Bad news is in store for Social Security Administration (SSA) beneficiaries. The time has come to set the record straight and debunk the myth of the $600 check for SSA beneficiaries this June. False information, or rather misinformation, made its rounds on social media and in mailboxes, putting forth the idea of a new potential Social Security payment. The hidden information in this message contained misinformation pertaining to the fact that Social Security recipients would be receiving a new one-time $600 payment in May 2025.
Falsehood behind the $600 payment myth
It was in April 2025 that a series of online posts and forwarded messages indicated that many Social Security recipients and those earning Supplemental Security Income (SSI) would earn an extra $600 payment in May. Despite the claim increasing in popularity and going viral, the myth was debunked altogether by many reliable sources, including the Social Security Administration (SSA) itself.
It seems like the $600 figure is a distortion of the average benefit increase over the year as per the 2025 2,5% cost-of-living (COLA) adjustment. The increase that started getting paid out from January 2025 gets distributed monthly. It was also the SSI recipients who benefited by receiving a proportionally smaller increase as a result of the 2,5% COLA. The SSI beneficiaries received a benefit that wasn’t too large due to the SSI benefit being significantly less.
Put in plain and simple terms: no one-time $600 payment will make its way to citizens in May or this June. A $600 payment was not part of any legislation or something that was referred to in an SSA announcement.
Importance of relying on reliable sources
This is one isolated incident that indicates how rapidly misinformation can spread, causing panic and confusion. During this time, about 463,000 calls were received by the SSA as these beneficiaries attempted to verify the fake $600 claim. The SSA is the only reliable and official source that should be sought out for all information relating to Social Security and benefits. A simple misunderstanding of the SSA COLA Adjustment led to the spread of false information regarding the $600 check.
The SSA will provide any recent updates on payment schedules, eligibility criteria, and more on their official website. To stay abreast of the latest details, the official SSA website must be visited. In choosing to depend solely on official sources, beneficiaries should stay aware of:
- Websites that attempt to mimic SSA branding but do not include .gov domains.
- Emails or texts referring to bonus payments or stimulus checks.
- Social media graphics and news without cited sources.
The SSA can be contacted directly so that beneficiaries can speak to a verified representative.
All 2025 confirmed payments
While the news of the $600 payments has been proven to be false, there are verified payments that beneficiaries can look out for.
SSI and VA increase
The rumor of the $600 boost was mainly attributed to the 2,5% COLA increase that began in January 2025. Beneficiaries were not expected to take any action as this COLA adjustment was automatically applied. This increase started in January 2025, and no other confirmed adjustments will be made during this year.
Due to the 2,5% COLA increase, May was a great month for eligible U.S. veterans who received an additional $100 in VA compensation.
Social Security payments- more for one group of retirees
As per the 2025 COLA, middle-class retirees seem to be receiving a modest increase this year. Some citizens would see a higher increase than others, as all Social Security payments depend on previous benefit levels. However, most Social Security increases amounted to an additional $50 or $60 per month.
SNAP benefits
This June, $2,000 SNAP– Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program- benefits can be received by citizens in the state of Texas.
However, all citizens can consider ways to make their SNAP benefits work for them and get the most out of the SNAP payments they are actually receiving. While anxiety rose high due to the rumor, it is clear that there is not such one-time $600 payment to be expected in June, and no such payment has hit bank accounts this past May either. Citizens need to stay aware and informed using verified and trusted government sources. Reliable media outlets must be utilized when accessing any updates pertaining to Social Security benefits.
