As April 2025 wraps up, millions of Americans are already looking ahead to May’s Social Security payments. Whether you’re receiving retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), knowing your exact payment date is key to managing your budget. The Social Security Administration (SSA) follows a well-organized schedule each month, based on when you started receiving benefits and your birth date.
In May 2025, four important payment dates have been confirmed: May 1, May 2, May 14, May 21, and May 28. Here’s a complete breakdown of who gets paid when, along with how much retirees can expect based on their age and work history.
Social Security Payment Dates for May 2025
The SSA always avoids making payments on weekends or holidays, moving them to the previous business day if necessary. For May 2025, there’s only one major federal holiday—Memorial Day on May 26 (Monday)—but it does not affect any of the scheduled payments.
Here’s the official Social Security calendar for May 2025:
May 1 – SSI Recipients
This payment is for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries—people with low income or disabilities who can’t work. SSI is always paid on the first day of the month, and since May 1 is a Thursday, no adjustments are needed.
May 2 – Early Retirees (Group 1)
This payment goes to people who started receiving benefits before May 1997. Normally paid on the 3rd of the month, but since May 3 is a Saturday, the payment is moved up to Friday, May 2.
May 14 – Birthdays from 1st to 10th
This is for beneficiaries who were born between the 1st and 10th of any month and started receiving benefits after May 1997. These are part of Group 2, who always receive payments on the second Wednesday of each month.
May 21 – Birthdays from 11th to 20th
This is for those with birthdays between the 11th and 20th, falling into Group 3. Payments are sent on the third Wednesday of the month.
May 28 – Birthdays from 21st to 31st
This applies to Group 4—those born between the 21st and 31st, with payments scheduled for the fourth Wednesday of the month.
None of these dates are impacted by Memorial Day, since it’s on a Monday and all payments fall on Wednesdays or earlier in the week.
How Much Will Retirees Receive in 2025?
The amount of your Social Security retirement benefit depends on when you start claiming and your lifetime earnings. Here are the maximum possible monthly payments for 2025, based on when you retire:
- At age 62: Up to $2,831/month
- At Full Retirement Age (FRA): Up to $4,018/month
- At age 70: Up to $5,108/month
To get the maximum benefit, you must:
- Have earned the maximum taxable income (at least $176,100 in 2025) for 35 years
- Have earned 40 work credits
What Are Work Credits?
You earn 1 credit for every $1,810 you make in 2025. You can earn up to 4 credits per year, which means you only need to make $7,240 per year to get all 4 credits.
To qualify for Social Security:
- You need 40 credits total (usually 10 years of work)
- For the maximum benefit, high earnings for 35 years are required, not just the minimum credits
Full Retirement Age (FRA) Based on Year of Birth
- Born in 1958 → FRA is 66 years and 8 months
- Born in 1959 → FRA is 66 years and 10 months
- Born in 1960 or later → FRA is 67 years
Retiring before your FRA results in reduced monthly payments, while waiting until age 70 can significantly increase your monthly benefit.