Is Your July Social Security Check Missing? Here's What to Do

Didn't receive your July Social Security payment? It could be for a few reasons. We'll fill you in.

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We're just a few days away from August, and Social Security payments should be rolling out soon, but some of you may still be waiting on your July payment. Your benefits check should arrive around the same time each month, which the agency sets based on how long you've received benefits and your date of birth.

If you're still waiting, a late payment doesn't always mean you won't get your money. You may be missing a payment because you closed your bank account, for example, or moved. Whatever the case, it's best to call the Social Security Administration to find out what's going on. We'll explain how to do this below.

Here's why your Social Security benefits might be late and what to do about it. For more, here's what happens if you get a Social Security overpayment and why you might still need your cost-of-living adjustment letter.

Why your Social Security payment could be missing

Here's why your Social Security payment might not have made it into your bank account last month.

Your banking information has changed: If you recently changed your banking information and didn't update your Social Security account, this could be why you didn't receive your money.

You recently moved: If your address has changed since your last Social Security payment, this could cause a delay in your benefits.

You just applied for benefits: If you recently applied for Social Security benefits, it'll take a couple of months before you begin receiving benefits. Roughly 30 days after applying, you'll receive a letter that shows your anticipated benefits start date.

The Social Security Administration stopped your benefits: The SSA can terminate your benefits if you begin working and your income exceeds the maximum amount allowed. Your benefits can also be suspended if you've been in jail longer than 30 days. Here's more on how you could lose your benefits .

The Social Security offices are experiencing delays: If the Social Security office that handles your payments has a problem, like a staffing shortage, it could potentially delay your benefits.

Check the status of your Social Security benefits

If you applied for benefits but haven't received a letter in the mail and it's been 30 or more days, you can check the status of your application. You'll need to log in to your My Social Security account or create one if you haven't already.

Once you're in, you can see your current claim location, as well as the scheduled hearing date and time.

If it's been more than 30 days and you haven't heard from the Social Security Administration, it may be best to call or visit your local office for more information.

How to report a missing payment

If your Social Security direct deposit didn't arrive in your bank account on the typical scheduled day, call your bank. They might be able to tell you if there's a delay in posting your payment.

If your bank doesn't see any pending payments, it may be time to call the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 or contact your local Social Security office. Someone in the office will review your case and if they find a payment is due to you, they will send it.

For more information, here's the maximum amount of Social Security money you can receive each month. Here's a Social Security cheat sheet for all your questions.