Social Security is a financial backbone for millions of Americans, especially retirees and individuals living with disabilities. Approximately 70 million citizens rely on these benefits and it is important to know when and how the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) monthly benefits arrive.
What Is Social Security?
Social Security was designed to monthly financial support to people who have retired, are living with a disability, or are surviving family members of workers who have passed away. In addition to this, the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is also available to older adults, people who are blind or disabled, and others.
It is important to note that the amount a person receives from Social Security is dependant on a number of various factors including when they choose to begin receiving benefits, their work history, and their total earnings over the course of their career. In contrast to this, SSI does not consider an individual’s type of work or length of service; instead, it is based only on financial need.
The Significance of Payment Timing
Because millions of people depend on these benefits each month, the SSA follows a payment schedule instead of sending payments all at once. This staggered method assists in ensuring that recipients receive their payments and delays are prevented.
It’s important for people who depend solely on Social Security to be aware of the exact day their payment is received. It allows for better financial planning and helps manage monthly expenses.
When Will You Receive Your August 2025 Benefits?
Here’s a simple breakdown of the key dates to keep in mind:
- Friday, August 1:
- Payments go out to SSI recipients.
- People who began receiving retirement or survivor benefits before May 1997.
- Those who receive both SSI and regular Social Security benefits.
- Wednesday, August 13:
- If your birthday falls between the 1st and 10th of the month, this is when you’ll receive your payment.
- Wednesday, August 20:
- For people born between the 11th and 20th, payments will be made on this date.
- Wednesday, August 27:
- If your birthday is between the 21st and 31st, your benefits will be sent out then.
- Friday, August 29:
- This is the scheduled payment for September’s SSI benefits. Since September 1 lands on a national holiday, the SSA will issue SSI payments a little early to make sure there’s no delay.
Keeping track of your specific payment date each month can help with budgeting and give you peace of mind.
How Much Can You Expect to Receive?
The amount of Social Security benefit that you receive depends on your personal situation. The average retirement benefit reached $2,002.39 as of May 2025, which was seen as a positive achievement as it was the first time the average had surpassed $2,000.
SSI recipients typically received $718.30 a month, which helped pay for daily expenses like food and utilities.
Based on your age, the maximum monthly benefits you could get are roughly as follows:
- You could receive up to $2,831 if you begin early retirement at age 62.
- The maximum increases to $4,018 when you reach full retirement age, which is 67.
- Additionally, the maximum benefit could reach $5,108 if you wait until you are 70 to begin.
These figures are calculated using your 35 highest-earning years, tweaked for inflation. The timing of when you choose to start collecting benefits also plays a big role. Beneficiaries must note that the longer you wait, the higher your monthly payment is likely to be.
What’s Ahead: COLA Increase Expected in 2026
Beneficiaries must note that the regular Social Security payment is adjusted every year to account for the rising costs of inflation through the Cost-of-Living Adjustment, or COLA. The increase is due to changes in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). The Senior Citizens League estimated in June 2025 that the 2026 COLA could be approximately 2.6%.