The Social Security Administration (SSA) has confirmed that checks worth up to $5,108 will be deposited today for select Americans. This marks the first disbursement with the 2025 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). About 72.5 million people in the United States depend on Social Security benefits.
The benefits are dispensed routinely on Wednesdays according to the recipient’s birth date. Those born between the 1st and 10th of any month receive their checks on the second Wednesday. Recipients with birthdays from the 11th to the 20th get paid on the third Wednesday.
And those born between the 21st and 31st get their payments on the fourth Wednesday. As January 22, 2025, is the fourth Wednesday of the month, recipients with birthdays between the 21st and 31st will see their deposits today. The top amount recipients can receive has increased to $5,108, thanks to the 2.5% COLA announced last October.
Although this year’s increase is the lowest in four years, it still benefits recipients by adjusting for inflation and rising living costs.
Social security payments rise with COLA
This means that those eligible will receive slightly more than they did last January, with some payments reflecting increases of up to $235.
In 2024, individuals who delayed collecting benefits until age 70 received a maximum payment of $4,873. With the new COLA adjustment, the amount has increased to $5,108 in 2025. While many are receiving benefit increases, some continue to grapple with overpayment issues.
Social Security recipients have reported surprising notices demanding repayment of thousands of dollars. An autistic man recently faced an overpayment claim after being deemed “no longer eligible,” and another recipient accrued debts over ten years without knowing. Overpayments reportedly cost Americans around $9 billion annually.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients will also see increased payments, with deposits of up to $967 scheduled for January 31, up from $943 in 2024. SSI beneficiaries also received $967 on December 31, 2024, due to the alignment of payment dates with the federal holiday on January 1. Stay informed on benefit changes by checking the comprehensive schedule of 2025 payment dates on the SSA website.