Social Security recipients typically receive a payment each month, but some older Americans could receive an additional check in November because of how the calendar falls on the last two months of the year.
Although the problem is not new (the Social Security Administration sets its annual payment schedule well in advance of the year), it could surprise some seniors next month if they were unaware of this unusual schedule .
People who could receive an extra check in November are those who receive Social Security Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, a program for disabled adults and low-income seniors. Some of these SSI recipients also receive monthly Social Security benefits, the traditional retirement income available to people starting at age 62.
SSI recipients will receive an additional payment next month – and some could receive up to three payments in November.
Here’s how it will work:
- SSI recipients will receive their November payment on Friday, November 1.
- People who applied for Social Security before May 1997 or who receive both Social Security and SSI benefits will also receive their Social Security payment on November 1 (generally, people who receive both receive their Social Security payment the third of the month, but since November 3 falls on a Sunday, this payment will also land on November 1).
- SSI recipients will also receive a second payment on Friday, November 29. This reflects their December payment, but since December 1 falls on a Sunday, their payment for the last month of 2024 will land on November 29.
In other words, people who receive SSI will receive two payments in November: November 1 and November 29. If they also receive Social Security, they will also receive this check on November 1st instead of November 3rd.
Meanwhile, all other Social Security beneficiaries will receive their payments according to the regular schedule, which schedules benefits on the second, third or fourth Wednesday of the month, depending on the beneficiary’s date of birth.
The November dates for Social Security retirement payments are as follows:
- People born between the 1st and 10th of the month will receive their Social Security check on November 13th.
- People born between the 11th and 20th of the month will receive their allowance check on November 20.
- People born between the 21st and 31st of the month will receive their payment on November 27.
When will the Social Security COLA take effect?
Meanwhile, Social Security recipients will receive a 2.5% cost of living adjustment with their payments for 2025, the agency announced last week.
The typical recipient will see their monthly check increase by about $50, to $1,976 per month.
This higher payment will take effect with their January benefits:
- People born between the 1st and 10th of their birth month will receive their first COLA increase on January 8th.
- People born between the 11th and 20th of their birth month will receive the COLA bonus on January 15th.
- Recipients born between the 21st and 31st of their birth month will receive the new COLA on January 22.
Meanwhile, people who started receiving Social Security before May 1997 or who receive both Social Security and SSI will receive their new Social Security COLA on January 3.
People receiving SSI will receive their new 2025 COLA with their December 31, 2024 payment.
