Some Americans to Receive a Second Social Security Check in Rare Occasion — See If You’re On The List

This week, some Americans are set to receive two Social Security payments, a rare occasion resulting from a quirk in the system. 

The Social Security Administration sends out just one payment per week, on the second, third and fourth Wednesdays of each month and paying Supplemental Social Security Income, which provides support for disabled people and low-income elderly Americans, on the first of the month, with the exception of weekends or holidays. 

However, because March 1 coincides with the fourth Wednesday of February, some Social Security recipients will receive both payments this week, meaning that roughly 7.4 million recipients will get their March payments on Friday, March 1. 

The back-to-back deposits do not mean retirees are receiving extra funds, but rather are receiving an early payment for the following month. 

This is set to happen at least twice more this year, in August and November, according to a schedule of payments on the Social Security Administration’s website.

Many retirees have reported struggling to get by as they continue to battle high inflation that has rapidly eroded their purchasing power, in spite of a slight bump to SSI payments earlier this year

About 62% of seniors collecting Social Security are dissatisfied with the 3.2% payment increase they’re receiving in 2024, according to a recent survey published by Atticus. 

Additionally, nearly three in five seniors reported struggling financially as the cost of everyday necessities like food, rent and medical care remains intensely high, and about 20% of seniors receiving Social Security plan to seek employment this year. They also expressed concerns over rising utility, insurance, heating and food costs.

By contrast to the 3.2% increase, recipients saw an 8.7% bump in 2023, the highest in four decades. The 3.2% increase remains higher than the 2.6% average recorded over the past two decades.

The increase equates to about $59 more per month for the average retiree, who receives $1,907. The annual change is calculated based on the consumer price index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, or the CPI-W, from July, August and September.