Why some welfare recipients won't receive a payment this month

Some welfare recipients won't receive a payment this month. The reason? It all depends on the calendar.

People receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will not receive payments in September after already receiving two payments in August – on August 1 and August 30. Normally, SSI payments are made on the first of each month. However, because September 1 fell on a Sunday this year, the payments were made on Friday, August 30. The next round of checks will not be delivered until October 1.

Similar payment changes occurred in January when the 1st fell on a Monday but was New Year's Day, and in June when the 1st fell on a Saturday, thereby moving the payment to May 31st.

READ MORE: Social Security makes big changes to the application process

Another calendar change will take place in November when recipients will receive two payments – one on November 1 and another on November 29, as December 1 falls on a Sunday. However, there will be a different payment date in December, the 31st, to cover the January 2025 payment, as December 1 is New Year's Day. The full 2024 payment calendar can be found here. The full 2025 payment calendar can be found here.

About 7.5 million people receive SSI payments each month, including nearly 2.4 million people age 65 and older. Recipients are elderly, blind or disabled, and low-income. Social Security administers SSI but does not pay for it, AARP explained. General Social Security benefits are funded by Social Security taxes paid by working people. SSI comes primarily from the U.S. Treasury's general revenues, which are supplemented by grants from states.

To qualify, you must be at least 65 years old, blind or disabled, and have very limited financial resources. In 2024, the maximum monthly benefit from federal funds will be $943 per month for an individual or $1,415 for a couple who are both eligible for the program.