Social Security Payment: Nearly half a million older Americans may see smaller Social Security checks this June as the federal government resumes garnishing benefits for defaulted student loans, according to recent data from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Approximately 450,000 Americans aged 62 and above are currently delinquent on their federal student loan payments. Starting May 5, the Treasury Offset Program has been reinstated, which permits the government to withhold up to 15% of Social Security benefits to recover unpaid student loan debts. For someone receiving the average monthly Social Security benefit of $1,976, this could reduce their payment by almost $296.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many borrowers were shielded from these deductions, but those protections were lifted earlier this year with the return of federal collections enforcement.
When Will Your June Payment Arrive?
Despite the resumption of offsets, most Social Security payments are expected to be paid on their usual dates:
- June 3: For beneficiaries who began receiving payments before May 1997
- June 11: For those with birthdays from the 1st to the 10th
- June 18: For birthdays from the 11th to the 20th
- June 25: For birthdays from the 21st to the 31st
Regarding Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients, no payment will be made in June because the June payment was issued early on May 30, since June 1 fell on a weekend. The next SSI payment will be made on July 1, 2025.
What to Do If Your Payment Is Missing
If your Social Security payment doesn’t arrive on time, the Social Security Administration advises waiting three business days before contacting your local SSA office or calling the national helpline. To prevent payment delays, signing up for direct deposit is strongly recommended.