Once again, we meet here to talk about Social Security benefits, since the calendar for the month of May still has dates to pay, and the benefits are being distributed normally, without delays or problems to this day.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) handles several types of benefits, from retirement payments for former workers or surviving family members, to payments for disability benefits from the SSDI program, and even supplemental payments that add Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Three payments were already made in May, on the 1st, the 2nd, and the 14th of May.
How Social Security benefits work
The SSA, as a nationwide agency, manages a federal program that provides monthly benefits to retirees, people with disabilities, and family members of deceased workers. The system is financed through payroll taxes, collected from employees and employers during the worker’s active life.
Payments depend on work and income history and the age at which benefits begin. The goal is to provide a base income to those who meet established criteria. In some cases, applications for surviving relatives are not required, but verification of documents is required.
The program operates under periodically updated federal regulations. In 2025, maximum and average amounts reflect adjustments for inflation and demographic changes. Eligibility requires a minimum of 40 work credits, equivalent to 10 years of work with contributions to the system.
Requirements to access retirement benefits
Retired beneficiaries must be at least 62 years old and have accumulated the necessary credits. Those who delay retirement until age 70 receive higher amounts. For people with disabilities, the SSA requires medical evidence certifying the inability to work for more than 12 months.
Family members such as spouses, minor children or dependent parents can receive benefits if the deceased worker accumulated the required credits. In divorces, the ex-spouse qualifies if the marriage lasted more than 10 years, and they have not remarried.
The application is made online, by phone or at SSA offices. Required documents include birth certificates, proof of income, and, in cases of disability, medical reports. Approval times vary depending on the complexity of the case.
Social Security payment amounts according to age in 2025
Benefit amounts depend on factors such as earnings history, the age at which payments are claimed, and whether the claim is delayed or advanced.
You can start receiving payments from age 62, and at that age, a person can opt for a maximum of $2,831, which represents a 30% loss of benefits compared to the amount you could aspire to if you wait until your full retirement age (FRA), which for most is around age 67.
Now, at an age of 65, the Social Security maximum is around $3,279, a reduction of 13.33% over an FRA of 67 years. At age 66, the maximum possible payment is $3,652, with a reduction of 6.67%.
Now, if you wait until age 67, which is finally your FRA age, the maximum payment can rise to $4,018, while if you wait until age 70, which is the limit for accumulating work credits, the SSA has set the limit at $5,108.
The maximum amounts apply to individuals with histories of high and consistent income, and are accessed by just under 1% of the 70 million beneficiaries.