Each month comes with different payments to retirees, survivors, disabled, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program recipients, but in the last two months of the year, SSI recipients will see some changes regarding their SSI payments. According to the Social Security Administration, SSI recipients will receive three payments during the last two months of the year because they receive January benefits in advance. The reason behind this move is that January 1st falls on a holiday, so the SSA will reschedule that payment date for the previous business day, which falls on December 31st. If you currently qualify for SSI payments or are looking forward to applying for these benefits, learn more about payment dates and requirements here.

SSI payments will change their regular schedule in November and December

Currently, the Social Security Administration is distributing more than 70 million checks to Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (RSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients. As a result, the SSA has established an annual payment schedule so that all beneficiaries are aware of the exact days they will receive their payments during the year. According to this Social security payment scheduleBelow you will find the essential conditions to determine when you will receive your benefit:

• If you qualify for the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, You will normally receive your benefit on the first of each month, unless it falls on a holiday or weekend. In this case, the federal agency will reschedule the payment for the previous business day.
• Unless it falls on a federal holiday or weekend, You will always receive your benefits on the third day of the month if you are eligible for the Retirement, Survivors and Disability Insurance Program (RSDI) and you applied for benefits before May 1997.
• If you qualify for the RSDI program but you applied for benefits after May 1997, you will be paid according to the following installment payment schedule:
  • On the second Wednesday of the month for those born between 1st and 10th
  • On the third Wednesday of the month for those born between 11th and 20th
  • On the fourth Wednesday of the month for those born between 21st and 31st

Due to these circumstances, SSI beneficiaries receive a triple SSI payment before the end of the year, especially since some payment dates coincide with federal holidays or weekends. For your convenience, we have included the full payment schedule here:

As you can see, in the next two months the beneficiaries of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program receives a triple benefit. Two of these payments will be made in November as they receive the standard payment on the first of the month; but because December 1 falls on a weekend, the SSA will reschedule that payment for the prior business day, November 29. Likewise, beneficiaries receive an additional SSI payment at the end of the year because January 1 is a holiday.

As a result, beneficiaries will receive the first enhanced SSI payment of 2025, in addition to receiving one advance payment. SSI claimants will therefore receive an average of $967 on December 31 instead of $943. Here are all SSI payments available to these claimants in 2025, taking into account the 2.5% cost of living adjustment (COLA):