Millions of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients won’t be receiving a check in September, and the reason is quite simple: a quirk in the calendar. Normally, payments are sent out on the 1st of each month, but if that date falls on a weekend or a holiday, the Social Security Administration (SSA) moves the payment date to the business day before.
Early Payments for September 2024
This year, September 1st falls on a Sunday, so the payments were sent out early, on Friday, August 30th. This early payment means SSI recipients won’t receive another check until October, which may require them to adjust their monthly budget. However, the payment is not missing; it just came earlier than usual.
Future Payment Schedule
Another similar situation will happen in November when SSI recipients will receive two payments within the same 30-day period. This is because December’s payment will be sent out early to accommodate the holiday season, creating a double payment month for November.
Below is a table that outlines the revised payment schedule:
| Month | Scheduled Payment Date | Adjusted Payment Date | Reason for Adjustment |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2024 | Friday, August 2 | No Change | August 3rd is a Saturday |
| September 2024 | Sunday, September 1 | Friday, August 30 | September 1st is a Sunday |
| November 2024 | Sunday, November 3 | Friday, November 1 | November 3rd is a Sunday |
| December 2024 | Monday, December 1 | Friday, November 29 | December 1st is a holiday |
Who Is Affected?
If you receive regular Social Security benefits, you are largely unaffected by these changes. However, those who typically receive payments on the 3rd of the month would have noticed that their August payment was moved to Friday, August 2nd, since the 3rd fell on a Saturday. The same thing will happen in November, where payments will be moved up to Friday, November 1st.
Understanding SSI
SSI (Supplemental Security Income) was introduced in 1974 to assist individuals who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled, as well as blind or disabled children. The program started with 3.2 million recipients, and by December 2022, that number had grown to about 7.5 million.
Conclusion
The reason why some Social Security recipients won’t get their checks in September is simply due to the timing of the calendar. Payments are sent early if the 1st of the month lands on a weekend or holiday. Recipients are encouraged to plan their finances around these calendar adjustments to ensure they are prepared when their checks arrive early. This same situation will also occur in November and December, so be ready for those changes as well.
FAQ’s
Why didn’t I receive my SSI payment in September?
Your SSI payment was sent out early on Friday, August 30th because September 1st fell on a Sunday. Payments are adjusted to the previous business day when the 1st lands on a weekend or holiday.
Will I lose any money because of this early payment?
No, you won’t lose any money. The payment was just moved to an earlier date due to the calendar. You still received your full SSI benefit for September.
Will this happen again in the future?
Yes, this will happen again in November, where you’ll receive both November and December payments within a 30-day period due to the holidays.