Millions of Social Security users will not receive a monthly check this month owing to a calendar quirk. The problem affects persons who receive Social Security’s Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a program for handicapped adults and low-income seniors.
The anomaly isn’t new, as the Social Security Administration establishes its annual payout plan far in advance of the year. (For the 2024 timetable and the 2025 payment dates, please see here and here, respectively.) However, the lack of payment this month may come as a surprise to those recipients who were not prepared for or aware of the payment date change.
SSI participants typically receive their cheques on the first of the month. However, because September 1 came on a Sunday this year, SSI benefits for the month were distributed on Friday, August 30. That implies the next SSI cheque will be deposited on Tuesday, October 1, with no deposits in September.
According to Social Security data, around 7.5 million persons get SSI payments, with a maximum monthly amount of $943 per person. By comparison, the average monthly Social Security retirement benefit payout is $1,907.
Regular Social Security retirement benefits will be paid out this month as usual. The pension system distributes regular monthly checks based on the day of the month in which your birthday falls.
In September, the payments will be deposited on the following dates:
- September 11: People born between the first and tenth of the month.
- September 18: Those born between the eleventh and twentieth of the month
- September 25: People born between the 21st and the 31st.
Changes in the Supplemental Security Income application
Separately, the Social Security Administration announced this week that it is revising the application process for Supplemental Security Income.
The new approach will begin in December with an online application that streamlines the procedure, according to the agency’s statement. The iClaim is a simplified initial application that uses plan-language questions and pre-populates questions with answers where possible. The goal is to reduce the time and effort required to complete the form while also speeding up claims processing.
“People in our communities who require this critical safety net deserve the dignity of an application process that is less burdensome and more accessible than what we currently have, and we’re committed to achieving that vision over the next few years,” said Martin O’Malley, Social Security commissioner, in a statement.
The initial rollout will target first-time applicants aged 18 to 65 who have never married and are simultaneously applying for Social Security and SSI benefits, according to the government. The second phase of the deployment, set for late 2025, will encompass all SSI applicants, it noted.