The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) has started distributing benefits for August 2025, though many payments are still pending, especially for those receiving retirement benefits. The SSA typically issues about five rounds of payments each month, depending on the type of benefit.
Social Security Payment Schedule
First Day: Payments are distributed to those receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Third Day: For individuals who received Social Security benefits before May 1997, or who claim both retirement and SSI.
For Those Who Claimed After May 1997: Payments are made on the second, third, and fourth Wednesdays of the month, based on the primary beneficiary’s date of birth.
For August 2025, the payment schedule is as follows:
Second Wednesday (August 13, 2025): Beneficiaries born between 1st and 10th of the month.
Third Wednesday (August 20, 2025): Beneficiaries born between 11th and 20th of the month.
Fourth Wednesday (August 27, 2025): Beneficiaries born between 21st and 31st of the month.
Estimated Social Security Retirement Benefit Amounts in 2025
Social Security benefits vary based on retirement age, earnings history, and the year in which benefits are claimed. Below are the average and maximum benefits for 2025:
Retirement at age 62: $2,831 per month (~30% reduction for early retirement before Full Retirement Age (FRA)).
Retirement between ages 65 and 67 (FRA range for most): Up to $4,018, depending on the case.
Retirement at age 70: $5,108 is the maximum benefit when work credits cease to accumulate at this age.
How to Qualify for the Maximum Benefit of $5,108?
To qualify for the maximum benefit, you must have earned high salaries at the taxable cap for at least 35 years. In 2025, the taxable cap is $176,100 per year. Waiting until age 70 to claim benefits will help you maximize this amount.
What’s the Average Benefit?
The majority of Social Security beneficiaries will receive amounts closer to the Full Retirement Age (FRA) average, which is around $1,976 per month after the 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in 2025. For comparison, the average pension for the year was around $2,002.39.
While most beneficiaries may not reach the maximum $5,108, this framework gives a clear idea of the benefit amounts that can be expected depending on retirement age and earnings history.
