The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program distributed double payments to beneficiaries in late May 2025. This unusual event occurred because June 1st fell on a weekend. The Social Security Administration (SSA) moved the June payment to May 30th.
Consequently, no beneficiaries received funds during June. The next disbursement is scheduled for Tuesday, July 1. This adjustment responds to the official schedule, which avoids payments on non-business days. Now, I know you’ve been seeing news about possible payment suspensions for nearly half a million Social Security beneficiaries: that’s true, but maybe you need more information to avoid panicking.
Mandatory transition to electronic payments (also for SSI)
A regulatory change will eliminate physical checks for federal benefits starting September 30, 2025. The executive order “Modernizing Payments to and from Bank Accounts,” signed in 2020, establishes this requirement. It affects all SSA programs, including SSI, retirement, and SSDI.
Approximately 456,000 people, or 0.7% of the 68 million beneficiaries, are still receiving paper payments. Vulnerable groups such as seniors, rural residents, and the unbanked are the most affected. The White House is citing the increase in mail theft and check fraud during the pandemic.
Treasury checks are “16 times more likely to be reported lost or stolen” than wire transfers. The suspension of physical payments is permanent and also applies to IRS refunds and payments to government vendors.
To ensure the continuity of their payments, those who still receive paper checks must switch to an electronic format by September 30, 2025. To do so, they can opt for direct deposit into their bank or credit union account, apply for a Direct Express prepaid debit card, or enroll in an authorized digital payment service.
If you don’t have access to a financial institution or are facing exceptional circumstances, you can request an exemption by contacting the SSA or the Department of the Treasury to discuss alternative solutions. Failure to update your collection method by the deadline could result in delayed or suspended benefits.
SSI eligibility requirements
To qualify for SSI in 2025, applicants must be citizens or US residents age 65 or older, with a documented blindness or disability. Financial resources cannot exceed $2,000 for individuals or $3,000 for couples. Earned income, pensions, SSDI, or subsidies reduce the benefit proportionally.
The SSA reports 7,409,000 current beneficiaries: 1,008,000 under the age of 18, 3,919,000 adults (18-64 years old), and 2,483,000 over the age of 65. They represent 10% of the agency’s total program recipients. The final calculation also considers adjustments for housing type and support received.
The federal maximum payment is $967 per month for individuals and $1,450 for couples. Some states offer supplements, such as California, where it reaches $1,206.94 (individual) or $2,057.83 (couple). These amounts include the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to maintain purchasing power.
If you combine your SSI payments with retirement or disability benefits (SSDI), these are the maximum payments in 2025:
Early retirement payments (age 62) reach up to $2,831 per month in 2025. Those who wait until full retirement age (age 67) receive up to $4,018. Late retirement (age 70) offers the maximum of $5,108 thanks to additional credits.
For SSDI, the limit is $1,620 per month for blind individuals and $1,950 for those with other disabilities. Surviving spouses receive between 71% and 100% of the deceased’s original benefit, depending on their age. All amounts reflect inflation adjustments through the COLA.
