Is there a $600 increase in Social Security's SSI benefits in August 2025? Here's what we know
A rumor circulating on social media has led many to believe that Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries will receive a one-time $600 boost to their payments in August 2025.
Despite its popularity online, the claim is not backed by any official policy or Social Security Administration announcement.
The SSA has been clear that no such mid-year increase is scheduled and that the only adjustment to SSI benefits this year was the standard cost of living increase that took effect in January.
In January 2025, the SSA applied a 2.5 percent cost of living adjustment to both Social Security and SSI payments. This COLA brought the maximum monthly federal payment for an individual to $967 and for eligible couples to $1,450.
That increase translates to about $24 more per month for most individuals, which over the course of a full year equals a few hundred dollars in additional income. It does not represent a $600 bonus at any point during the year.
Why the $600 rumor spread so quickly
Much of the misinformation appears to stem from a misunderstanding of how COLA calculations work. Some viral posts seem to confuse the annualized total of a COLA increase with a lump-sum payment.
For example, an individual receiving $2,000 per month in Social Security retirement benefits would see about $50 more per month with a 2.5 percent COLA, totaling roughly $600 over the course of twelve months.
For SSI, the figures are even smaller because the base payment is lower. None of that equals a separate $600 check arriving in August.
The SSA‘s payment schedule also helps to debunk the myth. SSI benefits are paid on the first of the month, or the prior business day if the first falls on a weekend or holiday.
August 2025 will follow that same pattern, with beneficiaries receiving their regular monthly payment that already includes the COLA applied back in January. There are no additional adjustments slated for mid-year.
The 2.5 percent COLA is based on the Consumer Price Index for urban wage earners and clerical workers, calculated from the previous year’s third quarter data. This is the standard way the SSA adjusts benefits to reflect inflation, and it applies equally to Social Security retirement, disability, and SSI benefits.
The adjustment went into effect at the very start of 2025 and will remain in place until the next COLA is determined for 2026.