Millions of Americans receive monthly payments from the Social Security Administration (SSA). These payments help people who are retired, disabled, or receiving survivor or supplemental income benefits. In August 2025, the payments are being made as scheduled, but there’s an important update that some people need to know about.
The SSA is now taking steps to recover money from overpayments made in previous years. This means some people could see up to 50% of their monthly Social Security check withheld if they were paid too much earlier and haven’t started paying it back yet.
Why Is the SSA Withholding Money?
A report by the SSA’s Office of Inspector General found that $13.6 billion was overpaid between 2020 and 2023. Many of these overpayments happened because some beneficiaries didn’t report important changes in their income or health. This kind of information affects how much money they should receive from Social Security.
To recover these overpayments, the SSA is starting to deduct money from some checks. If you’ve been overpaid and haven’t made a repayment plan, you might notice a smaller deposit in August or later.
SSA Payment Dates Still Pending in August 2025
There are three payment dates left in August, based on your birth date. Here’s the full schedule:
Wednesday, August 13: For people born between the 1st and 10th
Wednesday, August 20: For people born between the 11th and 20th
Wednesday, August 27: For people born between the 21st and 31st
If your birth date falls in any of these groups and you haven’t received your deposit yet, it should be coming on the corresponding Wednesday.
What If You Don’t Get Your Payment?
If your payment doesn’t show up on the expected date, don’t worry. First, check your My Social Security account online to see your payment status. If it still hasn’t arrived or there’s a problem, you should contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) directly for help.
Who Gets Social Security Payments?
SSA payments are meant to support people in specific situations. You may receive benefits if you are part of one of these groups:
Retired individuals receiving retirement benefits
People with disabilities getting Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
Family members of deceased workers receiving survivor benefits
Low-income individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
If you qualify under any of these programs, you should get your payments according to the monthly schedule.
