Life as we know it has become expensive. Trying to make ends meet is not as easy as it was a few decades ago, and very few of us are privileged to do so in the present day. This is where agencies such as the SSA are very helpful, as they distribute monthly benefits to their beneficiaries to help preserve individual or family income. Unfortunately, some bad news awaits one group of SSA beneficiaries, as they will have to wait nearly one month until their next payment.
SSA benefits matter to millions of Americans
The Social Security Administration manages and distributes monthly benefits to nearly 74 million Americans. These benefits are Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. It is easy to confuse the two; however, they are different in numerous ways.
Social Security is part of an insurance program. If you have worked a certain amount of time and contributed to Social Security in the form of taxes, then you could qualify for Social Security benefits. In contrast, SSI is not based on your or a family member’s prior work. According to the SSA official website, many people who qualify for SSI also qualify for Social Security.
Citizens with limited income and resources who are 65 years or older qualify for SSI. Citizens and children who are blind or have any other qualifying disability also qualify. Another difference between the two includes their distribution dates. This is also why one group of beneficiaries will be receiving some bad news. See if you are among this group of beneficiaries.
This group of beneficiaries will receive payments as usual
Retirees, survivors of workers, and people with disabilities receive Social Security every month. Anyone who belongs to one of the aforementioned categories and started claiming Social Security after May 1997 will receive their monthly benefits per the usual payment schedule and their birth dates. The SSA uses a set payment schedule to ensure that all beneficiaries receive their benefits on time.
According to the Social Security payment schedule, this is when beneficiaries will receive their Social Security benefits:
- Wednesday, July 9
- Birthdays between the 1st and 10th of any given month
- Wednesday, July 16
- Birthdays between the 11th and 20th of any given month
- Wednesday, July 23
- Birthdays between the 21st and 31st of any given month
Not all beneficiaries will be receiving the same amount of benefits. Amounts vary due to factors such as lifetime earnings, total years worked, the age at which benefits are initially claimed, and marital status. The maximum Social Security payment that can be expected by retirees:
- Payment of $2,831 at age 62
- Payment of $4,018 at age 67
- Payment of $5,108 at age 70
Bad news for this group of beneficiaries
Bad news awaits SSI beneficiaries. While SSI benefits were distributed on time in July, it will be nearly one month before their next payment. On average, the SSI benefits are $698, but the SSI maximum payment is:
- $967 for individuals
- $1,450 for couples
SSI beneficiaries will have to wait until August 1, 2025, for their next SSI payment. As a consolation, the month of August will feature a double SSI payment, with the second payment being distributed on August 29, 2025. The reason for the double payment is that September 1, 2025, falls on Labor Day, and since August 30th and 31st fall on a weekend, the SSA moves the payment forward to the last business day of August.
Understanding when and how much you will receive each month is crucial to planning your monthly budgets, especially with the ever-increasing inflation impacting the cost of living. Thankfully, 2025 saw a 2.5% increase in the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), which brought some relief to our bank accounts. As you await your next payment, ensure you stay updated with the latest SSA announcements.
Disclaimer: This content is informational only and does not supersede or replace the SSA’s or IRS’s own publications and notices. Always verify any specific dates and amounts by following the direct links in our article to SSA.gov or IRS.gov, or by consulting your local SSA field office or tax professional.
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