Already December is well under way, and people who get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) from Social Security may have noticed that they didn’t get a cheque at the beginning of the month.
Since these benefits are usually given out on the first of every month, most recipients are used to schedule changes. After all, the Social Security Administration (SSA) doesn’t give out benefits on weekends or National Holidays, and the first of the month can easily fall on one of those days.
The SSA instead sends the cheque the day before, when banks are open and the US Postal Service is running. This makes sure that the checks get to their destination on time and that the people who are supposed to get them won’t have any trouble paying their bills on time, which could happen if the checks are sent out after the due date. Some people were counting on the money to feed their family or pay for housing.
For those who paid attention, which may not have been easy given how busy Thanksgiving weekend can be, SSI recipients got their cheque on 29 November, also known as “Black Friday,” which is not a holiday as many people think. This is because December 1st was a Sunday, which pushed the date of release up to November.
Social Security SSI payments
As its name suggests, SSI is meant to help people with disabilities or blindness and older adults who can’t work by giving them extra money. People who are the most at risk are supposed to be protected, and it gives them enough money to stay afloat.
One unique thing about SSI compared to other benefits the SSA gives out is that it can be used with other benefits. The most money a person can get from SSI is $943 for one person and $1,415 for a couple.
Next year, that amount will go up to $967 for one person and $1,450 for a couple thanks to a 2.5% cost of living change that all benefits will get in January.
Even though that is the most money that can be given, that doesn’t mean that most people will get that much. There are a lot of reasons why SSI recipients will have their benefits cut, but the most common one is making too much money.
People who are getting the benefit can’t make more than $1,971 a month from work. However, if a parent is asking on behalf of a disabled child, this cap is raised. The payments are also lowered based on how much money you make and other types of income.
Your SSI payment goes down by $1 for every $2 you make from work, like a job, self-employment, or anything else that makes you money. Also, your salary goes down by $1 for every $1 you get from sources other than work, like disability benefits, unemployment benefits, or retirement.
Going over the program’s resource limit is another common way people lose rewards. The most money you have shouldn’t be:
- $2,000 for individuals
- $3,000 for couples
- If you’re a parent applying for a child, these numbers increase by $2,000.
But the SSA can lower your benefit for more than just your own income and resources. They can also lower it based on the income of your partner, where you live, and whether you are qualified for extra help from the state where you live.
Next SSI payments
There won’t be an SSI payment for December in December, but there will be a payment in December for January. New Year’s Day is on January 1, which is also a national holiday. Because of this, banks will be closed and mail will not be delivered. The check will be sent to come on Tuesday, December 31.