Big changes have arrived for Social Security beneficiaries in the United States in 2025. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has shared new retirement and SSI payment dates for May, along with important updates that affect how much money people will get.
This year, millions of public workers also benefit from a major law change that removes old rules that reduced their payments. If you or your family receive Social Security or SSI, this guide will explain all you need to know.
Social Security Payment Dates for May 2025
If you get Social Security retirement benefits, your payment date depends on when you were born or when you started receiving benefits.
People who started receiving Social Security before May 1997, or those getting both Social Security and SSI, were paid on May 2, 2025. This was done earlier than usual to avoid delays due to a weekend.
For everyone else, here’s the payment schedule based on birthdates:
- Born between 1st and 10th – Payment on May 14
- Born between 11th and 20th – Payment on May 21
- Born between 21st and 31st – Payment on May 28
These payments are for benefits from April 2025, since the SSA pays benefits with a one-month delay.
Retirement Benefits Have Increased in 2025
In 2025, monthly retirement benefits increased due to a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). This means most people are now getting a little more each month.
Here’s a look at the maximum monthly benefits in 2025:
- At age 62: Up to $2,831
- At full retirement age 67: Up to $4,018
- At age 70: Up to $5,108
The average benefit now stands at $1,976 a month. But remember, final amounts depend on your work history, earnings, and when you start collecting.
However, the Medicare Part B premium has gone up to $185/month, which may reduce your net payment.
The SSA suggests using its online portal to check your exact benefit amount based on your personal details.
Important Changes to SSI Payments in May 2025
People who get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) should note a special payment schedule in May.
- The regular May SSI payment arrived on May 1, 2025.
- A second payment came on May 30, but it actually covers June 2025, because June 1 is a weekend.
So, there will be no SSI payment in June, as that was already paid in advance.
In 2025, federal SSI limits are:
- Up to $967 per month for individuals
- Up to $1,450 per month for couples
Your amount may be reduced based on:
- Income
- Where you live
- Spouse’s resources
People earning more than $2,019 (earned income) or getting more than $988 (unearned income) are not eligible.
State supplements may help, but these vary depending on where you live.
It’s very important to report any changes in income or household to the SSA. If you don’t, your benefits might be delayed, or you could be asked to repay extra money you weren’t supposed to receive.
Big Social Security Changes in 2025: WEP and GPO Repealed
In January 2025, President Joe Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act, which removed two old rules—WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision) and GPO (Government Pension Offset). These rules had been criticized for unfairly cutting benefits for public-sector workers.
- WEP reduced Social Security for people who also got pensions from non-Social Security jobs, like teachers and police officers.
- GPO reduced or removed spousal/survivor benefits for people with government pensions.
From January 5, 2025, both rules were officially removed, and the change applied retroactively to January 2024. This means affected people started getting back payments from February 2025, and new monthly amounts began in April 2025.
Who benefits?
- Teachers
- Police officers
- Firefighters
- Federal employees under Civil Service Retirement
- Some immigrants or expats with foreign pensions
This change is expected to help millions of Americans who had seen reduced Social Security payments for years.