If you’re someone who gets Social Security payments, it’s important to know when your money will arrive. The Social Security Administration (SSA) sends payments on different days in July 2025 depending on when you started getting benefits and your birthdate.
Some people will also be affected by new rules starting later in the year, especially those still receiving paper checks.
Let’s break down when you’ll get your payment in July and what changes are coming soon.
Who Gets Paid First in July?
If you started receiving Social Security before May 1997, or you live outside the U.S., or you get both Social Security and SSI, your payment will come first. These payments are made on the first business day of the month, which is July 3, 2025.
Payment Dates Based on Your Birthday
Social Security also sends out payments based on your birthday if you started receiving money after May 1997. Here’s how it works:
Birthdays from the 1st to 10th
If your birthday falls between the 1st and 10th of the month, your payment will come on the second Wednesday. In July 2025, that’s July 9.
Birthdays from the 11th to 20th
If your birthday is between the 11th and 20th, you’ll get paid on the third Wednesday, which is July 16 this year.
Birthdays from the 21st to 31st
For those born from the 21st to the end of the month, the payment will be on the fourth Wednesday. In July, that date is July 23.
How Much Will You Receive?
The average payment in July 2025 is $1,976 a month, which includes a 2.5% cost-of-living increase added earlier this year. However, the actual amount varies depending on how long you worked and how much you earned.
If you retire at 62 (the earliest age possible), you can receive up to $2,831 monthly. Waiting until age 67 increases your possible benefit to $4,018. If you wait until age 70, you can get the highest benefit—$5,108 per month.
For people receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the maximum amount is $967 for individuals and $1,450 for couples.
Paper Checks Will Be Gone by October 2025
If you’re still getting your Social Security or SSI payment by paper check, you need to switch to a digital option by September 30, 2025. Starting in October, the U.S. Treasury will stop mailing checks completely.
This change is happening because paper checks are expensive, risky (due to fraud and postal delays), and outdated.
About 485,000 people are still getting checks. Most of them are seniors over 80, people in rural areas, or those without a bank account or internet.
You have two digital options:
Direct deposit into a bank or credit union
Direct Express debit card (a government prepaid card)
Only people in very special situations may be allowed to keep getting paper checks.
What You Should Do Now
If you haven’t made the switch, now is the time to contact your local Social Security office and ask for help setting up a digital payment method. Doing this early will make sure your money arrives on time and without problems.
Understanding how and when your Social Security payments arrive can help you plan better. In July 2025, payments depend on your birthday and the date you started receiving benefits. Also, if you’re still using paper checks, you’ll need to switch to a digital method before October 2025.
These updates are important for all Social Security and SSI beneficiaries, especially those in rural or high-risk areas. Stay informed and make changes early to avoid delays.
