Washington, D.C. — If you’re one of the millions counting on Social Security, mark your calendar for May. Some beneficiaries are in for a surprise: two checks in one month. It’s not a glitch or a windfall, but a quirk in the Social Security Administration’s payment calendar that’s got people talking.
Here’s the deal. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients, who rely on monthly payments to cover basics like rent and groceries, will see their usual check on May 1. But come May 30, they’ll get another one, covering June’s payment. Why the double dip? June 1 falls on a Sunday, and the Social Security Administration doesn’t process payments on weekends or federal holidays. So, they slide June’s check to the last business day of May. The catch? No check will arrive in June, so don’t spend it all at once.
This isn’t new. The SSA’s payment rules, set in stone years ago, adjust for non-business days. It happened in November last year, when December’s SSI payment arrived early on November 29. For 2025, the same calendar quirk pops up a few times—August and November are next, with double payments landing on August 29 and November 28. The SSA laid this out in their 2025 payment schedule, published late last year, clear as day.
For Social Security retirement, disability (SSDI), or survivor benefits, the schedule stays steady. Payments depend on your birth date: the 8th to 14th means you get paid on May 14; the 15th to 21st, May 21; and the 22nd or later, May 28. If you started benefits before May 1997 or get both SSI and Social Security, your payment sticks to May 1, alongside SSI. No double checks here, just the usual rhythm.
The SSA’s been upfront about this. On April 16, their press office flagged the May-June SSI schedule to avoid confusion. They’ve seen folks panic before, thinking an extra check means a mistake or a clawback later. It doesn’t. It’s just the calendar doing its thing.
Still, two checks in May can feel like a lifeline for SSI recipients, who often scrape by on payments averaging $698 a month for individuals or $1,046 for couples, per the SSA’s 2025 figures. But with no June payment, budgeting is key. The SSA’s been hammering this point, urging people to plan ahead.
The numbers tell the story. About 7.4 million Americans get SSI, and nearly 66 million total rely on Social Security benefits. May’s double payment won’t change the amount you’re owed—just when it lands in your account. Direct deposit hits the same day as checks; paper checks might lag a day or two.
That’s the scoop. Two checks in May for SSI folks, none in June. Regular Social Security keeps its usual pace. Check your dates, stash some cash, and don’t let the calendar catch you off guard.