While millions of Americans rely on Supplementary Security Income (SSI) to cover essential expenses, most have to wait till April because there will be no SSI payment in March. Although this may seem concerning, it is due to the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) payment schedule.
Why There Is No SSI Payment in March
SSI payments are usually disbursed on the first of each month but when the first falls on a weekend or holiday, the SSA issues payments on the previous business day. This year, March 1 fell on a Saturday, which meant that SSA sent out payments early, on February 28. So technically, beneficiaries received their payments in February, making it seem like they missed payments in March.
This has happened before in December 2024 and January this year. Although the timing of payment disbursements might seem irregular, beneficiaries are still assured of receiving their full payments but on a slightly different schedule.
When Will the Next SSI Payment Arrive?
Beneficiaries can expect to receive their next payment on April 1, 2025, according to the schedule because it will be on a Tuesday. However, there will be another double-payment month in the next months since June falls on a Sunday meaning that May’s and June’s payments will both be issued in May. Therefore the will be no SSI payment in June similar to the March situation.
Understanding the Social Security Payment Schedule
SSIs are issued on the first of each month while other Social Security benefits like retirement and disability payments (SSDI) follow a different schedule depending on the day one was born as shown below;
- Born on the 1st-10th of the month – Paid on the second Wednesday of each month.
- Born on the 11th-20th of the month- Paid on the third Wednesday.
- Born on the 21st-31st of the month – Paid on the fourth Wednesday.
Those who receive both Social Security and SSI receive their payments on the third of each month.
SSI Payment Amount For 2025?
The maximum amount recipients receive as SSI payment differs depending on their income, living situation, and state-level benefits. The maximum SSI amounts set by SSA at at $967 for individuals and $1450 for couples.
Although there will be no SSI payment in March, beneficiaries are assure to receive full amounts for all 12 months as scheduled. The important thing is to know that some months might have two payments while others like March might not have one at all.
What to do if Your SSI Payment is Missing
If an expected SSI payment fails, beneficiaries should;
- Wait at least three mailing days after the expected payment date.
- Check their Social Security account at SSA.gov to verify the payment status.
- Ensure personal information is up to date, including banking details and mailing address.
- Call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 if the payment is still missing after three business days.
How to Plan for Months Without an SSI Payment
Early planning is key to managing finances effectively and to achieve this, beneficiaries should set aside part of double payments to cover expenses for the months with no benefits. Beneficiaries should also check SSA updates regularly to stay informed about payment schedules and policy changes to avoid getting financially strained unexpectedly.
Possible Changes to Social Security in 2025
Social Security beneficiaries will see changes to their benefits in 2025 following the passage of the Social Security Fairness Act. This law eliminates the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Offset (GPO) which previously reduced benefits for some retirees especially teachers and public service workers.
Since these provisions have been repealed, most beneficiaries will receive increased Social Security payments starting April 2025. The SSA has also confirmed that retroactive payments for previous months which had been reduced will be issued.
Conclusion
As stated earlier, the SSI payments payments for April will be issued as scheduled because it will be on a weekday. Beneficiaries should expect double payments in May to cover for both May and June because 1st June will be on a weekday.
