Many people across the United States rely on Social Security payments every month. These include retirement benefits, survivor benefits, and SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance).
Knowing when the payments are coming helps people plan their finances better. Here’s a simple breakdown of the important dates and updates you need to know for April and May 2025.
April 23, 2025: Last Payment for April
If you receive Social Security benefits and your birthday falls between the 21st and 31st of any month, your April payment will arrive on April 23, 2025. This is the fourth Wednesday of April. People born earlier in the month have already received their payments.
May 2025 Payment Dates
After the April payments, the next Social Security checks will come in May. Here are the dates:
- If your birthday is between the 1st and 10th, you will get your May payment on May 14, 2025.
- If your birthday falls between the 11th and 20th, your payment will arrive on May 21, 2025.
Remember, if you were already receiving Social Security before May 1997 or if you get SSI (Supplemental Security Income), you will get your payment earlier, on May 3, 2025.
How Much Can You Get? Maximum Social Security Amounts for 2025
The maximum monthly Social Security payments for 2025 are:
- $2,831 if you start collecting at age 62
- $4,018 if you wait until full retirement age at 67
- $5,108 if you delay collecting until age 70
Only a very small group of people, less than 1% of about 70 million Social Security recipients, will get these maximum amounts. These are usually people who had high earnings for at least 35 years.
Most people will get much less, closer to the average Social Security payment. Waiting until 70 to retire can increase your benefit by about 8% each year after full retirement age.
Good News: Some People Are Getting Extra Payments
In December 2024, President Joe Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act. This new law ended two old rules called the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).
These old rules reduced Social Security benefits for public workers like teachers, firefighters, and police officers who also had pensions from jobs that didn’t pay into Social Security. Because of the new law:
- Over 3.2 million people will get higher Social Security benefits.
- Some are also receiving extra payments for money that was wrongly withheld in the past.
The repeal became effective in January 2024, and it has brought relief to many families who had been fighting for fair treatment for years.
SSDI Payments Also Follow the Same Schedule
If you are receiving SSDI benefits, your payment dates are the same as retirement benefits:
- April 23 for birthdays between the 21st and 31st.
- May 14 for birthdays between the 1st and 10th.
- May 21 for birthdays between the 11th and 20th.
Disabled workers could receive up to $4,018 per month, depending on their work and earnings history.