Some Americans are about to receive not one, but two separate cash payments in just a few days—thanks to a timing quirk in the Social Security calendar. If you rely on Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you could see a bonus wave of financial relief in the final weeks of May 2025. Here’s what’s going on, who’s getting paid, and how much you could receive.
Two Payments in One Week: How It Works
Social Security payments are scheduled based on your birth date, and this timing determines when you get your monthly benefits. For May 2025, people born between the 11th and 20th of any month will receive their Social Security payment on Wednesday, May 21.
Just one week later, on Wednesday, May 28, those born between the 21st and 31st of the month will get theirs.
Then comes the real surprise—on Friday, May 30, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments will be sent out early for the month of June. That means many eligible Americans will receive two government checks in just a few days, offering a welcome boost for those who depend on this support.
Why Are There Two Payments?
This double-payment setup isn’t an error or a bonus—it’s just how the calendar worked out this time. Normally, SSI is paid on the 1st of every month, but if the 1st falls on a weekend or holiday, the payment is moved earlier to avoid delays.
In this case, June 1, 2025, falls on a Sunday, so the Social Security Administration (SSA) will send payments on the last business day before that—Friday, May 30.
The SSA explained this in a past blog post:
“We do this to avoid putting you at a financial disadvantage and make sure that you don’t have to wait beyond the first of the month to get your payment… It does not mean that you are receiving a duplicate payment.”
So while it may feel like an extra paycheck in May, it’s simply your June SSI payment arriving a bit earlier.
How Much Will You Get?
The amount of your Social Security or SSI payment depends on several factors, including your age, earnings history, and other financial circumstances.
Social Security (as of January 2025):
- Average retirement benefit: $1,976/month
- If you started at 62: up to $2,831/month
- If you waited until 67: up to $4,018/month
- If you waited until 70: up to $5,108/month
Your actual benefit may vary depending on your lifetime earnings and the amount of Social Security taxes you paid while working.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in 2025:
- Maximum monthly benefit for individuals: $967
- Maximum monthly benefit for couples: $1,450
SSI amounts can also be adjusted based on your living situation, other income sources, and eligibility rules.
Who Is Eligible for SSI?
SSI is different from Social Security. It is designed to help people who are elderly, blind, or disabled and have limited income and resources. You don’t need a work history to qualify for SSI, but you do need to meet strict financial limits.
If you’re already receiving SSI, you don’t need to do anything extra to get your early June payment—it will be deposited or mailed automatically on May 30.
What Should You Do?
If you are expecting a payment:
- Check your bank account or mailbox around May 21, 28, and 30 depending on your eligibility and birth date.
- Use the Social Security Administration’s “My Social Security” portal to track your benefits or update personal details.
- Remember that two payments in May does not mean extra money—it simply covers May’s Social Security and June’s SSI.
A fortunate mix of calendar timing and policy means that many Americans will receive two separate payments in the last week of May 2025. Whether it’s your regular Social Security or your early June SSI check, this small shift helps millions get the support they need, right on time.