Next Wednesday, May 14, 2025, Social Security beneficiaries with dates of birth between the 1st and 10th of any month will receive their monthly payment corresponding to this month.
This disbursement, completely normal, is part of the calendar established by the Social Security Administration (SSA), which organizes payments according to the day of birth. For May, the schedule is divided into three Wednesdays, a system that has been followed since 1997 and that left those who received benefits since before May of that year grouped on another date (the third day of each month).
Social Security changes: increases confirmed in 2025 and future dates
The SSA determines payments based on the day of birth: 1 to 10 (May 14), 11 to 20 (May 21), and 21 to 31 (May 28). This system seeks to distribute funds in an orderly manner, avoiding congestion in the system that could cause delays and major financial problems to beneficiaries. Those who did not provide their exact date should consider May 14 as a reference, although it is recommended to verify personal data on their “my Social Security” platform.
In January 2025, the Social Security Fairness Act signed, increasing the amounts from April, retroactive in February. These adjustments, included in regular payments, do not generate additional dates. COLA 2025, defined at 2.5%, seeks to compensate for inflation, but its impact varies depending on work history and claim age.
The Social Security updated the maximum amounts you could qualify for
In 2025, the maximum Social Security benefit for people who retire at age 70 is $5,108 per month. To reach this amount, it is necessary to have had a high income during your working life and to have postponed the start of benefits until that age.
If, on the other hand, a person retires at full retirement age – which varies between 66 and 67 years, depending on the year of birth – the maximum amount they can receive is $4,018 per month. However, if you retire at age 62 in 2025, your maximum benefit would be $2,831.
For many seniors, these payments represent 90% of their income. The COLA increase and laws like the Fairness Act seek to mitigate the cost of living, but organizations like AARP highlight that there are still gaps, especially in health and housing. Advance financial planning remains key.
However, most retirees receive much less. According to data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), the average monthly benefit in 2025 is $1,980.86, which is equivalent to approximately $23,770 per year.
To reach the maximum benefit, the federal agency in question requires three decades of high income, adjusted for inflation, and delaying claiming until age 70. Less than 5% of recipients receive the cap, according to USA Today. The majority obtain smaller amounts, influenced by years worked, salaries and age when they begin to collect.