3 Million Americans to Receive a Social Security Boost in April

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is on the verge of distributing a very significant financial increase for nearly three million Americans come the month of April. It is aimed at assisting retirees, persons with disabilities, and low-income beneficiaries in constantly rising inflation and the cost of living.

If you are asking yourself whether you qualify for that Social Security increase, continue reading below to learn about eligibility, payment information, and more about how this increase will affect the beneficiaries.

Why Is There a Social Security Boost in April?

Every year, the SSA makes a change in the Social Security benefits, which is based on inflation. The changes are known as cost-of-living adjustments, or COLA, so that nothing is taken away from beneficiaries in purchasing power as a result of the rise in prices.

The increase in April is included within such changes that were duly reviewed by the SSA and the implementation of COLA, benefits for deserving groups being other adjustments and changes.

The increase of 3.2% for the 2024 COLA affected millions of beneficiaries. Beneficiaries saw the increase in their payments beginning in January; however, the revision for other beneficiaries (notably Supplemental Security Income [SSI] and Social Security Disability Insurance [SSDI]) is slated for April.

Who Will Qualify for the Social Security Boost?

1. Retired Workers

Persons receiving Social Security retirement benefits will have increased monthly payments. The increase in such payments is determined by their work history and the amount of time they have been receiving benefits.

2. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Recipients

Individuals qualifying on the basis of an original disability that severely inhibits gainful work are yet another group benefiting from this increase. This increase is especially useful for increasing medical and daily living expenses for those in need.

3. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Beneficiaries

From SSI, people who are elderly, blind, or disabled receive assistance. It is especially targeted to people who would have little or almost nothing to live on; hence the April boost will be extra beneficial to these ones.

4. Survivors and Dependent Beneficiaries

These beneficiaries receive social security benefits because the primary worker passed away. The social benefits for these surviving spouses, children, or even other dependents will, in turn, be increased.

5. Low-Income Seniors

In addition to Social Security income support, an adjustment can be made to some of these pensioners, depending on their poverty level. If an applicant qualifies for SSI and Social Security, then there would potentially be a supplement in their total benefits.

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How Much Will You Get?

The amount of the Social Security increase is different for each individual: it’s not the same for a person who has earned more than some of the other beneficiaries and received different values in benefits. These amounts are estimated according to some figures based on the 3.2 percent COLA increase in benefits.

For example, the average retirement beneficiary will see an increase of around $59 per month, raising the average monthly payment from $1,848 to approximately $1,907.

SSDI beneficiaries are expected to receive rise benefits of $40-60 every month depending on their present benefit levels.
Both beneficiaries of SSI and individuals will expect a small increase, as the maximum federal SSI benefit would become $943 for individuals and $1,415 for couples.
In addition, survivor or dependent benefit payments will also increase according to COLA percentages.

On the other hand, such amounts may seem small, but really they cost an awful lot in terms of groceries, rent, and healthcare. More importantly, they will truly make a very good enhancement in helping that average recipient cope.

When Are Payments Made?

The SSA has a specific payment schedule, based on the birthdate of the beneficiaries. Here’s when you will get your increased Social Security payment in April:

For those born between the 1st and 10th of the month, a payment will be made on April 10.
Individuals born between the 11th and the 20th of each month will receive their payment on April 17.
If your date of birth is between the 21st and 31st of a month, expect your payment on April 24.
For SSI recipients, payments will occur on April 1 as SSI payments are generally issued on the first of every month.

How to Check Your Eligibility and Payment Status

If you’re confused about your eligibility or want to verify your payment method, follow these steps:

Check out the SSA website—go to www.ssa.gov and log in to your My Social Security account.
Check Your Mail—SSA sends letters announcing updated payment amounts to beneficiaries.
Call the SSA—If you need more personalized service, you can call the SSA’s toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213.
Check Your Bank Account—For increased deposit payments, they are usually seen within the expected payment dates.

Other Financial Assistance Available

Besides this bump up, many recipients of Social Security can also apply for other financial assistance programs, such as these:

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Helps people from low-income status purchase food items.
Medicare and Medicaid: Provides seniors and disabled persons healthcare support.
Housing Assistance Programs: Offer rental assistance for consumers not able to make it cost-effective.
Energy Assistance Programs: Furnishes low-income households to help them afford heating and cooling bills.

If you are hard pressed for money, try these programs to find more financial support.

Conclusions

The April bump in Social Security is a good thing for most of the millions of Americans mostly retirees, disabled people, and low-income beneficiaries. “The 3.2 percent COLA is pretty small and won’t cover inflation fully,” but it can help recipients manage increasingly rising expenses.

So if you are one of the millions designated to receive Social Security benefit payments, it would be wise for you to check your eligibility and payment details so that you will get your accurate adjusted amount in April. For those who continue to experience financial hardship, government assistance programs for different issues may be consulted.