A surprise Social Security payment has landed on the bank accounts of a few Americans this week and a good number are asking, Did I get this? Holders of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) could be one of the beneficiaries who were paid up to $1,450 in early April.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) on April 1, 2025, as planned, discharged these cash payments. What may be known to some people as an “extra check” is basically the usual payment that was just a bigger amount this year due to certain changes.
Every detail that you need to be informed about—those who qualify, the possible amount to be received and the date to wait for the next check—is given here.
How Come Some People Receive a Social Security Payment on April 1?
As a rule, the SSA pays SSI benefits on the 1st of the month; of course, unless the day is on a weekend or federal holiday. In April 2025, the 1st landed on a Tuesday which was why the payment was made just as it used to be.
In conformity with the official payment schedule of SSA, all cash checks issued in April are destined for the SSI recipients only. It is not an extra or a bonus payment but the regular monthly benefit.
Why Have SSI Payments Increased in 2025?
The cause of the rise in the payments is the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) which stands at a percentage of 2.5% and which became effective on 1st January 2025. This is a kind of increase that occurs as a result of the price of goods and services going up, and that was officially declared by the SSA in October 2024.
The SSA confirms the new 2025 payment amounts in its SSI Payment Standards and asserts that they are made in the first three days of the month of April. Here, you can find the complete details.
Additionally, these payments must be updated for inflation, that is, which echo the COLA increase.
Now this is the amount of money one can expect:
- Individuals: Up to $967 per month
- Couples: Up to $1,450 per month
- Essential persons (those who provide in-home care): Up to $484 per month
The federal base amounts described above maybe are from some states but it’s up to them what they offer as extra. Therefore, this could lead to a higher total amount.
Who Qualifies for SSI?
SSI and Social Security retirement or disability benefits are different programs. In contrast to the latter which are financial insurance programs, SSI is intended for people who are in urgent need of assistance and do not have enough financial resources for their living.
To receive SSI benefits you must:
- Be 65 or older, blind, or disabled
- Have limited income and assets (usually less than $2,000 for individuals or $3,000 for couples)
- Be a U.S. citizen or qualifying resident
Unlike retirement benefits, you don’t need to have paid into the Social Security system to get SSI. This is the main reason why SSI is different from retirement benefits.
More detailed eligibility information can be found on the SSA’s official SSI page.
How Are the Payments Sent?
If you are enrolled in Direct Deposit, your April payment is most likely to have arrived on April 1. However, if you receive checks by mail, you may need to wait for a few more days until it arrives.
In case you have not received your payment yet:
- First, please check your bank account or the mailbox
- Go to your My Social Security account and look up your status
- Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 in case your payment is delayed
Will There Be Another “Extra” Payment in May?
Going—I think so.
Considering the way the calendar looks at the month of May 2025, there will be two SSI payments:
- May 1: Regular May payment
- May 30: Advance payment for June, because June 1 is on a Sunday
It doesn’t mean that a “double payment” is extra. It just moves the payment date ahead. The U.S. Sun gives a positive answer of this re-schedule which is usual when the 1st is on a weekend.
If you received a Social Security deposit in the current week, it is most likely your monthly SSI benefit. It is not an extra payment, but the amount may be observed as higher than last year due to the 2025 COLA.
If you expect that you are eligible for it but have not yet received SSI, now may be a good time for you to apply for it. You can start online or by visiting your local Social Security office.
In order to know the current Social Security and SSI payment schedules, you should regularly check ssa.gov.
