Social Security

Identification Number:	EM-23030
Intended Audience:	All RCs/ARCs/ADs/FOs/TSCs/PSCs/OCO/OCO-CSTs
Originating Office:	DCBFM OFPO
Title:	Updates to Cutoff Dates related to Payment Cycles 2 & 3
Type:	EM - Emergency Messages
Program:	Title II (RSI); Disability
Link To Reference:	See References at the end of this EM.

Retention Date: May 31, 2023



A. Purpose

The purpose of this emergency message (EM) is to inform Social Security field office (FO) and Processing Center (PC) technicians about systems changes that will impact Post-Entitlement (PE) events to payment cutoff dates related to cycles 2 and 3 during a window period.

B. Background

As described in GN 02407.005, SSA created additional days throughout the month on which to pay recurring monthly Old Age Survivor Disability (OASDI) benefit payments for newly entitled individuals. The current delivery schedule is called payment cycling and includes payment cycles 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Current operating month (COM) is a term used to describe the period of time during which PE changes may be processed to affect the payment due for the current month. The last run date is referred to as the “cutoff” date for COM (see SM 00601.000). All PE transactions completed the day before COM ends will affect the next payment due. The last day to input PE transactions through the system to effectuate changes for the current month's payment is the day before the last day of COM.

The “window” is the period of time from the end of COM up to a specific weekday before the cycled payment is due, depending on the payment cycle. The window is the period during which certain PE inputs may be effective for the upcoming payment.


C. Procedure

Effective May 1, 2023, systems changes will affect the window cutoff dates for payment cycles 2 and 3 only. Revisions made to GN 02407.010 will reflect the systems changes and will include a “rules chart” and exceptions due to federal holidays.

The schedule below reflects the scheduled window period for each payment cycle up until May 2023. Window cutoff days capture PE inputs by "close of business" (COB).

PRIOR TO MAY 2023

CYCLE #	ASSIGNED PAYMENT DAY	WINDOW CUTOFF
1	3rd of the Month	For check payments: COB last day of COM For direct deposit payments: four days prior to payment
2	Second Wednesday	COB Wednesday of the week prior to payment
3	Third Wednesday	COB Wednesday of the week prior to payment
4	Fourth Wednesday	COB Wednesday of the week prior to payment

EFFECTIVE MAY 2023 - the window period changes cycles 2 and 3 only.

CYCLE #	ASSIGNED PAYMENT DAY	WINDOW CUTOFF
1	3rd of the Month	For check payments: COB last day of COM For direct deposit payments: four days prior to payment
2	Second Wednesday	COB Thursday of the week prior to payment
3	Third Wednesday	COB Thursday of the week prior to payment
4	Fourth Wednesday	COB Wednesday of the week prior to payment

Exceptions

· If the COM for the next month's payment ends before the window would normally close, the window closes the day before the Last Day of COM. Inputs during a window can affect only the current COM or the COM for the prior month, not the COM two months prior to the current COM.

For Cycles 2 & 3:

· If a federal holiday falls on a Thursday or Friday before the payment date, the window will end one day early (COB Wednesday of the week prior to payment).

· If a federal holiday falls on the Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday in the week of payment (i.e., the week after the window period), the window will end one day early (COB Wednesday of the week prior to payment).

For Cycle 4:

· If a federal holiday falls on a Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday before the payment day, the window will end one day early (COB Tuesday of the week prior to payment).

· If a federal holiday falls on the Monday or Tuesday in the week of payment (i.e., the week after the window period), the window will not end one day early.

Direct all program-related and technical questions to your Regional Office (RO) support staff using vHelp or Processing Center (PC) Operations Analysis (OA) staff. RO support staff or PSC OA staff may refer questions, concerns, or problems to their Central Office contacts.

References:

GN 02407.005 Payment Cycling
GN 02407.010 Processing Post-Entitlement (PE) Events for Cycles 2, 3, and 4 During a “Window” Period
SM 00601.000 Post-entitlement System Operating Month

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