Social Security is sending out $1,000 checks on Friday, Jan. 31: find out if you’re getting one
The United States’ Social Security Administration (SSA) has almost finished sending out the payments it was scheduled to make in January 2025.
Who is still to be paid in January?
As the SSA does every month, it has been issuing checks to retired and disabled workers, recipients of survivors’ benefits, and Americans who are part of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program.
While all January benefits have been paid out in the above schemes – the final round of checks was issued on January 22 – the SSA still has one more batch of payments to distribute this month.
That’s because the agency is to send out February’s SSI money ahead of schedule, on Friday, January 31.
Why are February’s SSI payments going out early?
SSI beneficiaries usually get their money on the first of the month. However, that payment date is brought forward if the opening day of the month falls on a weekend or a holiday.
As February 1 is a Saturday, the SSA is to make next month’s SSI payment on the nearest working day before the first of the month, which is January 31.
As New Year’s Day is a holiday, January’s SSI payment was also made early. What’s more, beneficiaries of the program are to receive their March money ahead of schedule, too, as that month also begins on a weekend.
The SSA will resume the regular SSI payment schedule in April, which begins on a working day: Tuesday, April 1.
How much money do SSI beneficiaries receive in 2025?
This year, the top monthly amount for an individual SSI recipient has increased to $967, in the wake of the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2025.
Eligible couples on SSI benefits now receive a joint payment of up to $1,450 a month, while checks of up to $484 are available to an eligible essential person.
Who receives SSI checks?
A program that differs from other Social Security benefits schemes in that it is needs-based rather than contribution-based, SSI is for people with little or no income who are over 65 or have a disability.
As of December 2024, nearly 7.5 million people in the US benefited from the SSI program.
When does everyone else get their February Social Security payment?
Most Social Security beneficiaries outside of the SSI scheme will be paid on one of three Wednesdays in February.
This is as part of a staggered payment system whereby a recipient’s payment date is determined by their birthday. The schedule for February 2025 is:
- Weds, Feb. 12, 2025: Recipients born on 1st to 10th of month
- Weds, Feb. 19, 2025: Recipients born on 11th to 20th of month
- Weds, Feb. 26, 2025: Recipients born on 21st to 31st of month
There is an exception to the above payment timeline, however. Retired workers, disabled workers and survivors who started receiving their benefits before May 1997 are always paid on the third day of the month, regardless of their birthday. In February 2025, these Social Security recipients are to get their checks on Monday 3rd.
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