The Social Security Administration (SSA) is sending out benefits averaging $2,000 to many recipients today, Wednesday, May 21. This includes retirement, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and survivor benefits. Payments are being issued to beneficiaries born between the 11th and 20th of any given month.
The three-Wednesdays payment schedule for May is:
Wednesday, May 14: Recipients born on the 1st to the 10th
Wednesday, May 21: Recipients born on the 11th to the 20th
Wednesday, May 28: Recipients born on the 21st to the 31st
Those who began claiming benefits before May 1997 are usually paid on the third of each month. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries generally receive their checks on the first of each month. Recent figures show that retired workers, the majority of Social Security beneficiaries, receive an average monthly payment of about $2,000.
Disabled workers get an average of $1,581.88 per month, while survivor benefit recipients are paid around $1,565.52 monthly on average. SSI beneficiaries receive an average of $717.87 per month. Some Social Security recipients will get two checks in May 2025 due to a scheduling quirk involving SSI payments.
The regular May SSI payment will be issued on May 1, and the June SSI payment will be sent early on May 30, as June 1 falls on a Sunday. SSI provides monthly benefits to those 65 or older, blind, or with a qualifying disability who have limited income or resources.
Social Security payments schedule update
Qualifying children can also receive SSI. If your scheduled payment date has passed without receiving your payment, the SSA suggests waiting three additional mailing days before contacting them. Most payments arrive on time, with 99% of beneficiaries paid electronically.
This week, Social Security retirement, survivor, and spousal benefits of up to $5,108 are being paid out to those born between the 11th and 20th of any month. The SSA pays benefits to over 65 million Americans each month. As of January 2025, the average monthly Social Security retirement benefit is $1,976.
Maximum benefits vary based on claiming age:
Age 62: Up to $2,831 per month
Full retirement age (67): Up to $4,018 per month
Age 70: Up to $5,108 per month
Actual benefit amounts depend on lifetime earnings and Social Security taxes paid. For SSI, the 2025 maximum monthly benefit is $967 for individuals and $1,450 for couples, but payments can be lower based on income and other factors. Social Security benefits are adjusted annually for cost-of-living (COLA) to keep up with inflation.
Benefits increased by 2.5% for 2025. The 2026 COLA is predicted to be 2.4%, slightly lower than the previous year, indicating that inflation is starting to subside. The official 2026 COLA will be announced in October 2025.