Millions of Social Security recipients will receive their monthly checks for February on Wednesday, February 19. The payments are part of the second wave of checks being sent out this month by the Social Security Administration. The monthly payment schedule is divided into three waves, all occurring on Wednesdays.
The distribution of payments is based on the days of the month a recipient was born. The first wave of payments was sent out on February 12 to those born on the 1st through the 10th of a month. The third wave of checks will be sent out on February 26 to those born on the 21st through the 31st of a month.
Social Security payments are based on the earnings throughout a retiree’s life and are not limited by income. However, the amount of each check depends on the age when a person retires. Citizens are eligible for Social Security beginning at 62 years old but can earn more by waiting until later to retire.
Those who retire at 67 receive a maximum check of $4,018, while those who retire at 62 get up to $2,831.
social security check distribution schedule
Those who delay their retirement to 70 receive the largest payment of $5,108 per month.
The monthly Social Security payments are different from other checks given out by the SSA, such as disability insurance or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which are sent out on a different schedule. SSI payments are sent to recipients at the beginning of each month to those with debilitating disabilities that may affect their income. These payments were sent out on January 31 since February 1 fell on a Saturday.
Retired workers, disabled workers, and survivors who began receiving their benefits before May 1997 were paid on Monday, February 3. These recipients always get their money on the 3rd of the month, regardless of their birth date, unless it’s a weekend or holiday. Benefits were boosted at the start of 2025 by 2.5 percent, thanks to the annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA).
As of November 2024, the average monthly retirement benefit was $1,876.95. Martin O’Malley, former commissioner of Social Security, said when the increased amount was announced in October: “Social Security benefits and SSI payments will increase in 2025, helping tens of millions of people keep up with expenses even as inflation has started to cool.
Independent Social Security and Medicare policy analyst Mary Johnson commented: “The 2025 COLA will be the lowest received by Social Security beneficiaries since 2021, at the same time inflated prices persist on key essentials such as housing, meats, auto insurance, any type of service and repairs. Despite it being the lowest COLA since 2021, a 2.5 percent COLA would be considered about average.”
The next round of retirement payments is expected to follow the same structured schedule, ensuring that all eligible recipients receive their due benefits in a timely manner.
If you have not received your monthly payment on the expected date, the SSA recommends waiting three working days before contacting the agency.
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