Why Did I Get Two Social Security Checks This Month?

Getting two Social Security checks in one month could result from several different factors. The Social Security Administration (SSA) oversees several different programs, each of which issues payments to a different group of qualified benefit recipients.

Because of the extensive rules and regulations applying to the various Social Security benefit programs, it’s easy for someone to become a bit confused if they are unfamiliar with how each program works. In this blog post, we’ll explain how and why some people will receive more than one Social Security payment in a single month.

Here at Keener Law Firm Disability Lawyers, we focus our entire legal practice on helping people across the country receive the disability benefits they deserve. Applying for and winning the disability benefits you are entitled to can be challenging without the assistance of knowledgeable professionals. If you have questions or need help with your disability benefits, contact Keener Law Firm today.

Three Possible Reasons for Multiple Social Security Payments in the Same Month

While each person’s circumstances are different, there are three possible scenarios in which a Social Security benefits recipient will get more than one benefit payment in a month:

• Concurrent benefits — A person is receiving benefits from more than one Social Security program.
• Back payments are paid separately from the regular monthly benefit payment.
• Calendar affects the timing of some payments.

1). Receiving Benefits from More than One Social Security Program (Concurrent Benefits)

The programs administered by the SSA include systems to pay monthly benefits to people who reach their full retirement age; one to pay benefits to disabled workers and their family members or survivors; and another to make financial payments to means-tested, low-income disabled persons.

The first two groups, those who have reached retirement age and workers who became disabled, are handled by one program, the Old Age, Survivor, and Disability Insurance Program (OASDI). The third group of benefits is paid under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program.

Each program requires that benefit recipients meet very specific criteria to qualify. But it is possible for one person to qualify for more than one of these programs, which pay recipients on different days of the month.

Example: Suppose Sam has a long work history and became disabled. Sam probably qualifies for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. But the amount of someone’s SSDI benefits is determined by a formula using the average monthly income during their 35 highest earning years. If Sam was a low-wage earner, his SSDI payment could be low. Sam’s monthly SSDI payment may allow Sam to meet the low-income eligibility criteria for the SSI program.

SSI payments are made on the first of each month. SSDI monthly payment dates are determined by the day of the month the benefit recipient was born. So, if you qualify and receive payments from multiple Social Security programs, your payments will arrive on different days each month.

2). Back Payments from SSD

When a disabled worker applies for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI or SSD) benefits, the application and approval process often take over six months. In many cases, if benefits are initially denied, the disabled applicant may wait 18 months until his denial is overturned, and benefits are approved by an administrative law judge (ALJ) on appeal.

When someone is approved to receive Social Security Disability benefits (SSD), there is a five-month waiting period during which no benefits are payable. The five months begin from the onset date of your disability. The first month for which you would receive a benefit payment would be the sixth month following the date set by the SSA as your onset date.

When you begin to receive your monthly SSD benefits, they will be paid separately from any back payments due to you from the months between your sixth month and when you begin receiving monthly payments.

Example: Suppose an SSD claimant’s disability onset date is January 1, 2020, and their first approved monthly SSD benefit check was paid in June 2022. January through May 2020 is the five-month waiting period through which no benefits are paid. Beginning in June 2020, the claimant would have received benefits if their claim had been approved. Since they did not begin to receive benefits until June of 2022, they will receive separate payments for back payments for the 24 months from June 2020 through and including May 2022.

3). Calendar Affects SSI Payment Dates

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments are made on the first day of each month. However, the first day of the month sometimes falls on a weekend or holiday. When that happens, the Social Security Administration sends out the payments on the last business day of the previous month.

That means you might receive two SSI payments during the same calendar month.

Call Keener Law Firm Disability Lawyers for More Information

The Keener Law Firm Disability Lawyers are ready to assist you with all of your disability-related concerns. We have extensive experience with every disability benefits program.