The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced the April 2025 payment schedule, and the first checks will be mailed on April 1. As millions of Americans look forward to receiving their benefits, some recipients will be receiving as much as $5,108 a month—the 2025 maximum benefit. Knowing who gets paid on which date and how to qualify for the maximum benefit can assist recipients in planning their finances better during this time.
April 2025 payment schedule
The first-ever Social Security benefits for April will be paid on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, to all Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries. The payment will include the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase that has been instituted for 2025, which has been established to provide more assistance to beneficiaries to help meet increasing living costs.
After this initial payment, original Social Security beneficiaries—those receiving benefits prior to May 1997—will receive payment on Thursday, April 3, 2025. This category also encompasses those who receive both Social Security and SSI.
Regular Social Security payment schedule resumes as follows:
- Wednesday, April 9: Beneficiaries with birthdays between the 1st through the 10th of any month
- Wednesday, April 16: Those born between the 11th and 20th of any month
- Wednesday, April 23: Those born between the 21st and 31st of any month
Getting eligible for the maximum $5,108 payment
Although millions are receiving Social Security, very few of them receive the maximum monthly benefit of $5,108—increased from the $4,873 to be paid in 2024 by virtue of the 2.5% COLA. To be eligible for the maximum, there are requirements they have to fulfill
First, the beneficiaries would have to have earned at or above the Social Security taxable wage base during their work life. For 2025, that is $176,100. Most Americans don’t even approach this amount of earnings, so the cap is only applicable to a very small proportion of beneficiaries.
Second, qualifying for the maximum benefit requires working for at least 35 years, as Social Security calculates benefits based on your 35 highest-earning years. Any years fewer than 35 are counted as zeros in the calculation, potentially reducing your benefit amount.
Third, recipients must wait until age 70 to receive benefits. While eligible individuals can begin receiving partial benefits at age 62, waiting until age 70 receives the highest monthly payment with delayed retirement credits.
How payment distribution works
The Social Security Administration distributes payments according to a long-standing schedule based primarily on recipients’ birthdays. This consistent way of making payments guarantees orderly distribution of benefits to millions of Americans.
To give this some perspective, the typical Social Security benefit for retired workers in 2025 is approximately $1,976 per month—a long way from the highest potential benefit. Married couples who receive benefits have an average of $3,089 per month.
What recipients should know about 2025 benefits
The 2025 benefits also include a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), which boosted the average retired worker’s benefit by about $49 per month compared to 2024. The adjustment keeps beneficiaries’ purchasing power consistent with inflation.
Beneficiaries who continue to work while receiving early benefits also need to be aware of earning limits. Beneficiaries who have not reached full retirement age in 2025 will have $1 deducted for each $2 they earn over $23,400. Those reaching full retirement age in 2025 will have $1 deducted for each $3 earned over $62,100.
Knowledge of the payment schedule and qualifying periods can enable the Social Security beneficiary to budget ahead, budget accordingly, and prepare for the upcoming month.
Read more: How do special payments I received after I retired affect my Social Security retirement benefits?
