Recipients of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program from the Social Security Administration (SSA) in the United States will receive an early payment this October, corresponding to the month of November. This advance is due to the functioning of the social benefits payment schedule, which is moved up when the payment date falls on a weekend or holiday. Unlike retirement benefits, survivor payments, or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), SSI does not have eligibility requirements related to tax payments.
Recipients of other monthly Social Security benefits will receive their payments as usual on the dates corresponding to November. Additionally, on November 31, they will receive the advance payment corresponding to January 1, 2026, which will already include the 2.8% COLA increase.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Approximately 7.5 million beneficiaries of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program will receive an early payment this October. This is in response to the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) payment schedule, as November 1 falls on a weekend, so the payment is moved up to the first business day. This social program is aimed at individuals over 65 years of age or those with a disability who have little or no income or resources.
It differs in a key way from other types of social programs, such as retirement, survivor benefits, and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Its main feature is that eligibility is generally not subject to Social Security tax contributions. The program is considered to take into account the needs of beneficiaries rather than their contributions.
SSI Monthly Payments
The monthly amounts of the checks received by SSI beneficiaries depend on each case. Some even receive an additional payment from their state, but this is not the case for everyone. The average monthly income from this Social Security program is $717.84. An individual applicant can receive up to a maximum of $967, while a couple can receive up to $1,450.
Application of the COLA in 2026
Recently, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has made public the final figure for the COLA percentage for 2026. This parameter aims to ensure that the amounts paid by the SSA through its social programs keep pace with the inflation the country is experiencing at that time. It has been calculated that for the upcoming year 2026, the percentage for the Cost of Living Adjustment will be 2.8%.
This increase will not only apply to SSI but also to other programs such as retirement, SSDI, and survivors’ programs. However, the first to experience this increase will be SSI beneficiaries, as they will receive the payment corresponding to January 2026 on December 31, 2025 (with the COLA already applied).
Remaining SSA Payments in November
Other social programs will continue their usual payment schedule without changes. These dates, as always, will depend on the beneficiaries’ birth dates.
- If you were born between the 1st and 10th of the month: Wed., Nov. 12.
- If you were born between the 11th and 20th of the month: Wed., Nov. 19.
- If you were born between the 21st and 31st of the month: Wed., Nov. 26.
Remember that these dates do not apply to Social Security beneficiaries who began claiming retirement, survivor, or SSDI benefits before May 1997. In these cases, payments should be made on Monday, November 3, regardless of your birth date.
SSA Payment Methods
Since September 30, the Social Security Administration has reduced the number of physical paper checks for making its payments, carrying out the vast majority of its payments electronically. Except for those exceptions who still receive their checks in physical paper format, the rest receive them in two different ways:
- By direct deposit. Beneficiaries provide the agency with their banking information and receive their income through direct deposits. You can provide this information on the online portal “my Social Security.”
- On a special debit card. Beneficiaries can also receive their benefits on the Direct Express card, a debit card for federal payments to people who do not have a bank account.