SOME Americans are getting two checks worth thousands from the Social Security Administration this month.
The double direct payment from the SSA comes as part of a calendar quirk that happens every so often throughout the year.
Some Social Security recipients will see a double payment this month (stock image)[/caption]
According to a Monthly Statistical Snapshot from the federal agency in August, about 7.4 million people in the country currently get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
SSI offers specific assistance to those Americans who have limited income or resources and are either blind, disabled, or 65 and older.
Children with a qualifying disability can also get SSI.
All eligible recipients cannot have monthly wages over $2,019.
Those who have qualified and received payments so far in 2025 can get a maximum of $967 monthly from SSI as an individual and $1,450 as a married couple.
Exact amounts will vary depending on other factors.
To make everything smooth and easy to follow for recipients, the SSA has a Schedule of Social Security Benefit Payments it operates with.
SSI typically always goes out on the first date of each month, making for a reliable distribution Americans can count on.
DATE DEBACLE
Except, things can sometimes change depending on when federal holidays and weekends fall on the calendar, as the SSA doesn’t send out funds in either situation.
For example, last month September 1 was Labor Day — a federal holiday — as it fell on the first Monday of the month.
That’s why SSI recipients already got their distribution for September ahead of time on August 29, the next closest date on a standard business day.
There was also a distribution on August 1, meaning that August was a double payment month to make up for September.
October is also a double payment month to make up for November in 2025 for SSI recipients.
On Wednesday, the 7.4 million Americans who get the funds would’ve already gotten their first maximum payment of $1,450.
HOW TO SUPPLEMENT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
Here’s how to supplement your Social Security:
Given the uncertainty surrounding Social Security’s long-term future, it’s essential for workers to consider ways to supplement their retirement income.
Senior Citizens League executive director, Shannon Benton recommends starting early with savings and investing in retirement accounts like 401(k)s or IRAs.
- 401(k) Plans
- A 401(k) is a retirement account offered through employers, where contributions are tax-deferred.
- Many employers also match employee contributions, typically between 2% and 4% of salary, making it a valuable tool for building retirement savings.
- Maxing out your 401(k) contributions, especially if your employer offers a match, should be a priority.
- IRAs
- An Individual Retirement Account (IRA) offers another avenue for retirement savings.
- Unlike a 401(k), an IRA isn’t tied to your employer, giving you more flexibility in your investment choices.
- Contributions to traditional IRAs are tax-deductible, and the funds grow tax-free until they are withdrawn, at which point they are taxed as income.
MONEY MONTH
They’ll get another on Halloween, October 31, because the distribution on November 1 falls on a Saturday.
Again, that can’t happen, so the SSI payment is made ahead of time.
That means October will hold up to $2,900 in funds for some Americans, but it isn’t extra money, just early money.
December will also feature a double distribution, and there’ll be more cash in store.
Since January 1, 2026, also falls on a federal holiday, New Year’s Day, the SSI distribution will arrive on December 31.
Except, since it’s technically a 2026 payment, the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2026 would apply.
It’s currently estimated at about 2.8%, so SSI distributions for December 31 will have a new maximum of around $1,490.
The official COLA won’t be determined until October 15, according to the SSA.
As of September 30, a key payment method has also been scrapped for thousands of Social Security recipients.
An SSA fund is still expected to run out of money soon as well, but two senators have a plan to prevent it from happenings.
