Social Security is sending out checks averaging $2,000 to certain recipients today, Wednesday, May 14. The payments are going to beneficiaries of retirement, disability, or survivor benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) distributes payments on a staggered schedule based on the beneficiary’s date of birth.
Today, payments will be issued to beneficiaries born between the 1st and the 10th of the month. This staggered distribution will continue on the following Wednesdays in May:
– Wednesday, May 21: beneficiaries born from the 11th to the 20th
– Wednesday, May 28: beneficiaries born from the 21st to the 31st
Beneficiaries who began claiming retirement, SSDI, or survivor benefits before May 1997 typically receive their checks on the third of each month, regardless of their birthday. Recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a benefit for low-income Americans who are over 65 or have a disability, are normally paid on the first of each month.
If you receive both SSI and one of the SSA’s retirement, SSDI, or survivor benefits, you generally get SSI on the first and your other benefits on the third. However, due to May 3 being a Saturday this year, long-term and dual recipients were paid their retirement, SSDI, or survivor benefits on the nearest working day before, which was Friday, May 2. Retired workers, who make up more than 70% of all Americans on Social Security, are paid just under $2,000 a month on average.
The average monthly retirement check is $1,999.97, according to recent figures. Disabled workers receive an average of $1,581.88 per month, and survivor benefits are worth an average of $1,565.52 per month. The SSI program provides checks for an average of $717.87 a month.
For more comprehensive details on payment schedules and amounts, beneficiaries can refer to the SSA’s complete payment calendar for 2025. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will issue three Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments in May 2025. This irregularity has led to confusion among beneficiaries who rely on these payments as critical sources of financial support.
Despite the appearance of receiving an extra benefit, the SSA has clarified that the third payment in May is not a bonus. Instead, this payment is an early disbursement of June’s SSI payment due to calendar adjustments. Millions of Americans depend on Social Security and SSI payments, with these funds accounting for significant portions of their income.
The payments are usually distributed according to a fixed schedule, helping recipients manage their monthly budgets effectively. The additional payment in May, resulting from a calendar quirk, might cause some anxiety, but understanding its purpose should alleviate concerns.
Understanding May payment schedule adjustments
This clarification is crucial for beneficiaries to manage their finances accurately, preventing any misinterpretation of the early payment as an added benefit. The SSA continues to encourage recipients to review their payment schedules and budget accordingly to avoid financial disruptions caused by such calendar adjustments. In May 2025, Social Security payments are set to be distributed later than in any other month of the year.
This shift in the payment schedule has caused some retirees to question the timing of their benefits. Typically, Social Security payments are distributed on Wednesdays. If your birthdate falls between the 1st and 10th of the month, you should expect your payment on the second Wednesday, which is May 14 this year.
Those born between the 11th and 20th will receive their payments on the third Wednesday, May 21, and those born after the 20th will be paid on the fourth Wednesday, May 28. For individuals who began receiving benefits before May 1997, payments are made on the 3rd of the month. If they also receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), those payments come on the 1st and 30th of the month.
Due to May 1 and May 30 falling on weekdays, SSI recipients will receive both May and June payments in the same calendar month. The delay stems from the alignment of distribution dates within the month. With the second Wednesday falling on the 14th, May’s payments will be the latest out of all the months in 2025.
SSI payments are scheduled on the 1st of each month. Because June 1, 2025, falls on a weekend, the June SSI payment will be issued early, on May 30. This month, recipients will see two checks: the May payment on May 1 and the June payment on May 30.
Supplemental Security Income is a federally funded program that provides financial assistance to people with limited income or resources who are aged 65 or older, blind, or have a qualifying disability. Eligible children with disabilities can also receive SSI. Understanding these changes is crucial for recipients who depend on Social Security and SSI benefits.
Mark your calendars with the updated dates to ensure that you are prepared for the delays in May and future payments in 2025. For more information, you can visit the Social Security Administration’s website.