Some Social Security recipients will get an extra check in November – NBC Chicago

While millions of retired Americans will soon see a 2.5% cost-of-living increase in their Social Security benefits, additional Social Security checks could be sent in the mail thanks to a November calendar feature.

Typically, Supplemental Security Income recipients receive their checks on the first of each month, but in November a second check also arrives at the end of the month.

This is due to a rule that if the first of the month falls on a holiday or weekend, checks will be delivered on the previous day of the week.

In December, the first of the month falls on a Sunday, meaning checks for the month of December will be delivered on November 29 instead, according to the Social Security Administration calendar.

However, that does not mean that there will be no controls in December.

A similar calendar feature actually affects check delivery for each month through March, with the beginning of each month falling on either a holiday or a weekend.

For January, checks will actually be delivered on December 31st. For February checks will be delivered on January 31st and for March checks will be delivered on February 28th.

Checks will no longer be delivered in March before normality returns in April.

Social Security Cost of Living Increase by 2025

The Social Security Administration announced Oct. 10 that millions of retired Americans will soon see a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment in benefit payments.

The retiree cost of living adjustment (COLA) represents an average increase of more than $50 each month for retirees, agency officials said.

About 72.5 million people, including retirees, disabled people and children, receive social security benefits.

Overall, the increase is lower than in previous years.

Recipients received a 3.2% increase in their benefits in 2024, following a historically high benefit increase of 8.7% in 2023 caused by record inflation in 40 years.

The AARP estimates that a 2.5 percent COLA would increase the average benefit of a retiree receiving about $1,920 per month by $48 per month starting in January 2025.

The program is funded by payroll taxes collected from employees and their employers. The maximum amount of income subject to Social Security payroll taxes was $168,600 in 2024, up from $160,200 in 2023. Analysts estimate the maximum amount will rise to $174,900 in 2025.