It’s time for you to get ready for May Social Security payments. Retirement deposits are just around the corner, and if you are one of the beneficiaries with a birthday between May 1 and 10, your money will arrive on Wednesday, May 14. If your date falls after, don’t worry: the 11-20 and 21-31 groups will receive their funds on May 21 and 28, respectively.
Check your calendar, confirm your date, and be sure to stay tuned for any SSA updates to avoid any surprises. May comes with good news for your pocket, and we are lucky to be the bearers of that news.
Birthday dates end Social Security payments in May
Recipients with birthdays between the 1st and 10th of any month will receive their payment on May 14, 2025, according to the official calendar. This distribution is based on date of birth, following the scheme established by the SSA.
Those with birthdays between 11 and 20 will receive their payment on May 21, while those with birthdays between 21 and 31 will receive their payment on May 28. These dates exclude both groups from the May 14 down payment.
Beneficiaries who received payments before May 1997, residents outside the U.S., or those with state-covered Medicare premiums receive payments on the 3rd of each month, but because the 3rd falls on a weekend in May, the payment was advanced to the 2nd. SSI beneficiaries have a separate schedule, with payments on May 1 and June 30, 2025.
By June 2025, the second group (birthdays 11-20) will receive their payment on June 18, the third Wednesday of the month. On that date, the 1-10 and 21-31 groups will not receive funds, since their payments are scheduled for June 11 and 25, respectively.
The maximum amounts that rose in 2025: a better retirement
The maximum Social Security benefits for 2025 are $5,108 per month if claimed at age 70, $4,018 upon reaching full retirement age, and $2,831 if claimed at age 62.
The average payment for individual retirees is $1,976, while couples receive an average of $3,089, according to official data.
To access benefits, 40 Social Security credits are required, equivalent to approximately 10 years of work. In 2025, each credit is earned by earning $1,810, with a maximum of four credits annually. This system ensures eligibility for the majority of workers.
Those who work before reaching full retirement age will face a limit of $23,400 in annual earnings in 2025. For every $2 over that limit, $1 in Social Security benefits will be withheld. Once full retirement age is reached, restrictions on earned income no longer apply.
Some beneficiaries got up to $1,000 extra a month
The Social Security Fairness Act, effective January 5, 2025, eliminated the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). These rules reduced benefits for those who have pensions from jobs not covered by Social Security, such as public employees. Now, more than 2.8 million people, including teachers and firefighters, will receive full benefits without reductions.
Retroactive payments began in February 2025, covering January 2024, and most will see increases in April 2025. SSA expects to complete the adjustments by November 2025, although some complex cases could take longer. No action is required if contact information is current with SSA.
Some beneficiaries could receive more than an additional $1,000 per month, depending on their case. There are no additional requirements, but the process faces challenges due to the volume of cases.