Yes, some people received two Social Security payments in October 2025, specifically those receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), because the November 1st payday fell on a weekend, prompting an early release of the November payment on October 31st, in addition to the regular October 1st payment. This isn't extra money but a timing quirk due to the calendar, where the next month's payment gets pushed into the previous month.
If a scheduled payment would fall on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, SSA issues the payment on the preceding business day. This can make it appear as if the recipient is getting two payments in one month, but the second payment is merely arriving early for the following month.
Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Information for 2026
The 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to nearly 71 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2026. Increased payments to nearly 7.5 million SSI recipients will begin on December 31, 2025.
Overpayments occur because of missing or wrong information. This can happen if you don't tell us about changes in your life, like your ability to work, where you live, your marital status, or your income.
You likely received extra money in October 2025 due to a calendar scheduling quirk for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) (which got two payments: one Oct 1st for October's benefit and one Oct 31st for November's), or perhaps a retroactive payment from the Social Security Fairness Act for Windfall Elimination/Government Pension Offset (WEP/GPO) adjustments, as Social Security's main Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2026 started in January 2026, not October 2025, though the announcement was in October 2025.
The extra $144 added to Social Security usually comes from the Medicare Part B Giveback benefit, offered by some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans, which pays back some or all your Part B premium, showing up as extra money in your check if it's deducted from your Social Security. To qualify, you need Original Medicare (Parts A & B), pay your own Part B premium, live in a plan's service area, and enroll in a specific Medicare Advantage plan that offers this "rebate," with the amount varying by plan and location.
So, what about this supposed Social Security bonus? The truth is, there is no such thing. However, the idea of a Social Security bonus may come from the fact that waiting to start receiving benefits can result in a higher benefit amount than if you start earlier.
Cost-of-living adjustment increase
The Social Security Administration announced in October that beneficiaries will see a 2.8% increase in their monthly payments, known as the cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA. Individuals receiving Social Security benefits will notice the increase starting in January 2026.
You get two Social Security checks in December if you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), not regular Social Security, because the January payment gets moved to late December (usually Dec 31) since January 1st (New Year's Day) is a federal holiday, resulting in a December 1st payment and a December 31st payment for January's benefits, with the later one often including the COLA increase.
Adults and children might be eligible for SSI if they have: Little or no income, and. Little or no resources, and. A disability, blindness, or are age 65 or older.
The outlet said this doubling up was because SSI checks are typically sent out on the first of the month, but are not sent out on federal holidays or weekends. Since January 1 is federal holiday, the checks will instead be sent out on December 31.
The dollar amount increase to checks will vary depending on a person's benefit amount, but the average Social Security Retirement benefit, $2,008.31 in July 2025, will grow by about $56.
SSI stands for Supplemental Security Income. Social Security administers this program. We pay monthly benefits to people with limited income and resources who are blind, age 65 or older, or have a qualifying disability. Children with disabilities or who are blind may also get SSI.
Qualifying for the third stimulus check
If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, you will automatically qualify for the third stimulus check which will be in the amount $1400.
Qualification for the $1,400 stimulus check (the third Economic Impact Payment) in 2021 depended on your 2021 Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) and filing status, with full amounts for single filers earning up to $75,000 (phasing out at $80,000) and joint filers up to $150,000 (phasing out at $160,000), plus $1,400 per dependent; you needed a valid Social Security Number and had to claim it as the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2021 tax return if you missed the payment, with deadlines typically in April 2025.
Visit the IRS Get My Payment (GMP) portal at https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment to see if you can expect a 2021 Economic Impact Payment. The GMP portal will provide the date when your payment was or will be sent.
President Donald Trump's "big beautiful" tax law provides a new senior "bonus" or deduction of up to $6,000 per individual or $12,000 for married couples. The temporary deduction applies to taxpayers ages 65 and over whose income is within certain thresholds.
The Social Security Emergency Inflation Relief Act would provide the extra $200 a month, starting in January 2026 and running through July 2026. The increase is designed to offset higher prices due to inflation, according to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY.
Most people will receive their one-time retroactive payment by the end of March, which will be deposited into their bank account on record with Social Security.