Where a beneficiary receives an unexpected second Supplemental Security Income payment in a month, this can be the cause of some concern as to what is the best course of action. In this article, the situations where a second SSI payment may be issued will be covered and whether one needs to call the Social Security Administration in such a case.
Why might I get a second SSI Payment?
The SSA will, at times, make a second SSI payment in a month due to changes in the schedule of the payments. The delay in payment happens when a regular payment date falls on a weekend or a holiday. To avoid this delay, the SSA may issue a second payment to ensure that their beneficiaries do get their funds in good timing.
For instance, if your regular SSI payment date falls on the first of the month but the first falls on a Sunday, it may issue the payment the previous Friday to ensure you get your funds without delay, meaning there are two payments in the same month. However in this situation there is extra payment overall, just the funds being disbursed early.
What must I do if I receive a second SSI Payment?
If you receive a second SSI payment in one month, you don’t need to contact SSA; however, you can always contact them if you have further questions or concerns. The SSA will internally adjust the schedule of your payments to account for the double payment. All this simply means is that your next regular payment will be appropriately adjusted so as not to result in a double payment.
If you think a second payment was sent because of an error or have questions about your payment schedule, call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit your local office of the SSA. Staffs from the SSA will answer your questions and provide information about your personal payment schedule.
What if I get an extra payment because of an error?
In few cases, you may be overpaid in case the SSA has an error. You should immediately notify the SSA if you notice a mistake in your payment amount or frequency. The SSA will investigate the error and take all necessary steps to correct the anomaly, which quite often involves adjusting your payment schedule and asking for a reimbursement for the funds that were overpaid.
It’s quite common for an indiviudal to get a second SSI payment in a month. Most of the time, it does not require any kind of action from your side. The SSA will adjust it on its own so that no duplicity in the payment occurs. You can reach out to the SSA office if you have any type of queries regarding the schedule of payments. However, if there is an error in the amount or date of your payment, you should notify the SSA to help ensure that it is accurate and on time.
Knowing why you may have received a second SSI payment, along with the steps you must take, can avoid any potential confusion and help to ensure proper management of your benefits.
