In 2024, the Social Security Extra Help program (Part D Low-Income Subsidy) assists Medicare beneficiaries with limited income and resources in paying for prescription drug costs. Eligible individuals receive full benefits, including $ 0 $ 0 premiums, $ 0 $ 0 deductibles, and reduced copayments (up to $ 4.50 $ 4 . 5 0 for generics, $ 11.20 $ 1 1 . 2 0 for brand-name drugs).
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.
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.
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.
To qualify for Extra Help, people must, in most cases, live in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia, and have income and resources below a certain limit. For 2024, an enrollee's monthly income must be below $1,903 for an individual ($2,575 for a couple).
If you're enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid, you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or you qualify for one of the Medicare Savings Programs, you'll be enrolled in LIS/Extra Help automatically and receive a letter from CMS confirming your enrollment.
The term “Social Security bonus” isn't an official benefit but a way to describe how retirees can increase the amount they receive each month. Social Security allows you to boost your monthly payment by delaying when you start claiming benefits.
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.
"In addition to the existing standard deduction, filers who are age 65 and older can qualify for a new senior bonus deduction of up to $6,000 for individuals and $12,000 for married couples," said Nancy LeaMond, AARP executive vice president and chief advocacy and engagement officer.
If Social Security isn't enough, you should supplement your income through other savings (401k, IRAs, brokerage accounts), explore government aid like SSI, SNAP, and Medicaid, consider working part-time, use programs like NCOA's BenefitsCheckUp to find assistance, potentially delay claiming benefits for a higher monthly payout, or look into annuities for guaranteed income.
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.
You get two Social Security checks in a month primarily if you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and the first of the next month is a weekend or holiday, triggering an early payment, like in December 2025 (for Jan 2026) or October 2025. Regular Social Security recipients (retirement/disability) get one check, but some people receiving both Social Security and SSI, or benefits from multiple programs (like retirement and spouse benefits), might see multiple deposits or separate checks for different reasons (back pay, different benefit types).
I am receiving Social Security disability benefits. Will I get a stimulus check? Yes, you probably will if you earned less than $75,000 in either 2018 or 2019.
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.
Eligibility Criteria for Senior Stimulus Checks
Those who receive Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or veterans' benefits are also considered for stimulus payments, even if they do not file a tax return.
If you're getting Social Security disability benefits, you'll get Medicare automatically after getting disability benefits for 24 months. If you have ALS (also called Lou Gehrig's disease) you'll get Medicare automatically as soon as you start getting disability benefits.
Here are some of the biggest Medicare mistakes to avoid:
To apply for Medicare Part D Extra Help, you apply through the Social Security Administration (SSA) website (ssa.gov/extrahelp), phone, or in person, providing financial details for income/resource limits to lower prescription drug costs, with free help available from SHIP counselors. Gather documents like bank statements and pay stubs; the online form is quick, and you'll get a mailed notice about approval.