5 really bad consequences of filing for Social Security at 62 — are you making the wrong move?

This week, millions of Americans will receive their regular Social Security payments as scheduled. The next payment is set to arrive on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, for beneficiaries whose birthdays range from the 21st to the last day of the month. The Social Security Administration (SSA) distributes these payments in accordance with a predetermined schedule, with September 9 marking the payment date for those born between the 1st and 10th, and September 16 for those born between the 11th and 20th.

The September 23rd payment marks the last in the month's regular sequence of payments for those with birthdays in that range.

Most retirees receive monthly payments of around $2,071, according to the SSA's January 2026 estimates, which took the year's 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment into account. The $5,181 figure represents the maximum monthly Social Security retirement benefit for someone who delays claiming benefits until age 70 and has earned at or above the taxable maximum for roughly 35 years. While this amount is an impressive ceiling, it is far beyond what the majority of retirees will receive.

Social Security payments can vary based on factors such as a person's earnings history and the age at which they claim benefits. Those who began receiving benefits before May 1997 typically receive their payments on the third of the month. Individuals who also receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) follow a different payment schedule. In September, SSI payments were disbursed on the 1st, while certain Social Security recipients outside the regular payment schedule received their funds on September 3.