Victoria E. Freile, Emily Barnes and James Ward, Palm Springs Desert Sun
Some Social Security beneficiaries may have noticed something unusual for next month's schedule - an extra SSI check payment to be paid in November.
The slight change on the Social Security Administration's calendar may not come as a shock to those keeping a close eye on the administration's 2024 timetable, which outlines dates for different types of payments throughout the year. However, for those used to seeing money land in their accounts once a month, the adjustment may cause a bit of confusion.
It comes with a simple explanation - the calendar. But with roughly 7.5 million people receiving SSI benefits in 2024, even a seemingly minor modification can spark uncertainty.
The same fluke that results in two November checks will mean that no SSI check will arrive in December. SSI recipients faced the same situation in August when they received two checks and no SSI check in September.
Here's what to know about SSI benefits this November:
Recipients of Supplemental Security Income will technically receive two November checks due to a scheduling quirk. Usually, SSI benefits, which are payments for low-income seniors and disabled people, come on the first business day of each month but since Dec. 1 falls on a Sunday this year, SSI payments for December will be distributed the Friday before, according to the SSA calendar.
As a result, SSI checks will be issued on the following November dates:
Supplemental Security Income, also known as SSI, is different from Social Security retirement benefits.
As explained by AARP, the SSA distributes SSI benefits but does not pay for them. While Social Security benefits are funded largely by income taxes, SSI is financed by the U.S. Treasury and state-level supplements.
SSI is meant to benefit older people and people with disabilities who fall under a certain income threshold. While a variety of factors go into determining eligibility, the SSA says adults or children may be entitled to the benefits if they have:
The maximum monthly benefit available for an individual in 2024 is $943 and $1,415 for couples if both parties qualify.
SSI benefits are different from what is commonly referred to as "disability" or Social Security Disability Insurance, which is determined by work history. SSDI pays benefits to people who have a disability and have contributed an ample amount to Social Security via income taxes after working enough years to qualify. SSI, on the other hand, does not require a work history.
The Social Security Administration announced in early October that the 2025 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will be 2.5%, a smaller increase over 2024's 3.2% increase. Average beneficiaries will see their monthly payments rise by $50 next year to $1,957, up from $1,907 in January 2024. Annual COLA keeps beneficiaries' purchasing power from being eroded by inflation.
Payments vary based on several factors, including years worked, total Social Security taxes paid, and retirement age:
The SSA releases its yearly distribution schedules well ahead. So recipients can start planning ahead with the already-released 2025 calendar. As it stands, several months in 2025 will follow a similar pattern to this November's SSI payment quirk.
Recipients of typical Social Security retirement benefits will receive them as usual this month according to SSA:
Last week, the SSA announced that it will be rolling out a new, streamlined process for Americans to apply for SSI benefits later this year.
The new online system, called iClaim, will feature simpler, plain-language questions meant to expedite the process for both applicants and claims processors, according to a press release from the agency.
Not all applicants will immediately be able to access the new system when it begins rolling out, however. The SSA said the phase in December will generally be available for first-time applicants between 18 and almost 65 who never married and are concurrently applying for Social Security benefits and SSI.
The second phase to expand this to all applicants is slated for 2025.
According to the Social Security Administration website, California had 1.1 million SSI recipients in 2023, the most of any state.
Includes reporting by USA Today Network reporters Mary Walrath-Holdridge, Mike Snider and Medora Lee