As April begins, millions of retirees across the United States are preparing to receive their monthly Social Security checks. However, not all recipients will get paid in the first week of the month. The Social Security Administration (SSA) follows a staggered payment schedule, distributing benefits based on recipients’ birth dates and the date they began receiving payments.
If you were born between the 11th and the 31st of any month and started collecting benefits after May 1997, your April payment won’t arrive until mid or late April. Understanding this schedule is critical for retirees who depend on Social Security as a primary source of income, especially when budgeting for essential expenses.
Who Gets the First April Social Security Check?
The first group to receive their April payment are retirees born between the 1st and the 10th, provided they began receiving their benefits after May 1997. For this group, the payment date is Wednesday, April 9. The rest of the month’s payments are distributed to other birthdate groups on the following Wednesdays.
Here’s the full April 2025 Social Security payment schedule:
- April 3: Retirees who started receiving benefits before May 1997, regardless of their birth date.
- April 9: Those born between the 1st and 10th, receiving benefits after May 1997.
- April 16: Those born between the 11th and 20th.
- April 23: Those born between the 21st and 31st.
If you don’t fall into the first group, your payment won’t arrive during the first week of the month. This explains why retirees born from the 11th onward will need to wait until at least mid-April to receive their next check.
March’s Final Payment Already Sent
The final Social Security payment for March was issued on Wednesday, March 26, to retirees born between the 21st and 31st. This group has already received their March benefits and will be the last to receive their April payment on April 23.
To avoid delays, retirees are strongly encouraged to enroll in Direct Deposit, which ensures faster and more secure access to funds. Paper checks can take up to three additional business days to arrive, depending on mail delivery speed.
With inflation continuing to affect household budgets, knowing exactly when your payment will arrive can make a significant difference. The SSA’s structured calendar helps prevent confusion, but staying informed remains key for financial stability.