A December payment window is opening for millions tied to Social Security, and for some households the timing matters just as much as the amount. This week, checks land for a specific slice of beneficiaries based on birth dates, while others follow a different schedule altogether.
At the same time, the numbers behind Social Security are back in focus. The program now reaches roughly 70 million Americans each month, and the maximum benefit has climbed to $5,108 for those who waited the longest to claim. Most people receive far less, but the rules are clearer than they look at first glance.
Social Security payment dates and who gets paid now
Social Security does not send every payment on the same day. Because of the scale of the program, the Social Security Administration staggers deposits across the month.
On Wednesday, December 17, payments are scheduled for recipients whose birthdays fall between the 11th and the 20th of any month. This applies to most retirees and disability beneficiaries who began receiving benefits after April 1997.
If a payment does not show up on the expected date, Social Security advises waiting up to three business days before contacting the agency. Short delays can happen due to banking processing times.
There are also groups that do not follow the standard birthday-based schedule. People who started retirement, spousal, or survivor benefits before May 1997 are paid earlier in the month. Beneficiaries who also receive Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, are handled on a separate calendar.
How much Social Security pays in 2025 and beyond
The dollar amount of a Social Security check depends mainly on when benefits are claimed and how long, and how much, a person worked. Claiming early locks in a lower monthly payment for life.
Workers who file at age 62, the earliest possible age, can receive up to $2,831 per month. That figure represents the ceiling, not the average, and many people receive less.
Those who wait until full retirement age, currently 67, can receive as much as $4,018 per month. The biggest checks go to those who delay even longer.
Waiting until age 70 pushes the maximum monthly benefit to $5,108. That number has drawn attention, but reaching it requires meeting several strict conditions over an entire career.
What it takes to reach the $5,108 maximum benefit
The top Social Security payment is not based on a single high-paying year. It reflects a long work history and consistent earnings at or near the system’s taxable maximum.
To qualify for the highest possible benefit, a person must have worked at least 35 years. Each of those years must rank among their highest-earning years used in the Social Security formula.
In addition, the worker must delay claiming benefits until age 70. Claiming even a few months earlier reduces the final amount.
Finally, earnings must have hit the maximum taxable limit for Social Security taxes year after year. That limit changes annually, and missing it even occasionally can lower the final calculation.
Average Social Security checks tell a different story
While the $5,108 figure gets headlines, it does not reflect what most retirees actually receive. For the majority of beneficiaries, monthly payments are much lower.
Earlier this year, the average retirement benefit crossed $2,000 per month for the first time. As of November, the average retired worker received $2,013.32.
That average is expected to rise again. Starting in January, Social Security and disability beneficiaries will receive a 2.8 percent Cost-of-Living Adjustment, known as COLA.
This increase is designed to help benefits keep up with everyday expenses like groceries, rent, and medical care. It applies across the board, including retirement, survivor, spousal, and SSI benefits.
How the COLA increase is calculated
Social Security bases its annual COLA on inflation data, specifically the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. The agency looks at price changes from July through September each year.
If inflation is higher during that period, benefits are adjusted upward. This system has been in place since the mid-1970s and is automatic, not discretionary.
With the 2.8 percent increase, the average monthly retirement benefit is expected to rise from about $2,015 to roughly $2,071. For those at full retirement age, the maximum benefit will increase from $4,018 to $4,152.
The updated amounts will begin with payments issued in January 2026, reflecting the new COLA across all Social Security programs.