If you’re retired or getting Social Security payments from a loved one who has passed away, there’s important news. New Social Security payments are coming this week for many people. These payments are sent on different Wednesdays depending on your birth date. Let’s understand who will get paid this week and what the rules are.
How Social Security Payments Are Scheduled
The Social Security Administration (SSA) sends out payments based on when someone first applied for benefits and their birth date. Here’s how it works:
If You Started Getting Payments Before May 1997
You will get your payment on the 3rd day of every month. If the 3rd is a holiday or weekend, then the money is sent on the nearest business day.
If You Started After May 1997 (Most People Today)
Your payment date depends on your birthday:
If your birthday is between the 1st and 10th of any month, you get paid on the second Wednesday.
If your birthday is between the 11th and 20th, you get paid on the third Wednesday.
If your birthday is between the 21st and 31st, your payment comes on the fourth Wednesday.
Payment Dates for July 2025
For July, the payments are scheduled like this:
July 9: For people born from the 1st to the 10th.
July 16: For birthdays between the 11th and 20th.
July 23: For those born from the 21st to the 31st.
If you’re getting benefits from before May 1997 or you also get Supplemental Security Income (SSI), your payment comes on July 3. SSI will be paid on July 1.
Who Can Get Social Security Benefits?
To qualify for retirement benefits, you need to:
Work for at least 10 years
Be at least 62 years old
Spouses, including divorced ones, may also qualify based on certain rules. On average, retired individuals receive about $2,000 each month.
Survivor Benefits
These are for the family of someone who has passed away. A one-time $255 payment is given to help with funeral costs. Widows or widowers with children can receive an average of $3,761 monthly. You’ll need documents to prove your legal relationship to the person who passed away.
Maximum Monthly Benefit in 2025
If a person delays taking retirement until age 70 and had a high income for 35 years, they could receive up to $5,108 per month in 2025.
COLA Increase in 2025
Starting January 1, 2025, all Social Security payments will go up due to the COLA (cost-of-living adjustment). Experts predict a 2.4% to 2.5% increase, but this is just an estimate for now. More updates will come later in the year.