The Social Security Administration (SSA) distributes benefits in July according to a set schedule. This program follows a predefined sequence based on the beneficiary type and date of birth. The system aims to ensure an orderly flow of funds to recipients.
Payments are made on different dates throughout the month. The specific allocation depends primarily on when the beneficiary began receiving payments. Other factors include participation in the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. Living abroad also changes the payment date, according to the agency. Let’s look at the different payments for the month of July, one by one.
SSA retirement/pension payments begin July 3
People who began receiving benefits before May 1997 will receive their payments on July 3. This group also includes those who receive both Social Security and SSI simultaneously. Beneficiaries residing outside the United States fall into this category.
These beneficiaries are not subject to the birthday-based calendar. They receive their funds on the first business day of the month corresponding to the payment. There is no change because the 3rd is a business day.
Beneficiaries with birthdates of birth from 1 to 10
The second Wednesday of the month is designated for the following group: beneficiaries whose birthday falls between the 1st and 10th of any month. In July, this date falls on the 9th.
This segment applies primarily to retirees and disability beneficiaries. They must have begun receiving payments after May 1997. They constitute a significant portion of the current beneficiary base, which totals more than 70 million.
Beneficiaries with birthdates between the 11th and the 20th
Those born between the 11th and 20th of any month receive their payment later. The assigned date is the third Wednesday of the month. For July, this corresponds to the 16th, and no changes are reported in this round either.
Remember that both a primary beneficiary and a surviving relative, in all cases, receive their payments based on the primary beneficiary’s birthday.
Beneficiaries with birthdates from the 21st to the 30th
The last group of the regular calendar receives their payment on the fourth Wednesday. This affects beneficiaries born between the 21st and 31st. In July, the designated date is the 23rd.
This date completes the monthly round of Social Security disbursements. SSI payments were received on the first day of the month.
Social Security benefits in July: maximums and averages
The average monthly payment for a retiree in July 2025 is $1,976, reflecting the 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment applied at the beginning of the year. This figure corresponds to the national average, but amounts vary considerably from person to person, depending on work history, years of contributions, and income earned during working life.
Those who choose to retire at 62, the minimum age allowed, can receive a maximum monthly benefit of $2,831. If the individual waits until reaching full retirement age, which is currently 67, the maximum monthly payment rises to $4,018. Those who delay retirement until age 70 can access the highest possible benefit, with a monthly maximum of $5,108.
In the case of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, the maximum monthly payment for an individual beneficiary is $967, while qualifying couples can receive up to $1,450 per month.
The SSA to phase out paper checks forever
The U.S. Treasury is pulling the plug on mailed checks for federal benefits come October 2025. If you’re among the nearly half-million Americans still getting paper Social Security or SSI payments, you’ve got 15 months to switch to electronic options. This isn’t optional—it’s mandatory for almost everyone.
A March 2025 executive order sealed the fate of physical checks, targeting three pain points:
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Sky-high costs ($650+ million yearly to print/mail checks, per The Motley Fool)
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Rampant fraud (stolen checks account for most payment fraud cases)
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Postal service vulnerabilities (lost/delayed checks hurt vulnerable recipients)
Who’s most affected? Roughly 485,000 people fall into these high-risk groups:
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Seniors (especially 80+)
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Rural residents with spotty internet
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Unbanked households
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People with disabilities limiting tech access
Your two choices:
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Direct deposit (bank/credit union account)
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Direct Express card (government prepaid debit card)
Limited exceptions exist, but don’t count on qualifying. The Treasury will only grant waivers in extreme hardship cases (think: remote Alaskan villages without banking infrastructure). Everyone else must transition by September 30, 2025, or risk delayed payments.
Get in touch with your local SSA agency to start transitioning to retrieving your Social Security digitally, before it’s too late.
