Social Security is a key source of income for many retired people in the United States. In 2025, there are some important updates about how much people can get, when payments are made, and who gets more money due to changes in the law. Let’s break it down in a way that’s easy to understand.
How Much Can You Get From Social Security in 2025?
The highest monthly Social Security payment in 2025 is $5,108. But only a small number of people get this amount. To qualify for this, a person must have worked for at least 35 years, earned more than the average income during those years, and delayed retirement until the age of 70.
However, this amount is not common. In fact, 87% of Social Security beneficiaries get less than $2,500 per month. The average monthly benefit is about $1,976. This amount depends on your age at retirement, how long you worked, and how much you contributed to Social Security during your career.
When Are Payments Made in April and May 2025?
- The Social Security Administration (SSA) pays benefits on a schedule that depends on your birth date. Here’s how it works:
- People born between the 1st and 10th of any month received their April payment on April 9.
- Those born between the 11th and 20th got paid on April 16.
- People with birthdays between the 21st and 31st will receive their payment on April 23.
- This same pattern will be followed in May 2025. So, you can expect your deposit in the week that matches your birth date group. The SSA also advises everyone to check the payment schedule on their official website.
What Is the 2025 COLA Increase?
To help people cope with rising prices, the SSA adjusts payments each year. In 2025, the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) is 2.5%. This change began in January and affects 68 million people.
However, the increase is not the same for everyone. It’s based on your current benefit amount. For example, if you get $1,500 per month, you will receive an extra $37.50 due to the COLA. But this does not mean everyone will suddenly receive $5,108.
Retiring Early Affects Your Monthly Payment
If you retire before full retirement age, which is 67 for most people, your monthly benefit will be reduced. For example, retiring at age 62 can lower your payments by as much as 30%. On the other hand, delaying retirement until age 70 increases your monthly payment.
New Law Brings Extra Money for Some Retirees
Good news for some retirees: new changes in the law have removed two rules that used to reduce Social Security payments. These were the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).
This change, known as the Social Security Fairness Act, benefits around 3.2 million retired public workers, including teachers, firefighters, and government employees. These people may now get higher monthly payments, with the changes starting from January 2024.
Some people have already seen big increases — from $587 to over $1,000 more each month. But not everyone will get the same amount. The increase depends on the person’s past contributions and the kind of pension they get.
The SSA says that about 2.1 million retired workers and 770,000 spouses or surviving family members will receive higher payments. These extra amounts are not part of the COLA and are based on each person’s tax and benefit history.