In the United States, millions of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients are preparing to get a surprise payment at the end of December. This check is not an additional payment, but an advance of the January benefit, which incorporates the 2025 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The purpose of this advance is to ensure that funds are available before the new year begins, a common practice to avoid administrative delays during the holidays.
SSI is a vital program that supports people who are elderly, disabled or have limited income by ensuring a basic source of income.
The 2025 COLA, set at 2.5%, will increase these payments, meaning recipients will get more money compared to current amounts. This adjustment is intended to counter inflation and maintain the purchasing power of the most vulnerable citizens.
Who gets the surprise SSI payment with the 2025 COLA?
SSI beneficiaries were supposed to receive their payment on January 1, 2025, with the COLA increase. However, since it is New Year’s Day, this payment will be advanced to the previous day, December 31.
For those who still don’t know how the COLA increase works, this adjustment is made automatically, and they won’t need to notify Social Security.
Those who receive two payments, from SSI and Social Security, will keep the two payment dates as they have been until now.
Social Security clarifies that if you don’t receive the direct deposit on the payment date, it could take up to three days afterward. If you notice that the check doesn’t arrive, you should contact Social Security.
2025 SSI after adding the Cost of Living Adjustment
With the 2.5% increase due to the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), the maximum SSI payments in 2025 will have a significant increase. For a single person, the payment will go up from $963 in 2024 to $967 in 2025, and for couples, from $1,415 to $1,450. Although the increase may seem low, it will improve the economy of Americans.
This adjustment is meant to help SSI beneficiaries maintain their quality of life in the face of inflation and will apply to all SSI payments starting in January 2025, although many analysts and economic experts warn about the low increase compared to the real rise in the cost of living.
