The US Social Security projects a maximum benefit of $5,108 for 2025, a figure reserved for those who retire at age 70 with a history of high income. However, official data show that 87% of beneficiaries receive less than $2,500 per month, with an average of $1,976 per month. This calculation depends on factors such as retirement age, years of contributions and contributions made.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) emphasizes that only 3% of retirees reach the maximum amount. “The system is designed to reward those who postpone their retirement and maintain consistent contributions,” explains a spokesperson for the entity. The April and May 2025 payments follow a schedule based on dates of birth, with weekly distributions.
Social Security has almost finished paying in April 2025
In April 2025, payments are already underway. Those born between the 1st and the 10th of any month received their payments on April 9; those born between the 11th and 20th of any month received their funds on April 16, and those with birthdays between April 21 and 31 receive their deposits on April 23. For May, the same pattern will be replicated: three distribution dates based on the day of birth. The SSA recommends checking the official calendar, available on its web portal, to avoid confusion.
The 2025 cost of living adjustment (COLA), set at 2.5%, impacts 68 million beneficiaries. This increase, applied since January, seeks to counteract inflation, but does not homogenize the amounts. “The COLA adjusts each benefit proportionally, it does not establish a minimum floor,” clarifies an SSA document. Thus, those who receive $1,500 per month will get an extra $37.5, not $5,108.
To access the maximum benefit, 35 years of contributions with salaries higher than the national average are required. Those who retire before age 67 face reductions: up to 30% less if they retire at age 62.
Changes in the law will give more payments to Social Security beneficiaries
In addition, recent reforms eliminated the Benefit Elimination Provision (WEP), and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), benefiting 3.2 million foreign public employees and pensioners.
These changes, under the Social Security Fairness Act, include payments retroactive to January 2024. Teachers, firefighters and federal employees will see monthly increases, although they will not necessarily reach the maximum amount. SSA reiterates that such adjustments are independent of the COLA and depend on the individual’s tax history.
Sources such as the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) report that some beneficiaries have seen significant increases in their monthly benefits after the repeal, with increases of up to $587 or more than $1,000 per month. These increases vary depending on the type of benefit and the amount of the uncovered pension. For example, the SSA has indicated that about 2.1 million retirees and 770,000 spouses or survivors are eligible for increases, but the exact amount depends on each individual case.