Once again in December, of the nearly 75 million Social Security beneficiaries, a select group will be receiving multiple payments. Specifically, those who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Thanks to the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) payment calendar, SSI recipients will receive at least two payments for up to $2,941, and perhaps a third if they also collect Social Security benefits. That’s because recipients SSI, who were paid their December benefits on the first of the month, are due to get their January check ahead of schedule: on Wednesday, December 31.
Why is January’s SSI arriving early?
SSI payments typically go out on the opening day of each month – unless this coincides with a weekend or holiday. Since 1 January is always a holiday, those payments are moved forward to the nearest working day.
This means that the SSI payments corresponding to January next year will be sent on 31 December 2025.
What is SSI and who gets it?
A scheme with around 7.4 million beneficiaries across the U.S., SSI is aimed at people who have little to no income or resources, and are over 65 or have a disability.
Unlike regular Social Security programs such as retirement benefits, survivor pay and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), eligibility for SSI does not depend on prior payment of Social Security taxes. It is a needs-based, rather than contribution-based, benefit.
Social Security numbers were first issued in November 1936. As of early August 2025, 548.3 million different numbers had been issued. pic.twitter.com/RawES99jDL
— Social Security (@SocialSecurity) August 12, 2025
How much is SSI worth each month?
According to the latest figures published by the SSA, SSI beneficiaries receive an average of $717.87 a month. The highest maximum monthly amount available to an individual claimant in 2025 is $967 and $1,450 per month for an eligible couple.
January SSA checks will have the 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2026 applied to them. Next year the maximum SSI benefits will be $994 and $1,491 per month, respectively.
That means the total amount that beneficiaries will receive in December will be up to $2,941.
The agency also notes that some SSI recipients may be eligible for a supplementary payment from their state. You can find out which states offer this additional money on the SSA website.
Who’s getting three checks from Social Security in October?
Of the SSI program’s beneficiaries, just over 2.5 million also claim retirement, survivor or SSDI benefits. These dual recipients normally get the former on the first day of each month, before being sent the latter on the third.
But with January’s SSI set to drop a day early, these beneficiaries will have had three payment dates this month. Earlier in December, they were to receive SSI on Monday 1 and regular Social Security on Wednesday 3.
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