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Are the rumours of $1,682 in Social Security payments true?

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients will get two lots of monthly payments in September, but this does not mean they are getting an increase.

Update:
SSI beneficiaries will get a double payment this month

Recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will receive two sets of their regular monthly payment in September, but this is a quirk of scheduling rather than a display of generosity on the part of the Social Security Administration.

In 2022 individuals who are eligible for SSI receive a maximum payment of $841 every month, with that top amount increasing to $1,261 for couples who qualify.

However these monthly payment cannot be processed on weekends, meaning that whenever the first of the month falls on a Saturday or Sunday the payments are made the preceding Friday. For 2022 those months are April, September and December.

This means that recipients will receive up to $1,682 in the month of September ($2,522 for eligible couples). The first payment will be sent on Thursday, 1 September and the second on Friday, 30 September.

This does not increase the total amount that claimants will receive over the course of the year, but simply shifts the October payment forward by a day to avoid the weekend.

What is Supplemental Security Income?

The SSI program is designed to support people who suffer from a disability or blindness, and whose income and assets are below certain financial thresholds. The payments are also on offer for anyone aged 65 and over, provided they satisfy the same financial requirements.

Often recipients are also eligible to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or some form of retirement benefits. Eligibility for one does not disqualify the claimant from receiving the other and it is possible to get multiple forms of SSA support.

Unlike other forms of disability support, SSI is funded by general tax revenue rather than the specific Social Security taxes. It is designed to provide a regular source of financial support for low-income households to help them cover the cost of essentials.

For this reason, the monthly payment varies depending on the recipient’s living arrangements and financial situation. The amount on offer also depends on where you live, with some states opting to supplement the payment with their own resources.

As well as satisfying the age/disability/blindness and financial requirements, recipients of SSI must also be United States citizens, nationals or certain groups of non-nationals. The children of military parents who have been assigned to permanent duty overseas can also claim the support, as can certain students who are living abroad on a temporary basis.