The wait is over for more than 70 million beneficiaries of Social Security and its different programs: a new month means new payments, and these come again with increases applied for the entire year 2025, which reach up to a maximum payment of $5,108 (for a select group of beneficiaries).
The Social Security payment schedule in May 2025 follows the usual system based on dates of birth. Recipients with birthdays between the 1st and 10th will receive their deposit on May 14, this being the next closest wizard, but then there are two payment dates after this.
Why is only one Social Security group receiving their payments next week?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has maintained this system since 1997 to streamline distribution, and it is organized this way for those who began claiming payments after May of that year:
- Beneficiaries with birthdays from 1 to 10 : payment on May 14 (2nd Wednesday)
- Beneficiaries with birthdays from 11 to 20: payment on May 21 (3rd Wednesday)
- Beneficiaries with birthdays from 21 to 31: payment on May 28 (4th Wednesday)
Those who collect SSI (Supplemental Security Income) will receive two payments in May: one that was already delivered on May 1 and another in advance on May 30, because June 1 is a Sunday.
The maximum benefit of $5,108 is not for all retirees
The Social Security Administration (SSA) clarified that payments vary based on multiple factors, including years worked, recorded earnings, and age at retirement. The maximum amount of $5,108 in monthly Social Security benefits applies only to those who retired in 2025 at age 70 and have a history of high earnings during their working lives.
This group represents less than 4% of the total beneficiaries. The vast majority receive lower numbers; For example, the average for individual retirees is $1,976 per month.
That maximum amount is calculated based on the 2025 cost of living adjustment (COLA), which was 2.5%, in addition to other factors such as credits earned for delaying retirement. For those who retired at age 62 in 2025, the benefit cap is $2,831, while those who retired at age 67 can reach up to $4,018.
Social Security Fairness Act: Some will receive higher payments
Since January 2025, the Social Security Fairness Law has been in effect, which eliminated the provisions of the WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision) and GPO (Government Pension Offset). These clauses reduced retirement payments for public sector workers with external pensions. With its elimination, more than 1.1 million beneficiaries saw increases in their monthly payments, including retroactive adjustments that were distributed between February and March 2025.
May deposits already reflect these legislative changes, but that does not imply extraordinary increases for everyone. According to the SSA, the average increase was about $190 a month, a far cry from $5,108. Only those that had suffered cuts due to the WEP or GPO experienced notable increases.
No errors or mass claims related to May payments have been reported. The dates and amounts of the deposits coincide with previously published official guidelines.
