In the United States, getting two Social Security payments in the same week is not common, but it can happen when the calendar causes certain crossovers between the payment days of different groups of beneficiaries. This is precisely what will happen in the first week of May 2025, when two different checks will coincide for specific groups of people.
Although many might think this is an additional benefit, it is actually due to the internal organization of Social Security and its fixed payment dates. What varies, therefore, is not the amount or number of monthly payments, but the exact time they are received, depending on which day the first of the month falls and other similar factors.
The payments arriving this week are the May 1st payment for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and the May 2nd payment reserved for group 1 retirees, i.e., those who began receiving their benefits before May 1997.
Although it may seem confusing, these overlaps are normal within the Social Security system, and the good news is that, despite these minor irregularities, all beneficiaries receive their checks on time.
How to receive two Social Security payments?
In order to receive these two checks in the same week, you must meet certain specific requirements. The first has to do with the type of benefit: only those who collect retirement and SSI at the same time are entitled to both payments.
But receiving both benefits is not enough. You must also belong to Social Security group 1, which includes only those who began collecting retirement before May 1997. This group gets their payment on the 3rd of each month, but in May 2025, that day falls on a Saturday, so the payment is moved up to Friday, May 2.
On the other hand, SSI is always paid on the 1st of each month, except when that date falls on a weekend or holiday. In this case, the May 1st payment will arrive as usual, since it is a Wednesday.
So, basically, the only people who will receive both payments in the same week are SSI beneficiaries who also retired before May 1997. In addition, there is a key factor that can make a difference in when exactly the money is received: the collection method. Using direct deposit or the Direct Express card allows you to access the money on the same day it is issued, while other methods may take longer to reflect the deposit.
Another extra Social Security payment in May 2025
In addition to this week’s payments, May will bring a third Social Security check for a specific group of beneficiaries. This is the advance SSI payment for June, which will be sent on Friday, May 30.
Why is this payment being made early? Because June 1st falls on a Saturday, and as a general rule, Social Security never issues payments on weekends. For that reason, the check is issued on the last business day of the previous month.
This payment will go exclusively to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries and does not represent extra income, but rather an advance of the June check. Even so, many people see it as extra breathing room within the same month.
Due to this calendar peculiarity, some SSI beneficiaries will receive two payments in May, one on the 1st and another on the 30th. But as with this week’s payments, this does not mean they will receive more money, but rather that the temporary distribution is changing to ensure that no one misses their monthly income.
