There are a lot of people in the United States who get Social Security checks, but not everyone gets a very big benefit. That is why it is helpful to know about all the extra benefits we can apply for to get extra money every month on top of our regular pay.
People who are eligible can choose to get a check for about $967 a month. Yes, this is the most that can be paid, so we will not always get such a big check. However, we could get a check that adds to our Social Security benefits no matter what the final amount is.
Requirements for an extra check of $967 per month
Thanks to the COLA, this check will never go over $967 a month after January 2025. The most the payment has been in 2024 is $943, but this amount changes every year because of the cost of living adjustment. But that is the most that can be paid, and it is not possible to get more, at least not for individual beneficiaries.
This extra help is called Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and you can get it if you meet the following requirements:
- Being 65 years of age or older. It is also possible to have this benefit if you have a disability regardless of age.
- Have low monthly income and low resources.
Both conditions have to be met and must be shown. For this, it is best to have all the necessary paperwork ready. If we get the accepted benefit, we will have to show proof of our monthly income and any other money we get from other sources.
It is true that we will start getting SSI checks as soon as we start getting them, but we could also stop getting them at some point. After we stop being eligible, Social Security will no longer send us the check, so we will not have this extra money every month.
The payment for this benefit usually comes on the first of every month, but sometimes it comes earlier. If the first of the month falls on a holiday or weekend, the Social Security Administration sends a check the business day before.