An overwhelming majority of Americans support maintaining and strengthening the Social Security Administration (SSA) program. According to a recent report, 87% of citizens consider that Social Security should remain a national priority.
Millions of these Americans are Social Security beneficiaries, and they expect to receive their payments next week, but other groups will have to wait a little longer. The SSA scheduled three payment dates during the second half of May 2025, according to what we have investigated using only verified information from the official website of this federal agency.
Social Security: when will the next May retirement payments be?
The SSA has established three dates for the month of May: the 14th, 21st and 28th. These corresponded to the second, third and fourth Wednesdays of the month, following the official calendar for active beneficiaries.
Payments were allocated based on the beneficiary’s day of birth. Those born between the 1st and 10th received their benefit on May 14. Those born between the 11th and the 20th received it on May 21, and those with dates from the 21st to the 31st received it on May 28.
Beneficiaries who received Social Security and SSI before May 1997 received payments on the third day of each month: there is a change here, because the 3rd falls on a Saturday, and the SSA does not send payments on weekends or holidays. That’s why the date for this particular group has been changed to May 2, which is a Friday and the nearest business day before.
Benefits increased in 2025 after the application of the COLA (cost of living adjustment) index, which left the maximum amount set at $5,108. But, to access this juicy monthly check, you must delay retirement until the age of 70 and have had income close to the maximum taxable limit for at least 35 years, and have paid at least 40 work credits.
However, monthly amounts may vary for those who retire at other ages and did not wait until age 70:
- If they retire at age 62, the maximum monthly benefit is $2,831.
- If they wait until full retirement age, which is currently 67 years old, the amount rises to $4,018 per month.
- For those who decide to wait until age 70, the benefit can reach up to $5,108 per month.
How to increase Social Security benefits by waiting a few years
Let’s imagine that the profit of an imaginary American named John at age 62 would be $1,000 per month. This amount represents a reduced benefit because you would be accessing your funds before full retirement age.
If, instead, John waits until age 67, which is the full retirement age set by the Social Security Administration for his age group, his monthly benefit amount would rise to approximately $1,430. That means that by waiting five more years, John would receive 43% more each month for life.
But if John decides to postpone his retirement even further and waits until he turns 70, then his monthly benefit would reach about $1,760. This represents a total increase of 76% compared to what you would receive if you retired at 62.
This increase is possible thanks to the so-called “delayed retirement credits,” which increase the benefit amount by approximately 8% for each year expected after age 67, until age 70. Beyond age 70, no more credit is accumulated, nor is the maximum amount to which a beneficiary would be entitled increased.
