October 1st will mark the payment date for the next round of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments to millions of American beneficiaries who are seniors, low-income, or disabled and need a little extra help to cover their basic living expenses.
SSI payments are generally sent regularly on the first day of each month, and this is almost always the case, except when the first day of the month is a holiday or falls on a weekend. In such cases, the deposit of the money is advanced to the nearest business day.
This happened precisely in September, when the first day was a Labor Day holiday, and that’s why the regular payment was advanced to August 29.
The next SSI payment will arrive in less than two weeks
With the previous payment change, September saw no SSI payments, but according to the Social Security Administration (SSA), payment dates are now set for the final months of 2025:
- October: normal payment on Wednesday 1st
- November: Payment will be made in advance by October 31st (November 1st is a Saturday)
- December: normal payment on Monday 1st
- January 2026: January 1st is a New Year’s holiday, so payment is brought forward to December 31, 2025.
SSI amounts in October remain in effect with the 2025 COLA
By 2025, the maximum SSI amounts, reached by the cost-of-use adjustment,life (COLA) of 2.5% are as follows:
- Eligible Individual: $967 per month
- Eligible couple: $1,450 per month
- Essential person: $484 per month
Some people can combine their SSI benefits with their Social Security retirement payments. To begin, you must be 65 or older, or have a disability or blindness, and your income must not exceed the strict SSI program limits.
Assets: Generally, less than $2,000 in resources for an individual or $3,000 for a couple. This includes cash, bank accounts, investments, and assets other than your primary home and a vehicle. Furthermore, your income must be very low. This is where your retirement benefit comes into play.
How SSI and retirement interact harmoniously
It’s not like you receive two separate checks; your retirement pay is considered “income” under the SSI program. The rationale behind SSI is to supplement your income to a minimum level set by the federal government.
Your SSI payment will then be reduced, dollar for dollar, by the amount you receive from your Social Security pension (and almost any other income you have).
Let’s look at an easy-to-understand example: the maximum SSI amount for an individual is $967 per month, and let’s assume an imaginary recipient’s retirement benefit is $600. SSI would then be supplemented by $367 to reach the maximum of $967.
If your retirement benefit is equal to or greater than the maximum SSI amount, you would not qualify for SSI at all. For example, if your retirement benefit is $950, it exceeds the $967 limit, so your SSI payment would be $0.
What to do if your SSI payment didn’t show up
Don’t panic first. It is a boomer when that all-important money does not hit your bank or come in the post on time, but delays can happen for several reasons. First thing to do is breathe deep and check your bank statement and mailbox again.
Sometimes a silly holiday or a small snarl up with processing can put that payment back by a day or two. It’s also worth to be sure you have not missed any post from the Social Security Administration with your benefits because sometimes they need to check something.
If a couple of days have gone by and there is still no sign of your pay, next step is to contact the Social Security office directly. The best and fastest way is to call their free number. Be prepared for the long wait times that may come along, so get a mug of coffee and be patient.
Have your Social Security number to hand so they can find your file on the spot. They will be able to find out the details of your specific case and tell you when you will get your money. The SSA number is 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), available Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in your local timees.