By Hillary Hatch, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist
Questions and Answers
Question:
I usually get my benefit payment on the third of the month. But what if the third falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday? Will my payment be late?
Answer:
Just the opposite. Your payment should arrive early. For example, if you usually get your payment on the third of a month, but it falls on a weekend or legal holiday, we will send payments on the business day prior to the due date. You can find the payment schedules at www.ssa.gov/pubs/calendar.htm. Any time you don’t receive a payment, be sure to wait 3 days before calling to report it missing. To ensure that your payments go to the right place, create a personal my Social Security account. There, you can verify and manage your benefits without calling or visiting an office. Please visit www.ssa.gov/myaccount to create your account.
Question:
What is the average Social Security payment that a person receives each month?
Answer:
The average monthly Social Security benefit for a retired worker in 2023 is $1,827.00. The average monthly Social Security benefit for a worker with a disability in 2023 is $1,483.00.
Question:
How can I get a copy of my Social Security Statement?
Answer:
You can get your personal Social Security Statement online by using your personal my Social Security account. If you don’t yet have an account, you can easily create one. Your online Statement gives you secure and convenient access to your earnings records. It also shows estimates for retirement, disability, and survivors benefits you and your family may be eligible for.
To set up or use your account to get your online Social Security Statement, go to www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
We also mail Statements to workers age 60 and over who aren’t receiving Social Security benefits and do not yet have a my Social Security account. We mail the Statements three months prior to your birthday.
Question:
I’m trying to figure out how much I need to save for my retirement. Does the government offer any help with financial education?
Answer: Yes. For starters, you may want to find out what you can expect from Social Security with a visit to Social Security’s Retirement Estimator at www.ssa.gov/estimator. The Financial Literacy and Education Commission has a website that can help you with the basics of financial education: www.mymoney.gov. Finally, you’ll want to check out the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which offers educational information on a number of financial matters, including mortgages, credit cards, retirement, and other big decisions. Visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at www.consumerfinance.gov.
Hillary Hatch is the Public Affairs Specialist for West Michigan. You can write her c/o Social Security Administration, 3045 Knapp NE, Grand Rapids MI 49525 or via email at hillary.hatch@ssa.gov