What Hurricane Milton Means for Social Security Payments

As Hurricane Milton makes its way across Florida, some seniors may be concerned about how it affects their Social Security payments.
Social Security payments are scheduled to arrive for millions of seniors on Wednesday, but those who didn’t opt for direct deposit could see their payments impacted as a result of the hurricane, which is expected to hit many parts of Florida late Wednesday/early Thursday.
The majority of beneficiaries have selected direct deposit as their payment option, but for those who typically receive a check and live in the impacted hurricane area, the Social Security Administration has advice on how to secure your payments.
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“The good news is with most seniors opting for their Social Security checks via direct deposit, there shouldn’t be a delay in most receiving their benefits in the coming weeks,” Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek.
“However, if you do receive your check physically, and fail to do so, this is an area where the Social Security Administration is typically more accommodating.”
When Social Security payments are sent out depends on the recipient’s birthday.
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For Wednesday, October 9, beneficiaries who have a birthday between the 1st and 10th of the month should expect to receive payments.
Those who were born between the 11th and 20th will see payments on October 16, while those born between the 21st and 31st will get checks on October 23.
However, if you filed for Social Security before May 1997, your payments came early, on October 3. And everyone who receives Supplemental Security Income gets paid on the first day of the month.
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While most recipients aren’t getting their payments today and those that are can mostly anticipate a direct deposit into their bank account, some beneficiaries receive payments via a physical check mailed to them.
“If you do not receive your regularly scheduled payment from Social Security as a result of severe weather or other emergencies, please call your local Social Security office,” the SSA writes on its website. “You can find the phone number for your local office by using our Field Office Locator and looking under Additional Office Information.”
Newsweek reached out to the SSA for comment via phone and email.
Many local Social Security offices have had to close their doors temporarily because of the hurricane.
According to the Social Security website, the following Social Security hearing offices are able to provide assistance by telephone only on October 9 and 10.
Fort Walton is able to provide assistance by telephone only on October 9.
The following Social Security offices are closed on October 9.
These Social Security hearing offices will also be closed through October 10.
The SSA urges concerned beneficiaries to call 1-800-772-1213 for assistance.
Beene said by calling your local office, you can also share if you missed a payment. Those who are natural disaster victims should be able to get an expedited check.
“Just know that it can be a process, and in a situation like this one where potentially many others could be affected, you may have to be prepared to wait to speak with a representative to share your details,” Beene said.
But even beyond the delayed checks, the storm could create severe consequences for Social Security recipients in Florida, said Michael Ryan, a finance expert and founder of michaelryanmoney.com.
Ryan urged beneficiaries to set aside some emergency cash from an ATM as soon as possible and reach out to your bank about short-term loans or overdraft protection as a disaster relief option.
“Disruptions in mail service could delay paper checks,” he told Newsweek. “I’ve seen how this can create some serious stress, particularly for those living paycheck-to-paycheck. Power outages and network failures will likely disrupt direct deposits, too. This isn’t just an inconvenience. It can be bad for those who depend on that money for their basic needs.”