Social Security Payments: When Beneficiaries Can Expect Funds This February

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Millions of Americans will receive their Social Security payments this week, beginning with beneficiaries who have birthdays between the 1st and 10th of any month. Payments are scheduled for delivery on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, marking the start of a new round of disbursements that affect over 70 million recipients nationwide.

Social Security benefits serve as a crucial financial lifeline for retirees, survivors of deceased claimants, and individuals with disabilities. These monthly payments vary based on a recipient’s birth date and how long they have been receiving benefits. For retirees who reached Full Retirement Age — currently set at 67 — the maximum monthly benefit is $4,018.

To qualify for Social Security benefits, individuals must be at least 62 years old and have worked for at least 10 years while contributing to Social Security through payroll taxes. The benefits amount is also influenced by an individual’s lifetime earnings, with those opting to begin receiving benefits earlier at age 62 entitled to a maximum monthly payment of $2,831. Conversely, delaying benefits until age 70 can increase monthly payments to as much as $5,108.

According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), the estimated average retirement benefit is set to rise by about $49 per month due to the 2025 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), increasing from $1,927 to $1,976. This adjustment aims to counteract inflation and maintain purchasing power for beneficiaries. Social Security benefits are adjusted annually to reflect inflation through COLA, which was set at 2.5% for 2025, the lowest since 2021.

Mary Johnson, an independent Social Security and Medicare policy analyst, remarked, “The 2025 COLA will be the lowest received by Social Security beneficiaries since 2021. Despite this, a 2.5 percent COLA would be considered about average.”

Following the February 12 payments, additional disbursements will occur for beneficiaries with birthdays falling between the 11th and 20th on February 19, and those born between the 21st and 31st on February 26. Beneficiaries should wait a minimum of three business days after the scheduled payment date before contacting the SSA if they have not received their check, as federal holidays and weekends are not considered working days.

Former Social Security Commissioner Martin O'Malley commented on the increase, stating, “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.”

For those receiving both Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, payments are typically issued on the 1st of each month for SSI and on the 3rd of each month for Social Security benefits. It is essential for recipients to stay informed about their payment schedules and the potential impacts of changes to the COLA.