During the months of May and June 2025, the Social Security Administration (SSA) continues to distribute retirement benefit payments. This is the largest group of beneficiaries, with nearly 70 million recipients across the United States. In addition, other programs receive regular payments, such as SSDI disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Payment dates are generally determined by the primary recipient’s birthdate (which also determines the payment date for surviving family members of deceased recipients). It also determines whether the benefit began to be paid to the individual before or after May 1997.
Social Security Payment Schedule 2025: Dates and Amounts in May 2025
Social Security has established payment distribution dates for May and June 2025, based on birth dates and benefit types. The maximum amounts will vary depending on the beneficiary category and factors such as age or specific condition, but this is something we can look at in more detail later.
So far this May, the following have already received their payments:
- Beneficiaries of SSI payments: May 1
- Beneficiaries receiving payments from before May 1997, or who receive both SSI and retirement benefits, as well as those residing abroad: May 2 (advanced from May 3, which was a Saturday)
- Beneficiaries who receive their pension after May 1997 and whose birthday is between the 1st and 10th of any month: May 14.
Now, we can continue reviewing the May calendar, with the two dates (and one surprise) still to come:
Beneficiaries born between the 11th and 20th of any month will receive their funds on May 21. The requirement applies only to those who began receiving benefits after May 1997. This group includes retirees, people with disabilities, and survivor beneficiaries. May 28 is the next after that: This applies to those born between the 21st and the 31st. The same criteria for starting benefits after May 1997 remain in place.
Additionally, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries will receive a second “surprise” payment on May 31, brought forward because June 1st falls on a Sunday. If you fall into this latter group, keep in mind that this won’t be an extra payment, an additional bonus, or anything similar; it will simply be an advance payment for June. In total, SSI delivers twelve payments each year.
Let’s review the June Social Security payments
In June, the calendar adjusts for federal holidays. Payments will be made on Tuesday, June 3, to those who began receiving benefits before May 1997, regardless of their date of birth. This group represents recipients of programs prior to legislative changes.
The birth-based schedule is being reactivated. Beneficiaries born between the 1st and 10th will receive their payments on June 11. The system returns to its standard distribution after the initial adjustment for the pre-1997 historical cohort. On June 18, payments will be made earlier for those born between the 11th and 20th due to the Juneteenth federal holiday (June 19). The third group —born between 21 an 31 of any month— will see their money hit their bank accounts on June 25.
Maximum amounts per category in 2025
For retirement benefits, the maximum monthly amount depends on the age at which you begin receiving benefits. In 2025, you can receive up to $2,831 if you claim at age 62, up to $4,018 if you wait until your full retirement age (66 years and 8 months for those born in 1958), and up to $5,108 if you delay claiming until age 70.
Under Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), the monthly average is $1,580 with a maximum cap of $4,018 although the exact amount depends on the beneficiary’s work history and income. There is no universal maximum, but individual limits apply based on years of contributions.
The SSI (Supplemental Security Income) program sets federal monthly caps of $967 for individuals, $1,450 for eligible couples, and $484 for “essential persons” (those who provide shelter and support to program beneficiaries). While these are the national base amounts, some states may offer additional payments as a supplement.
