Social Security is sending out payments today, Friday August 1: find out who’s getting two checks

Today - Friday, August 1 - many Americans are set to receive a benefits check from the U.S.’s Social Security Administration (SSA). Indeed, a quirk in the payment calendar means some people will actually get two.

Who’s getting a check from Social Security today, Aug. 1?

• Supplemental Security Income recipients

The SSA is to send out the latest monthly check to the 7.4 million beneficiaries of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) scheme. SSI payments are always made on the first of each month, unless that day falls on a weekend or holiday.

SSI is a scheme for people who have little to no income or resources, and are over 65 or have a disability.

Unlike the SSA’s programs covering retirement benefits, survivor pay and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), eligibility for SSI does not depend on recipients’ payment of Social Security taxes. It is a needs-based, rather than contribution-based, scheme.

• Certain long-term Social Security recipients

Of the 69.8 million people who claim retirement benefits, SSDI or survivor checks, some long-term recipients are to be paid on August 1. Specifically: those who have been getting their benefits since before May 1997.

These recipients are typically paid on the third of each month. However, as August 3 is a Sunday, this payment date has been brought forward to the nearest working day.

Who’s getting two checks from Social Security today, Aug. 1?

• Dual recipients (SSI + regular Social Security)

More than 2.5 million people in the U.S. claim both SSI and one of the SSA’s retirement, SSDI and survivor benefits. These recipients normally get the former on the first of the month, and the latter on the third.

But with August 3 falling on the weekend, both benefits are to be paid on the opening day of the month.

When are all other Social Security checks paid in August?

You can check out the SSA’s full payment schedule for 2025 in this online pdf.

For Americans who do not belong to the groups of dual or long-term beneficiaries described above, the payment date for retirement, survivor and SSDI benefits will be the second, third or fourth Wednesday in August.

Each recipient’s designated Wednesday depends on the date of birth of the worker whose Social Security taxes have accumulated the benefits entitlement.

How much are monthly SSI benefits?

According to the most recent figures published by the SSA, SSI beneficiaries get $717.75 a month on average. The SSA says the maximum SSI check available to an individual claimant is $967. Eligible couples can get up to $1,450 a month.

The SSA also points out that some SSI beneficiaries may receive a supplementary payment from their state, depending on where they live. You can find out which states offer this additional money on the agency’s website.

How much do Social Security retirement recipients get per month?

Retired workers - who account for over 70% of the U.S.’s Social Security beneficiaries - are paid a monthly average of $2,005.05. The highest possible monthly retirement check currently stands at $5,108.

How much money do other SSA beneficiaries receive?

Disabled workers receive $1,582.07 per month on average, while recipients of survivor benefits are paid an average of $1,571.30 a month.

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