November’s Double SSI Payments – Will Increases Follow the 2025 COLA Announcement?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) makes monthly payments to millions of Americans, including retirees, survivors, the disabled, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients. However, some SSI beneficiaries can expect a rare treat next month: double payments! Why? Because of how the calendar aligns. If you’re an SSI recipient, here’s everything you need to know about this upcoming double payment.

Payment Schedule

Usually, SSI recipients receive payments on the first of each month. But, in November, you’ll receive two payments. The first will arrive on November 1st, as expected. The second payment, however, will hit your account on November 29th, because December 1st falls on a Sunday this year.

Payment Dates

Month	Regular SSI Payment Date	Advance Payment Date
August	August 1st	August 30th (for September)
September	–	–
October	October 1st	–
November	November 1st	November 29th (for December)
December	–	December 31st (for January)

As you can see, the double payment in November is due to the way the calendar aligns for the upcoming months. It’s a quirk in the SSA’s scheduling process, but a beneficial one for SSI recipients. If you don’t receive your payment on the scheduled date, remember to wait at least three mailing days before contacting the SSA for assistance.

Double Payments

You may wonder why the SSA doesn’t just send payments on the first of the month, regardless of weekends or holidays. The reason is that the SSA aims to ensure payments arrive on a business day. If the first falls on a weekend or holiday, the payment is shifted to the last business day before the first. That’s why November will have two payments—the regular payment for November and an advance payment for December.

Increase

The Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) plays a big role in Social Security benefits. While the COLA for 2025 will be announced soon, don’t expect to see this reflected in your November SSI payments. The COLA increase will only be included in the payments issued starting in January 2025.

However, because January 1st is a holiday, SSI recipients will receive their January 2025 payment on December 31st, 2024. This payment will include the updated COLA adjustment, so you can expect an extra boost then.

Beneficiaries

While SSI recipients can expect double payments in November, other Social Security beneficiaries, such as retirees and disabled individuals, follow a different schedule. These payments depend on when the beneficiary applied for benefits and their birthdate.

Here’s a general rule for Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (RSDI) payments:

• If you applied before May 1997, your payment will be sent on the third of the month.
• If you applied after May 1997, your payment will be sent based on your birthdate:
  • Second Wednesday: Birthdays between the 1st and 10th
  • Third Wednesday: Birthdays between the 11th and 20th
  • Fourth Wednesday: Birthdays between the 21st and 31st

Eligibility

SSI is designed to help low-income individuals, especially seniors and people with disabilities. But who qualifies? To receive SSI, you need to meet the following requirements:

1. Age and Disability: You must be over 65, blind, or have a disability.
2. Income and Resources: Your income must fall below certain limits. The SSA also considers your assets.
3. Citizenship: You must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident.

The maximum monthly SSI benefit for individuals is $943, while couples can receive up to $1,415. If you qualify for an “Essential Person” benefit, you may get an additional $472. The purpose of SSI is to provide basic financial support to individuals who might otherwise struggle to meet basic needs due to age or disability.

If you’re eligible for both SSI and another Social Security program, such as disability benefits, the SSA will determine your combined payments based on factors like your work history and Social Security contributions.

SSI is a vital financial lifeline for many, and knowing when and how payments will arrive helps you plan better. Make sure to check your payment dates and keep an eye out for the double payment in November!

FAQs