The Social Security Administration (SSA) has consistently paid beneficiaries diligently and timeously since its inception in 1935. Each month, beneficiaries are paid out according to a strict schedule that rarely deviates. This is to ensure that beneficiaries of SSA can reliably plan their budgeting needs each month with assured confidence that they will receive their payments on time on the anticipated date. However, sometimes the SSA payment calendar slightly deviates, meaning beneficiaries could end up with two payments in one month.
Social Security plays an integral role for retirees
Social Security is the most popular savings and retirement plan that Americans rely on in their old age. While many suggest that it is important to have diversified sources of income in your retirement, and that planning beyond Social Security is integral for financial stability, the reality is that most individuals rely solely on this income one they stop working and begin claiming their benefits.
For this reason, payments must be consistent and are made on time to beneficiaries as it is a vital source of income for beneficiaries. Further, individual who are disabled or have very little to no resources can also claim from Social Security, making the SSA a lifeline for those who are unable to make an income due to their disability or for circumstantial reasons.
Who gets two payments next month?
The SSA follows a strict schedule when it comes to payments. This scheduling is based on your birthdate, as well as which SSA funds you are claiming from. SSA’s payment schedule works according to the following dates:
- If your birthday is between the 1st and the 10th, Social Security and disability benefits are received on the second Wednesday of each month.
- If your birthday is between the 11th and the 20th, Social Security and disability benefits are received on the third Wednesday of each month.
- If your birthday is between the 21st and the 31st, Social Security and disability benefits are received on the fourth Wednesday of each month
- Beneficiaries who receive both Social Security benefits and Supplementary Security Income benefits (SSI) will receive their Social Security benefits on the 3rd and SSI on the 1st of the month.
- If you claimed your benefits before May 1, 1997, you will receive your benefits on the 3rd of the month
However, the Social Security policy on receiving two payments in the same month specifically refers to whether your payment date falls on a holiday or a weekend. If this is the case, payment dates are moved up. For May this year, because June 1st falls on a Sunday, beneficiaries who receive SSI will be receiving their SSI June payment on May 30 instead of the regular 1st of the month.
Uncertain future for Social Security
While Social Security payment dates are very predictable, save for minor changes like the May scheduling change this year, the future of Social Security is less certain. SSA is currently undergoing major internal changes, with significant numbers of staff being laid off due to the internal restructuring recommendations of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). DOGE has been brought on by the Trump Administration to make recommendations regarding how to reduce unnecessary federal spending.
With uncertainty in the air regarding how the new SSA internal changes will affect beneficiaries, beneficiaries must maximize their payments as much as possible. One of the main ways you can do this is to wait until you reach the full retirement age (FRA) to claim your benefits. If you wait until the FRA, you will have maxed out the highest amount you can claim from the administration based on your Social Security credits. The current FRA is 68.
