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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Social Security and SSDI Essential Cheat Sheet: Get The Scoop On Social Security
Social Security isn't just for people who retire. It's a government program that provides a monthly benefit payment to senior citizens and people with disabilities. Time and effort is required to apply for each benefit, so it's best to go in as informed as possible. Whether you're planning for retirement or getting ready to apply for Social Security or Disability Insurance, there's a lot of ground to cover and you likely have a lot of questions. That's why we've created this cheat sheet that will give you not only the basics, but also tackle some specific topics that might be harder to find the answers to. For more on Social Security, check out how the Social Security Fairness Act has paid out more than 7.5B in retroactive payments and where to find your COLA letter if you lost it. Read More: Over 4 million Social Security numbers may have leaked in company breach When you receive your monthly Social Security check depends on which specific benefit you're receiving. Social Security and Social Security Disability Insurance share the same schedule, but if you're receiving both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income you'll receive your benefits on a different date than most. Beneficiaries who had been receiving Social Security prior to May 1997 also receive their payments on a different date than most. No matter which benefit you receive, we have the answers. Below are dedicated articles that we update either weekly or monthly with the latest information on each Social Security benefit payment schedule. 2025 Social Security Payment Schedule 2025 Social Security Disability Insurance Payment Schedule 2025 Supplemental Security Income Payment Schedule Applying for Social Security benefits isn't nearly as difficult as you might think it is. It just takes some patience and gathering all the right information you'll need to properly fill out your application. You can also apply over the phone or in person if that's more convenient for you. Find out how to apply with one of these guides. How to Apply for Social Security Benefits How to Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits How to Apply for Supplemental Security Income Can I Receive Supplemental Security Income if I'm not a US Citizen? Social Security Benefits for Children: Who's Eligible And How to Apply Temporary Assistance for Needy Families: How to Apply for TANF in Your State You don't have to be retired to begin receiving Social Security benefits. If you've paid into the Social Security system for at least 10 years, you may be eligible to begin receiving benefits at the age of 62. However, doing so will mean you get the smallest benefit amount. On the other hand, if you wait until you're 70 years old, you will receive the maximum benefit. How to Estimate Your Monthly Social Security Benefit Payment With a Free Online Tool Social Security Money: Know This Before You Retire The Maximum Amount of Social Security You Can Receive Each Month How to Determine the Best Time to Start Collecting Social Security The Truth About Social Security: We Have to Plan for the Unpredictable Pause Your Social Security Benefits to Potentially Get a Larger Payment Later. Here's How Social Security Benefits Could Drop by 20% by 2032, Government Report Says Medicare is a health insurance program for people aged 65 or older and for some people with disabilities. It's broken up into four parts, allowing for greater flexibility for enrollees, and encompasses the costs of health care and prescription drugs. Even if you don't plan on applying for Medicare anytime soon, getting the basics down would be beneficial. For instance, if you don't apply at the appropriate time, you could receive a life-long penalty. Changes to Medicare Are Coming in 2025: Here's What You Can Expect You Might Not Have to Enroll in Medicare When You Turn 65 For more, check out whether you have to pay back a Social Security overpayment. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CNET
6 days ago
- Health
- CNET
Social Security Has a 'Maddening' New AI Phone Bot. Here's How to Deal With It
Social Security's new phone bot can be frustrating to use. Here's how to navigate it. Getty Images The Social Security Administration's new AI-powered phone bot is coming, whether you're ready for it or not -- and apparently whether it's ready or not, too. Reports out in recent days indicate that the system has been struggling to handle seemingly simple tasks for people calling in with questions. I've been covering Social Security for some time now, so I'm well aware of the challenges confronting the agency, including severe layoffs, and how those challenges affect the more than 70 million people currently receiving Social Security benefits. I've called the agency myself multiple times to see how it's responding, or failing to. In the last few days, I've put the AI phone bot to the test, and far too often, it struggled with what seemed like straightforward questions and statements I made. At issue right now is a new telecommunications system that's being rolled out across the country. It started with the agency's national phone number and is working its way out to the all field offices and card centers nationwide, and all their local phone numbers. Central to it is an automated system that incorporates unspecified AI "enhancements." Whether those enhancements will make things better over the long haul remains to be seen. Below, I'll go over the details of what's happening, my experience contacting the SSA and provide a few tips to navigate the new phone bot if you have to call in. For more, don't miss the four ways you could potentially lose your Social Security benefits. Social Security's 'maddening' AI phone bot Earlier this month, The Washington Post reported on issues plaguing the Social Security Administration, and tucked in the middle of the article were some troubling details about the phone system. The article cited a frustrating experience for Jennifer Burdick, an attorney who represents people with or applying for Social Security Disability Insurance. Burdick noted, "many times when you say 'agent' it won't put you through to the hold line, it'll act like it didn't hear what you said." One of the Post's reporters tried it out for herself, only to have a similarly frustrating and dizzying experience. She presented the bot with an issue that would more than likely need to be handled by an agent: not receiving a Social Security check in April. The reporter explained the matter to the phone bot simply and succinctly, only to receive an automated reply with information about the 2025 COLA increase, Medicare Part B information, and other benefits available to recipients -- none of which were relevant or helpful. Only after eight attempts did the system respond correctly and begin transferring the call to a person. MSNBC last week picked up the story and shared a video of the reporter's "maddening" experience. (While that video refers to the tech as a chatbot, it's really more of a classic phone bot, apparently with some AI elements but different from AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini.) Read More: Social Security Check Missing? Here's What to Do I tried calling the SSA to test the AI bot's skills Spurred by those accounts, I wanted to see for myself how the phone system was working. I called in not once, but 11 different times. Mostly my experience was much more positive, but when the phone bot went wrong, it went very wrong. When I asked, "Why is my payment lower than I thought it would be for this month?" the bot completely missed my point. It replied with the maximum benefit amounts for 2025 and how payments differ by age. I tried to clarify: "I'm already receiving benefits, and only this check is lower than it typically is" -- to which it replied that the SSA checks its records between October and March to determine if an account needs an adjustment. I repeated my initial question and received the strangest answer yet: "OK, direct deposit. If you're finished, feel free to hang up. Otherwise, how can I help you today?" Yeah, that's pretty maddening. Other times, it would take a long-winded route that did eventually lead me where I wanted to go. When I said, "I didn't receive my payment last month," the bot provided the full payment schedule for the month of May in detail but followed with, "To report a missing payment, just say 'agent,'" and when I did, it correctly sent me over to the next step. My takeaway: Maybe AI is working somewhere behind the scenes, but you can't trust it to understand natural language -- the way people speak in normal conversation -- which is something that AI chatbots like Gemini Live are getting really good at, which I know from experience. The trick, I discovered, was to forget about speaking to the phone bot conversationally. Instead, I hammered home on a single word: "agent." On five separate calls, when all I did was to say "agent" whenever prompted, I got past the phone bot and into the queue to wait for an actual human agent. (Given the long wait times typical of calling the SSA, I didn't stick around after that point.) So yay! Success after all. My tips for making the phone bot work for you Here's what I'd suggest when trying to deal with Social Security's new phone system. Prioritize getting to a person, not the problem The Social Security phone bot clearly has some issues to work through. Phone systems like this are notoriously bad -- think of those times you've called customer service for, well, just about any big business -- so you shouldn't assume it's going to be as understanding as when you're speaking to a more sophisticated AI bot like Gemini Live. When the bot asks you what you need help with, just continue to say you want to speak to an agent. Keep words to a minimum I think the success I had with the phone system could have been because I kept my responses to "agent" every time I was prompted to speak. Overexplaining to an ill-equipped AI bot likely won't yield the results you want. Don't call using speakerphone If the phone system already performs poorly, don't make it worse by introducing extra noise that can further degrade the experience, like when you call on speaker phone. Stick to using headphones that have good call quality or just have the phone to your ear and speak directly into the microphone when making your requests. Your mileage still may vary Even these tips may not prevent a poor call system from interpreting your request correctly. If it begins to send you in circles, hang up and call back to see if that can get you where you need to go faster. A spokesperson for the SSA told the Washington Post that the phone bot feature is constantly improving and several factors can affect the quality of the call, including background noise, call connection and speech clarity. None of these things seemed to be an issue on the Washington Post reporter's phone call. But my experience wasn't as awful as that, so maybe the system is getting better, at least a little. For more, don't miss what the experts are predicting for the 2026 COLA increase.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
SSI June 2025 payment schedule change: Why beneficiaries will get two deposits in May and what it means
SSI June 2025 Payment Rescheduled: Beneficiaries to Receive Two SSI Payments in May Why is SSI paying twice in May 2025? Live Events 65 or older, or Blind or disabled, and Have limited income and few resources How much can you get from SSI in 2025? $967 per month for an individual $1,450 per month for a couple Work income (SSA deducts $1 for every $2 you earn) Other income sources like disability benefits, unemployment, or pensions (usually dollar-for-dollar reduction) Living arrangement – for instance, if you live in someone else's home and don't pay your fair share, your payment could be reduced by up to $342.33 How will you receive the SSI May 30 payment? Direct Express card holders and those who receive paper checks will get their payment on May 30 Those using direct deposit or other electronic methods will also see the money on May 30, usually faster and more securely What's the next SSI payment date after May? SSI payment changes: What should you keep in mind? FAQs: (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel , and that's making many recipients wonder why their benefits are coming early. Don't worry—there's no error, and you're not losing any money. It's just a shift in the calendar that's moving your June SSI payment toThis change doesn't mean you're getting extra money, and it's not a mistake by the Social Security Administration (SSA). In fact, this happens whenever the 1st of the month falls on a weekend. For June 2025, June 1 lands on a, so the government is making sure you get your money before that—on the last business day of let's break it down to help you understand everything SSI benefits are deposited on the 1st of every month, unless that date is a weekend or a federal holiday. Since June 1 is a Sunday, the SSA has moved the payment to Friday, May 30, means that SSI recipients will receive two payments in May—one on May 1 for the May benefit, and another on May 30 for the June benefit. But make no mistake—this isn't an extra check. It's just the June payment arriving made similar changes for March and November 2025. The March payment came on February 28, and the November one is scheduled for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program helps people who are aged, blind, or disabled and have very limited income and resources. It's not the same as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), although both are handled by qualify for SSI, you generally need to be:SSI is funded by general tax revenues, not Social Security taxes. So even if you never paid into Social Security, you may still can't receive two SSI payments in the same month regularly, because that could affect eligibility for other assistance programs like food stamps or per the official SSA website, the maximum SSI payment in 2025 is:However, not everyone gets the full amount. The amount you receive depends on your:There are different ways to receive your SSI money:So, mark your calendar for May 30, 2025, and remember—this is your June SSI payment, not a bonus or a this early June payment, the next regular SSI deposit will be made on July 1, 2025, as usual. No more double payments are expected for a be prepared for the November 2025 benefit, which is set to arrive on October shifts in timing may seem small, but they can affect how you plan your monthly expenses, especially if you receive other assistance where income limits apply. The SSA stresses the importance of not mistaking early deposits for extra June 1 is a Sunday, the June payment will be deposited early—on May 30.$967 monthly for individuals and $1,450 for couples, depending on income and living situation
CNET
27-05-2025
- Business
- CNET
SSDI May 2025: The Final Round of Payments This Month Are Headed Out Soon
May's SSDI checks are headed to beneficiaries soon. Here's this month's payment schedule. CNET The last round of Social Security Disability Insurance payments will be sent out in the next few days, so don't fret if you haven't yet received yours. The day your payment is scheduled to be sent out depends on a few different factors that we'll break down below. The Social Security Administration sends monthly payments to people who have a disability that stops or limits their ability to work. Depending on their individual situation, others may qualify and can apply for SSDI as well. We'll break down the full SSDI payment schedule for the month of May and how your payment date is calculated so you'll know exactly when you can expect your check. For more, here's what you can do if you're last payment never arrived, and here's the Supplemental Security Income payment schedule. Payment schedule if you've had SSDI since May 1997 or earlier If you started getting SSDI before May 1997, you'd usually receive your payment on the third day of every month. Note that this isn't always the case, like when the third day falls on a weekend or holiday. For 2025, this will happen in May and August, so you can expect to receive your payment during these months 1-2 days earlier. If you began receiving SSDI after May 1997, then your payment date is determined by the day of the month you were born. Payments are typically paid out on the second, third and fourth Wednesday of the month. Which Wednesday you get your check breaks down like this: Birthdate between Social Security check date 1 and 10 of the month Second Wednesday of the month 11 and 20 of the month Third Wednesday of the month 21 and 31 of the month Fourth Wednesday of the month Here's when you'll get your SSDI payment in May Here's when your SSDI payment should arrive this month: If you've received Social Security before May 1997 May 2 If your birthday falls between day 1 and 10 of the month May 14 If your birthday falls between day 11 and 20 of the month May 21 If your birthday falls between day 21 and 31 of the month May 28 How does 2025 COLA affect my payment? The COLA for 2025 introduced a 2.5% increase in monthly benefit checks, but exactly how much of an increase will depend on several factors. Any monthly income, how long you've received benefits and what type of benefit you receive can result in a different payment increase. Recipients should have received their COLA notice sometime in December with specific details on their case. A COLA of 2.5% will add about $48 to the average benefits check. For more, don't miss four ways you could lose your Social Security benefits and how to apply for SSI.
Hindustan Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
SSI schedule changed for May-June payments in 2025
The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) schedule for June 2025 payments has been slightly changed, because of which the deposit will be arriving on May 30. The two payments the beneficiaries will receive in May are not a result of overpayments on the part of the Social Security Administration (SSA) but due to June 1 being a Sunday. In such cases, deposits are delivered on the nearest business day to prevent beneficiaries from overdrawing their account. Funded by general taxes, the SSI program is meant to help retired, disabled, survivors, or individuals over 65 who have little to no income or resources to live by. This program is notably different from other initiatives of the SSA such as Social Security Disability Insurance. Program rules prohibit dual monthly disbursements which could hamper eligibility for other assistance programs. Since shifts in deposit timings can affect other eligibility thresholds, scheduling changes require careful coordination in the payment calendar. 'No one is losing funds; it's a scheduling change,' said an SSA official in response to concerns that the shift in deposit date might reduce total annual funds received by beneficiaries. Officials clarified that the May 30 payment will serve as the beneficiaries' June benefit. The SSA announced an adjustment in payments for three months i.e. March, June, and November at the start of the year due to calendar clashes. These deposits are due on February 28, May 30, and October 31 respectively. The SSI program places a maximum limit on benefits that can be drawn by individual and spousal beneficiaries. According to the official website, 'The maximum monthly SSI payment for 2025 is $967 for an individual and $1,450 for a couple. Your amount may be lower based on your income, certain family members' income, your living situation, and other factors.' $1 is deducted for every $2 a beneficiary earns from work. Around $1 is also deducted for every $1 of income received through non-work sources such as disability benefits, unemployment payments, or pensions. Income received by a spouse or parent of a child who falls under SSI may impact the amount received. 'If you live in someone else's home and don't pay your fair share of food and shelter costs, your SSI payment may be lowered by up to $342.33,' the website adds. Direct Express cardholders and paper check receivers will get the payment on May 30 itself. Electronic means, however, are considered to be faster and much more secure. The next payment is scheduled for July 1.
