Why are there two SSI payments in August?

Typically, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits are sent on the first of the month. However, when the first of the month falls on a weekend or public holiday, it is made on the preceding business day. This is the case in September, where the first falls on a Sunday, meaning that beneficiaries will receive their payment from the Social Security Adminstration on Friday, August 30. Though the payment may hit some bank accounts before the first of September, beneficiaries should be aware that another payment will not come next month.

As you can see in the calendar above, the December and January payments for SSI will both be made before the first as the date falls on a weekend or holiday.

Additionally, those who need to get in touch with the SSA should take into account that they will be closed on Monday, September 2, in celebration of Labor Day.

How will the 2025 COLA impact SSI benefits?

The SSA will announce the 2025 Cost-of-Living Adjustment, commonly known as the COLA, in October. The COLA aims to prevent inflation from erasing the purchasing power of those receiving benefits like SSI. The increase is calculated using Consumer Price Index data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The SSA compares the averages in this index from July, August, and September to the average from the previous year, and the difference represents the COLA. With only July data in hand, some forecasts, like that provided by the Senior Citizens League, point to a much lower COLA, around 2.57 percent.

The SSA’s July Snapshot shows that the average SSI beneficiary received a check worth $695.84, and if a 2.57 percent COLA is applied, benefits would increase by around $17 a month.