Retirees in the United States who are 70 years or older may receive their Social Security retirement payment very soon—possibly on March 26, 2025. However, not everyone will get the money on that date. Whether you get your check on time or have to wait a few more days depends on which payment group you belong to and the method you use to receive the money.
While getting this monthly check is a great help for many elderly citizens, delays can still happen if all conditions are not met. To avoid surprises, it’s important to know the rules and schedule.
Who Can Get Their Retirement Payment on March 26?
To receive your Social Security retirement check on March 26, you must belong to Group 4. This group includes people who:
- Started receiving retirement benefits after May 1997, and
- Were born between the 21st and 31st of any month.
If you match these two conditions, you’re part of Group 4. It does not matter how much you receive or what type of retirement benefit you have.
But there’s one more important requirement—you must have Direct Deposit activated.
Why Direct Deposit Matters
Direct Deposit is the fastest way to receive your Social Security payment. If you’ve activated this option, your payment can appear in your bank account on the same day it’s issued—in this case, March 26.
If you have not set up Direct Deposit, you will still receive your payment, but with a delay. Usually, it takes up to three days for mailed checks or delayed bank transfers to show up. So if you’re eligible but not using Direct Deposit, your money may arrive by March 28 at the latest.
What Happens If You Don’t Meet the Conditions?
If you don’t meet any of the conditions mentioned—such as your birthday not being between the 21st and 31st, or if you started collecting retirement benefits before May 1997—you will not receive your check on March 26. Instead, your payment will follow the usual schedule based on your date of birth and benefit type.
Understanding which payment group you belong to helps you know exactly when to expect your Social Security check each month.
Payment Groups and Why They Matter
Social Security divides retirees into groups based on their birth date and when they started receiving benefits. Each group has a fixed payment schedule:
- Group 1: Benefits started before May 1997 – paid on the 3rd of each month.
- Group 2: Birthdays between 1st–10th – paid on the 2nd Wednesday.
- Group 3: Birthdays between 11th–20th – paid on the 3rd Wednesday.
- Group 4: Birthdays between 21st–31st – paid on the 4th Wednesday (March 26 this month).