The Takeaway
- Some SSI recipients will get two payments in October.
- The second October check is an early payment for November.
- This happens when the first of the month falls on a weekend or holiday.
- A similar double-payment schedule will happen again in December.
- The 2026 Social Security COLA will be announced mid-October.
If your bank account shows an extra deposit from Social Security this month, don’t celebrate too soon — it’s not a bonus (no, you're not getting two checks), just a timing shift.
Because of how the calendar falls, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will issue two Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments in October. The first should have arrived Wednesday, Oct. 1, and the second should arrive on Friday, Oct. 30.
Here’s why: SSI checks usually go out on the first of each month. But when the first lands on a weekend or holiday — as Nov. 1 does this year (a Saturday) — the agency sends the payment out early. That means your October 30 deposit is actually your November payment, not an extra one.
You’ll see this same thing happen again later this year. Because Jan. 1, 2026, is a federal holiday, December will also bring two SSI payments — one on Monday, Dec. 1, and another on Wednesday, Dec. 31.
According to SSA data, about 7.5 million Americans receive SSI each month, including nearly 2.4 million seniors. The program supports people 65 or older, blind, or living with disabilities who have limited income and financial resources.
Regular Social Security follows a different schedule
If you receive traditional Social Security instead of SSI, your payment date depends on your birthday:
- Born 1st–10th → paid on the second Wednesday
- Born 11th–20th → paid on the third Wednesday
- Born 21st–31st → paid on the fourth Wednesday
If you’ve been receiving benefits since before 1997, or if you get both Social Security and SSI, your payments come on the 1st and 3rd of the month, respectively.
COLA news coming soon
October is also when we learn how much more (or less) Social Security checks will grow next year. Around Oct. 15, the SSA will announce the 2026 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) — based on inflation data from the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).
Early estimates put the 2026 COLA at about 2.7%, meaning benefits could rise by that amount beginning in January.
Bottom line: If you get SSI, expect two payments in October and December — but remember, they’re advance deposits, not extras. Keep an eye out mid-month for the COLA announcement to see how your benefits might change next year.
Sources: Social Security Administration, Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-W data.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not official financial or government advice. Always confirm payment schedules or eligibility directly with the Social Security Administration.
