Some Social Security recipients will receive an extra check in November. Here’s what you need to know.

Social Security recipients typically receive a payment each month, but some older Americans may receive an extra check in November because of the way the calendar falls in the last two months of the year.

While the issue isn’t new — the Social Security Administration sets its annual payment schedule well in advance of the year — it could catch some seniors by surprise next month if they’re not aware of the unusual schedule.

People who could get an extra check in November are those who receive Social Security’s Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, a program for disabled adults and low-income seniors. Some of those SSI recipients also receive monthly Social Security benefits, the traditional retirement income that is available to people once they turn 62.

SSI recipients will receive an additional payment next month – and some may receive up to three payments in November.

Here’s how it will work:

• SSI recipients will receive their November payment on Friday, November 1.
• People who applied for Social Security before May 1997 or who receive both Social Security and SSI payments will also receive their Social Security payment on November 1 (usually people who receive both Social Security payments on the third of the month , but because November 3 falls on a Sunday, this payment will also land on November 1).
• SSI recipients will also receive a second payment on Friday, November 29. This reflects their December payment, but as December 1 falls on a Sunday, their payment for the last month of 2024 will arrive on November 29.

In other words, people receiving SSI will receive two payments in November – on November 1st and November 29th. If they also receive Social Security, they will receive that check on November 1st, rather than November 3rd.

Meanwhile, all other Social Security recipients will receive their payments on the regular schedule, which provides benefits on the second, third or fourth Wednesday of the month, depending on the recipient’s date of birth.

The November dates for Social Security pension payments are as follows:

• People born between the 1st and 10th of the month will receive their Social Security check on November 13.
• Those born between the 11th and 20th of the month will receive their benefit check on November 20.
• People born between the 21st and 31st of the month will receive their payment on November 27.

When will the Social Security COLA take effect?

Meanwhile, Social Security recipients will receive a 2.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment with their payments starting in 2025, the agency announced last week.

The average payee will see their monthly check increase by about $50, to $1,976 per month.

This higher payment will start with their January benefits:

• People born between the 1st and 10th of their birth month will receive their first COLA increase on January 8th.
• Those born between the 11th and 20th of their birthday month will receive their COLA bonus on January 15th.
• Recipients born between the 21st and 31st of their birth month will receive the new COLA on January 22.

Meanwhile, people who started collecting Social Security before May 1997 or who receive both Social Security and SSI will receive the new Social Security COLA on January 3.

Individuals receiving SSI will receive the new COLA 2025 with payment from December 31, 2024.