

If you recently applied for benefits, you may need to wait a bit longer. According to Social Security, the agency will mail you a benefits letter within 10 business days of applying. This letter will show your expected start date for your benefits.

But if you know your expected start date and still haven’t received your payment, there are several steps you can take. The first? Check to make sure you know the Social Security payment schedule.

How to check the Social Security payment schedule

You can find the Social Security payment schedule for 2025 and 2026 on the agency’s website. For May, the payment schedule is:

Wednesday, May 14: Birth dates between the 1st and 10th
Wednesday, May 21: Birth dates between the 11th and 20th
Wednesday, May 28: Birth dates between the 21st and 31st

If you receive Supplemental Security Income, you will receive two payments in May — one on May 1 and one on May 30.

Contact your bank about your missing Social Security payment

If you didn’t receive your Social Security payment when you should have, you should check with your bank first. Your bank can tell you if your account has any pending payments on the way. If your bank doesn’t see any pending payments, you will need to contact Social Security.

Contact the Social Security Administration

To contact the Social Security Administration, visit a local office or call the agency at 800-772-1213. Someone with the agency should be able to review your case and explain why you never received your payment.

According to the agency, if a payment is due and hasn’t been received, they will replace it.

Why could my Social Security payment be delayed?

According to CNET, there are several reasons why your Social Security payment could be late. Those include:

Your application is new and hasn’t been processed
You changed addresses
Social Security is experiencing delays

Your payment could also be delayed due to your benefits being suspended. This can happen for many reasons — for example, if you get married or divorced, or if you change your direct deposit information. You can also temporarily lose benefits if you go to jail or prison for more than one month.

Sign up for a Social Security account online

Signing up for a My Social Security account online can help you monitor your benefits. To do so, you can create an account here. This account will allow you to see the status of your Social Security application, as well as: