Another month we’re living in, a new schedule of Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits is beginning to be distributed to more than 70 million beneficiaries in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and also to those living abroad. The SSA provides retirement, disability, and qualifying low-income benefits, depending on the benefit requested.
The SSA can’t just pay you one type of benefit; it actually allows the stacking of different benefits, subject to specific regulations. This combination allows some beneficiaries to receive payments from multiple programs simultaneously. The rules from the SSA determine eligibility and the maximum possible amounts based on the individual’s needs and circumstances.
Combinable Social Security benefits
Among the combinable benefits are those derived from another person’s employment record. Regulations seek to balance financial support with the sustainability of the system. Each type of benefit has its own eligibility requirements and calculation formulas.
Full retirement age (FRA) is a game-changer for many of these combinations. Claiming benefits before FRA typically results in permanent reductions in monthly payments. The timing of the claim directly impacts the perceived value.
Spousal benefits you could claim
A spouse may be eligible to receive up to 50% of their partner’s primary benefit upon reaching full retirement age (FRA). If the claim is made before FRA, a proportional reduction in the monthly amount is applied. This benefit requires that the entitled spouse has already started making payments.
The amount of the spousal benefit depends exclusively on the employment record of the eligible spouse. The contribution history of the applicant spouse does not increase this specific amount. However, they may receive their own benefit if it is higher.
Divorced individuals may qualify for a benefit based on their former spouse’s record, under specific conditions. The marriage must have lasted a minimum of 10 consecutive years. The applicant cannot have remarried to qualify for this benefit.
Like the current spousal benefit, the maximum potential amount is 50% of the ex-spouse’s primary benefit, upon reaching the applicant’s FRA. Claiming before the FRA proportionally reduces the monthly benefit. The entitled ex-spouse does not need to have filed for their own benefit.
If the marriage lasted at least 10 years, it’s also possible to receive up to 50% of the ex-spouse’s original benefit, the SSA explains in its blog. This request does not affect the payments or benefits of the entitled ex-spouse or their current family. It is an independent right.
Family benefits (auxiliary/family benefits), another type of payment that is an acquired right
In addition to the spouse, certain dependent family members may be eligible for derivative benefits. This typically includes children under 18, or up to 19 if they’re in high school. Adult children with disabilities diagnosed before age 22 may also qualify.
The SSA imposes a maximum family limit on total payments based on a single work record. This limit typically ranges from 150% to 180% of the beneficiary’s primary benefit. Individual payments are adjusted proportionally if the limit is exceeded.
The family limit calculation considers all auxiliary benefits payable based on the same record. The beneficiary’s benefit amount is not reduced, but payments to dependents may be limited.
There are also survivor benefits, which are available to widows, widowers, dependent children, and, in specific cases, parents of the deceased. These payments may represent a portion or all of the benefit the deceased received. Eligibility depends on the relationship and age.
It’s possible to receive a survivor benefit along with your own retirement benefit under “dual entitlement” rules. In such cases, the beneficiary receives the higher of their personal benefit and the survivor benefit, not the sum of the two.
June 2025: Social Security dates
As usual, the SSA follows a set schedule for issuing monthly benefit payments. In June 2025, pension beneficiaries who filed claims after May 1997 will receive their funds on three main dates: Wednesday the 11th, Wednesday the 18th, and Wednesday the 25th. The exact date depends on the beneficiary’s date of birth.
For those born between the 1st and 10th of any month, the payment was already made on Wednesday, June 11th; those whose birthdays were between the 11th and 20th of any month can expect their money on Wednesday, June 18th, which is next week.
Finally, beneficiaries with birthdates between the 21st and 31st of any month will have to wait until Wednesday, June 25th. For a small group of beneficiaries (those who claimed payments before May 1997, those receiving retirement benefits in combination with SSI, and those residing abroad), the next payment date is Thursday, July 3rd.
Maximum retirement benefit amounts vary significantly depending on the age at which they claim. In 2025, the cap for those claiming at age 62 is $2,831 per month. Those claiming at their FRA (age 67 for those born in 1960 or later) can receive up to $4,018. The absolute maximum, $5,108, is reserved for those who defer claiming until age 70.
