The 33 states that boosted SSI benefits by up to $120 as second September payments worth $841 sent out

DOZENS of states offer boosted Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments.

It comes as eight million Americans started receiving October benefits worth at least $841 on September 30.

This was the second payment issued of the month.

Normally, SSI benefits are paid out on the first of each month but October 1 landed on a weekend this time.

When this happens, they are issued on the Friday before.

For many, SSI is not enough to pay for the basic necessities, but some may see a boost as the majority of states supplement the checks.

The program provides financial support to needy persons aged 65 or older, blind or disabled adults, and blind or disabled children.

Eligibility requirements and federal payment standards are the same.

Anyone may apply for SSI, but not everyone receives the same amount.

You may get more if you live in a state that adds money to the federal SSI payment.

But you could get less if the following reasons apply:

• Have other income such as wages, pensions, or Social Security benefits. 
• Someone pays your household expenses or if you live with a spouse and he or she has income.

Typically, you must be a US citizen or a national of the US to be eligible for SSI.

You must also live in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, or the Northern Mariana Islands.

The exceptions to this are children of military parent(s) assigned to permanent duty outside the US and certain students temporarily abroad who may receive SSI payments outside the US.

What states provide supplemental payments?

No state supplement

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Mississippi
• North Dakota
• Tennessee
• West Virginia
• Northern Mariana Islands

Social Security administered supplement

In these states, Social Security administers some categories of state supplement payments, while the state administers other categories of supplemental payments.

• California
• Delaware
• Hawaii
• Iowa
• Michigan
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Vermont
• Washington, DC

State-administered supplement

Amounts vary by state but New York offers an extra $87 a month for individuals or $104 for couples.

Meanwhile, Alabama couples can get a $120 boost.

The following states pay and administer their own supplemental payments in addition to the federal SSI monthly payment.

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Florida
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• New Hampshire
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Texas
• Utah
• Virginia
• Washington
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

The SSI state supplements are typically paid at the same time as the federal benefits, meaning they should arrive on the first of most months – expect for the September schedule, however.

Beneficiaries who typically receive a paper check should expect their payments arrive by the fourth of the month.

If you receive both SSI and Social Security, your payments will not arrive on the same date.

While SSI is paid on the first of each month, Social Security is paid on the third of each month for those claimants.

SSI amounts for 2022

In December 2021, SSI recipients started receiving an increased check to reflect the 5.9 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2022.

The monthly maximum federal amounts are $841 for an eligible individual.

For an individual with an eligible spouse, the monthly amount is $1,261.

For an essential person, which is someone who lives with an SSI claimant and provides essential care, the amount is $421 a month.

Here is the Social Security payment schedule for 2022.

Plus, we have tips on how to deal with inflation.