SSI recipients will get two payments in May and no payment in June after a slight change to the benefits payments schedule.
This month, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients will receive an unusual second payment. Typically, SSI recipients across the country get paid on the first day of each month by the Social Security Administration (SSA), as well as those receiving any Social Security payments since before May 1997 and retirees claiming benefits while living outside the U.S.
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However, in May, recipients usually paid on the first will get their June payments on May 31, a day earlier than usual. This is because the usual payment date of June 1 falls on a weekend.
"We do this to avoid putting you at a financial disadvantage and make sure that you don't have to wait beyond the first of the month to get your payment," the SSA said in a 2022 blog post. "It does not mean that you are receiving a duplicate payment in the previous month, so you do not need to contact us to report the second payment."
The date change does not mean beneficiaries will get double their money this month, it's simply an early payment for the following month.
The SSA provides monthly benefits to individuals over 65, those with disabilities, and surviving family members of deceased claimants. SSI benefits are paid to individuals aged 65 or older with low or no income, or those under 65 with a lasting physical or mental disability.
Payment dates vary depending on factors like the type of benefit and personal information such as birth date and location.
The shift in payment date is likely due to June 1 falling on a Saturday this year. This means individuals receiving the maximum SSI amount will receive $943 a day earlier, rising to $1,415 for couples. The average SSI payment made per month is $698, according to a report by CNET.
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Retirees could receive up to the maximum of $4,873 a day earlier than expected, though actual amounts depend on various factors like income and marital status.
Regular Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) payments will continue to be paid as they normally are on Wednesdays throughout May based on recipients' birth dates. For this month, those born between the 1st and 10th will receive payments on May 8, between the 11th and 20th on May 15, and between the 21st and 31st on May 22.
A double payment in a single month isn't the norm for Social Security recipients, especially outside of the Christmas and New Year period. Normally, SSI payments being made twice in a month only takes place once a year during the holidays. In December 2023, payments were made on December 1 for the respective month, and then again on December 29 for January, three days earlier than usual. This was due to January 1—New Years Day, being a national holiday.
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Recipients unsure of their monthly payment date can refer to the SSA's schedule of payments on the administration's website to check.
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