Because of holidays and other factors, the first few SSI payments of 2025 will be off their typical schedule.
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A few times a year, recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) receive two payments in a month. But those double deposits aren’t extra money. They’re early payments for the following month.
In fact, SSI payments were off their typical schedule for the first three months of 2025. The next month with two scheduled SSI payments will be August 2025. Here’s what you need to know about that second payment.
Social Security beneficiaries across the country have been surprised to see extra money deposited into their bank accounts in early 2025. The deposits have ranged from a few hundred dollars to over $6,000 for some retirees. Where is this surprise money coming from and who qualifies to receive it?
The Source of the Extra Deposits
The extra money is coming from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and is related to recent changes in Social Security laws. Specifically, the extra deposits are thanks to the Social Security Fairness Act which went into effect in early 2025
This new law eliminates two prior rules that had reduced Social Security benefits for some retirees:
- The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)
- The Government Pension Offset (GPO)
These rules had reduced or eliminated Social Security benefits for over 3.2 million people who received a pension from employment not covered by Social Security, such as government workers.
With these rules now eliminated, the SSA is depositing retroactive payments to make up for the previous benefit reductions.
Who Qualifies for the Extra Money?
The extra deposits are going to those who had their Social Security benefits previously reduced by WEP or GPO. This includes:
- Teachers, firefighters, police officers and other state/local government employees in certain states
- Federal employees under the Civil Service Retirement System
- People who worked in foreign countries with their own social security systems
However, not all government employees will receive payments. About 72% of state/local employees paid into Social Security and are unaffected.
In general, you must have paid into a pension system that was not covered by Social Security in order to qualify The SSA estimates that the average payment amount is $6,710.
When Will the Money Arrive?
The SSA started issuing the retroactive payments on February 25, 2025. Most eligible beneficiaries will see the extra money deposited into their bank accounts by the end of March 2025.
The deposits will be one-time lump sum payments covering the increase in benefits backdated to January 2024. This is when the WEP and GPO rules were eliminated.
Those eligible for the payments will also receive a letter from the SSA explaining the extra deposit. However, some people have reported receiving the money before getting a letter.
How Much Money Will You Get?
The amount of the payments depends on how much your prior Social Security benefits were reduced under WEP or GPO. The more your benefits were previously cut, the larger your retroactive payment will be.
For example, if you had your Social Security reduced by $100 per month for all of 2024 due to WEP/GPO, you could expect an extra deposit of around $1,200 ($100 x 12 months).
Current Social Security benefit levels can provide a guide for estimating the extra payment amount. But for an exact figure, you’ll need to wait for the SSA’s explanatory letter or contact them directly.
Could You Receive More Money in the Future?
In addition to the one-time retroactive payments, the elimination of WEP/GPO means higher ongoing Social Security benefits for affected beneficiaries. With the unfair offsets removed, payments will be boosted back to the full amounts entitled.
For instance, if you had $200 per month withheld due to WEP before, your new benefit amount after 2025 would be $200 higher per month.
Apart from the WEP/GPO changes, Social Security benefits also rise most years due to Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs). The 2025 COLA was 2.5%, increasing the average retiree benefit by about $40 per month.
So on top of the extra retroactive money, Social Security recipients will also enjoy permanently higher payments going forward in their monthly checks.
Other Important Details
Here are some other key points to know about the extra Social Security deposits:
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They will be automatically deposited into the bank account SSA has on file for you. No action is needed to receive the money.
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Taxes will not be withheld from the lump sum payments, but they will be taxable income for 2025.
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The deposits will not affect your eligibility for means-tested programs like SSI or Medicaid.
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There is no limit on how you can spend the money. The extra cash can be used however you see fit.
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Scammers may try to take advantage and ask for personal info to “speed up” your payment. Ignore such calls/emails.
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If you think you should have gotten a payment but didn’t, contact the SSA directly to inquire about it.
For Social Security beneficiaries who had their benefits reduced in the past, the elimination of the WEP and GPO represents a major reversal. The extra money deposited provides some compensation for the unfair cuts previously faced. And with their full benefits restored, recipients can look forward to their checks returning to the higher levels they always should have been.
When you’ll get paid
Here are the 2025 SSI schedule anomalies.
- The SSI payment for March 2025 was issued on Feb. 28.
- The SSI payment for June 2025 will be issued on May 30.
- The SSI payment for September 2025 will be issued on Aug. 29.
- The SSI payment for November 2025 will be issued on Oct. 31.
- The SSI payment for January 2026 will be issued on Dec. 31.
Why you’re getting two SSI payments
The Social Security Administration (SSA) usually issues SSI payments on the first day of each month. But if that date is on a weekend or holiday, the agency pays you ahead of schedule — on the last business day of the preceding monthSSA.gov . Getting Two SSI Payments in One Month. Accessed Aug 11, 2023.View all sources.
This schedule ensures those dependent on SSI have the money they need by the first day of the month.
The second SSI payment is not an extra payment. It’s the next month’s payment hitting your account a few days early.
It’s likely you’ll also receive an SSI payment early when the first of the month is a federal holiday. The payment will be made on the last business day of the previous month.
Stimulus checks will be sent to SSI recipients
FAQ
Is there any extra money coming from Social Security?
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 72.5 million Americans will increase 2.5 percent in 2025. Read more about the Social Security Cost-of-Living adjustment for 2025.
Why did I get an additional check from Social Security this month?
The reason for an extra payment of $349.40 in your Social Security this month could be due to several reasons, including but not limited to a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), a retroactive payment adjustment, a correction to a previous underpayment, or a specific supplemental payment authorized by law.
Why did I get a random deposit from Social Security?
Is the pending deposit state who it’s from? Occasionally, the Social Security Administration might make a calculation error, resulting in an unexpected deposit, which they will later adjust if necessary.
Is Social Security giving out bonus checks?
So while there is no such thing as a Social Security bonus, there are still strategies you can use to maximize your benefits. Often the most impactful strategy is to delay starting Social Security benefits as long as possible, particularly if you are in good health and expect to live a long time.