Social Security benefits: Can you receive two checks in the same month?

Each month, the Social Security Administration sends money to different beneficiaries, including retired workers and survivors, who are the children, spouses, widows, widowers or parents of a deceased beneficiary.

The SSA also sends disability benefits to recipients of the Supplemental Security Income program and Social Security Disability Insurance.

Although only one monthly payment is usually sent, in some months of the year, some recipients receive two checks, while others receive none.

Social Security benefits: Can you receive two checks in the same month?

For retired workers and survivors, the SSA sends one check each month. However, these recipients may also receive a Supplemental Security Income payment.

In certain situations, the SSA sends two SSI payments in the same month, while in other months no checks are sent to these beneficiaries.

This is because SSI payments are scheduled to be sent out on the first day of each month. However, if the first day of the month falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the check is sent in advance to the last Friday of the previous month.

In these cases, the beneficiaries receive two payments in one month- one for the current month and one for the following month. Because the payment is brought forward, in the next month, the SSA no longer sends any checks.

The Social Security payment schedule

The SSA has an established payment schedule. Payments for beneficiaries who began receiving their Social Security payments before 1997 are sent on the third day of each month. If this day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the amount is also advanced.

Those who collect both Social Security benefits (retirees, survivors, SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income receive their SSI payment on the first day of the month and their Social Security payment on the third day.

All other Social Security checks for retirees, survivors, and SSDI workers are sent on Wednesdays, based on recipients’ dates of birth:

If the regularly scheduled Wednesday for payment delivery falls on a federal holiday, benefits will be paid on the last working day before the holiday.