SSI Recipients to Receive Extra Payments in November Due to Calendar Shift

People who receive Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, will get two checks in November instead of one.

People who rely on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will notice a temporary adjustment in their payment schedule next month, receiving two payments in November. This unusual occurrence is due to the way the calendar aligns with federal payment rules.

Typically, SSI payments are issued on the first of each month. However, when the first falls on a weekend or a holiday, the Social Security Administration (SSA) sends out the payments on the preceding weekday. Since December 1st lands on a Sunday this year, SSI recipients will receive their December payment on Friday, November 29th.

This adjustment means there will be no SSI payment at the beginning of December, but beneficiaries will not miss out on any funds; the schedule merely shifts the timing. Additionally, recipients can expect the next payment for January 2025 to be issued on December 31st, due to New Year’s Day being a holiday. This pattern will repeat in January, with the February payment moving up to January 31st because February 1st is a Saturday.

Notably, this scheduling shift isn't new. A similar adjustment occurred earlier this year, when the September payment was disbursed in late August due to Labor Day.

SSI beneficiaries can also look forward to a slight increase in their late-December payment, as a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment kicks in for January 2025.

For those planning ahead, the Social Security Administration provides annual calendars showing the exact payment dates. The 2024 calendar can be viewed here, and the 2025 calendar is available here.

It's important to note that while many still refer to these disbursements as "checks," all Social Security payments are now made electronically, in compliance with federal law.

Supplemental Security Income is a program separate from Social Security benefits, aimed at assisting those who are 65 or older, as well as individuals with disabilities and those who are blind, regardless of their work history. This program is need-based and income-based, distinct from Social Security, which is based on lifetime earnings.