INDIANA – Millions of Americans receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments are facing a potential disruption in their regular monthly schedule this summer due to how the government handles weekend and holiday payments.
Typically, the 7.1 million individuals who qualify for SSI due to disability or financial hardship expect their payments on the first of each month. However, the Social Security Administration only issues payments on the first if it falls on a weekday. This quirk in the calendar means that recipients may experience a “gap” in their payments during June.
Because June 1st falls on a Saturday, no SSI payments will be issued during the entire calendar month of June. To compensate, beneficiaries will receive two payments in May: one on May 1st and another on May 30th.
While not uncommon, this situation can create challenges for those relying on SSI payments. Many of these people live paycheck to paycheck and carefully plan their expenses around their scheduled deposits. Similar situations have occurred, with recipients receiving two payments in March of this year.
The calendar quirk will reappear in August, with SSI recipients receiving two payments: one on August 1st and another on August 29th. This will delay the September payment, which will be issued on the following business day. Recipients will then receive two payments in October.
Officials advise SSI beneficiaries to carefully plan their budgets around these payment schedule changes to avoid unexpected financial difficulties. They also encourage recipients to contact the Social Security Administration or local social service agencies for budgeting and resource planning assistance.
