About 7.4 million Americans who depend on social security benefits through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program will see two payments hit their accounts in May. It’s not extra money, but it is a significant shift to understand. The Social Security Administration’s (SSA) calendar is the reason for the double deposit, with June’s payment arriving early because the first of the month falls on a Sunday.

According to USA Today, the first payment is scheduled for Thursday, May 1, and the second will follow on Friday, May 30. Even though two payments will land in the same month, beneficiaries need to know that the second check is an advance for June. Knowing how and why this happens can help millions who rely on social security benefits plan ahead and avoid gaps in their income.

Why Two SSI Payments Are Coming In May

Every so often, the SSA’s calendar shifts when regular payment dates fall on weekends or holidays. Instead of delaying deposits, the agency sends payments early. That’s exactly what’s happening in May. June’s regular Social Security Income benefits, for those who are disabled or have limited resources, would have fallen on Sunday, June 1, so it’s being sent out on Friday, May 30.

Because the June payment is issued early, there won’t be an SSI deposit during the calendar month of June. USA Today further notes that a similar situation happened earlier this year in February and March, and will happen again in August and October. Whenever two checks arrive in the same month, the following calendar month comes without an SSI payment.

It’s important to think ahead. While two payments might feel like a bonus, the second one is not extra. It’s meant to stretch through the next month. Budgeting carefully will be key to making it work for anyone living on fixed social security benefits.

How Social Security Benefits Are Scheduled Each Month

Payments will follow a different schedule if you receive traditional social security benefits based on retirement or age. These are based on your birth date:

  • Birthdays between the 1st and 10th of the month are paid on May 14.
  • Birthdays between the 11th and 20th are paid on May 21.
  • Birthdays after the 20th are paid on May 28.

Recipients who started getting benefits before May 1997 are paid on the 3rd of the month. If they also qualify for SSI, that check typically arrives on the 1st.

Knowing when your Social Security benefits will arrive helps keep everything on track, especially in months when the schedule shifts due to weekends or holidays. Planning ahead ensures there are no surprises.

What to Expect For The Rest Of The Year

This calendar quirk isn’t just a one-time thing. SSI recipients will experience the same shift in August, when payments for both August and September are issued in August, on Aug. 1 and Aug. 29, respectively. It will happen again in October, with November’s payment coming at the end of October.

With no regular SSI payment in months like June, September, and November, that’s why it’s so important to recognize the early checks for what they are: not bonuses but necessary funds to cover the month ahead.

Millions of Americans depend on social security benefits to make ends meet, so they will need to stay alert, budget wisely, and ensure every dollar is accounted for. Understanding the payment calendar now can make a big difference later.