Supplemental Security Income (SS) is financial assistance for low-income people who have disabilities, are over 65, or children with special needs. Monthly, send money to qualifying recipients to cover basic expenses such as food, rent, medications, and other needs.
When normal income is not enough, the Social Security Administration (SSA) encourages eligible American citizens and legal residents to apply for Supplemental Security Income, because the best thing about this program is that it is based on needs and not on tax contributions, meaning you do not need to have worked to be eligible.
Every month a payment: the next one will have an important change
Every month, SSI is paid on the 1st of each month, but when the weekend falls, a particular event happens: the SSA advances the sending of funds to beneficiaries to the nearest business day, generally a Friday. For example, if March 1st is a Saturday, you collect it on February 28th. This way you avoid being left without liquidity on a weekend. Well, that is precisely what is going to happen with the March payment.
The February 2025 payment was also affected by this particularity and, consequently, no payments will be sent during the month of March. The next round of deposits will be on Tuesday, April 1, and until then everything is normal.
However, in May, two payments will be reported: one on Thursday, May 1 and another on May 30 (in June there will be no payments).
Extra cash: this is what you could receive
Thanks to the COLA (not the soda, but the cost of living adjustment), SSI amounts rose 2.5% this year. It’s not a trip to Disney, but every dollar counts if you live paycheck to paycheck. Check these numbers:
- As a single individual: $976 a month.
- As a couple (and processing together): $1,450.
- Need help with basic tasks: $484 extra.
What if inflation continues to rise? They could increase a little more. Keep an eye on the news, because the SSA is glued to the CPI-W index as an influencer on your phone.
Careful! This way you could lose SSI (and no one tells you)
SSI is for low income, but there are traps that take you out of the game:
- You suddenly get a better income (lottery, inheritance, salary increase).
- You married someone who earns well
- You moved to a state with weird rules.
- Your health improved (yes, even that counts).
- You forgot to report changes (part-time work, scholarships, etc.).
Can you collect Social Security and SSI together?
Clear! But with buts. SSI is like a supplement if your retirement is not enough. Of course: if your total income exceeds the limit, your SSI is reduced or eliminated. Oh, and they don’t just look at your salary: also your savings, properties, etc. Doubts? Call the SSA. Better safe than crying over a lost check.