If you’re retired or receiving Social Security benefits inherited from a loved one, pay attention: new payments will arrive this week. They’re scheduled to be sent on the fourth Wednesday of the month, so keep an eye on this article to find out if you’re due a payment this week or if you’ll have to wait a few more days for the next benefit.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) distributes payments based on one basic criterion: the date they claimed their first retirement benefit. If the individual requested payments before May 1997, their payment is sent on the third day of each month (except when a holiday falls, in which case, the deposit is advanced to the nearest business day).
The “Wednesday” Social Security beneficiaries
What we’ve dubbed “Wednesday recipients” are those people who receive their Social Security payments based on their birthday.
If you were born between the 1st and 10th of any month, your payments typically arrive on the second Wednesday of each month, while if your birthday is between the 11th and 20th, you’ll receive your payments on the third Wednesday of the month.
Finally, if you were born between the 21st and 31st of the month, your monthly deposit is usually scheduled for the fourth Wednesday, which is the 24th, just a couple days away.
In July, payments will be made on the 9th, 16th, and 23rd. The first group corresponds to those born between the 1st and 10th of any month. The second date covers those whose birthdays are between the 11th and 20th. The final segment covers births between the 21st and 31st.
The same conditions as in June apply to July: beneficiaries before May 1997 or recipients of combined SSI will receive payment on July 3. This group receives payments on the third business day of the month. The rule remains constant in both months analyzed. SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is sent on the first day of July (in other months, it is sent earlier due to the weekend).
Minimum requirements to apply for Social Security benefits
Retirement benefits require a minimum of 10 years of employment and age 62 or older. Current or divorced spouses are eligible under certain conditions. Amounts average around $2,000 per month for individuals, according to 2025 data.
Survivor benefits cover spouses and children of the deceased. It offers a one-time payment of $255 for funeral expenses. Widowed mothers with two children receive an average of $3,761. Proof of legal relationship is required.
The maximum amount for workers who delay claiming their retirement payments until age 70, and who for 35 years had income close to the Social Security taxable maximum, can expect a maximum of up to $5,108 in 2025.
This and all other amounts will increase starting January 1, 2025, with the annual COLA, or cost-of-living adjustment. For the next year, the Seniors Citizen League already projects that benefits will increase by between 2.4% and 2.5%, but this data is preliminary and merely a long-term projection. More data is still needed to arrive at a more precise figure.