Social Security in the United States follows a specific schedule for the distribution of monthly benefits to beneficiaries, established every two years by the Social Security Administration (SSA).
This calendar is designed to ensure that the payments are distributed efficiently and regularly throughout the year, so that the millions of retirees and beneficiaries who depend on this money to pay for their basic expenses such as housing, food, or health.
However, due to the way the days of the month fall and the rules governing Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security payments, some months have double payments, while others do not make SSI payments.
How Are Social Security Benefits Paid Each Month?
Social Security benefit payments are divided into three main categories, depending on the beneficiary’s day of birth:
- Second Wednesday of the month: It is paid to people born between the 1st and the 10th of the month.
- Third Wednesday of the month: It is paid to people born between the 11th and the 20th of the month.
- Fourth Wednesday of the month: It is paid to people born between the 21st and the 31st of the month.
Most beneficiaries choose to receive their payments by bank transfer, which arrive almost immediately. Other beneficiaries opt for paper checks, which can sometimes take a couple of days due to the normal delays of postal mail services.
SSI Payments — Why There Are Double Payments Some Months?
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is an additional benefit paid to people who meet certain financial requirements, regardless of whether they also receive regular Social Security benefits. SSI is payable on the first day of each month.
However, if the first day of the month falls on a weekend or holiday, the payment is advanced to the last business day of the previous month. This leads to situations in which a beneficiary receives two SSI payments in a single month (one in advance for the following month and one corresponding to the current month).
For example, if the first day of the following month falls on a Sunday, the SSI payment is made the Friday before.
On the other hand, there are certain (yet few) months when, due to this advance, no SSI payment is made. This happens because the advance payment already covered the month in question, so a second payment is not needed. In this way, the system ensures that the beneficiaries have their funds available at the beginning of the month.
List of Social Security Payments in August and September 2024
August 2024, will bring double payment for SSI beneficiaries:
- August 1st: SSI payment for August.
- August 14: Social Security Payment for people born between 1 and 10.
- August 21: Social Security Payment for people born between 11 and 20.
- August 28: Social Security Payment for people born between 21 and 31.
September 2024 will not bring any payments for SSI recipients:
- September 1: The SSI payment corresponding to this date was delivered on August 31.
- September 3: Social Security Prepayment for those who receive both SSI and Social Security, or who started receiving benefits before May 1997.
- September 11: Social Security Payment for people born between 1 and 10.
- September 18: Social Security Payment for people born between 11 and 20.
- September 25: Social Security Payment for people born between 21 and 31.