Many retirees in the United States depend entirely on their monthly Social Security check. However, not everyone gets it on the same day. The Social Security Administration distributes payments on different dates depending on the group to which each beneficiary belongs, based primarily on the date they began receiving benefits and their date of birth.
In May, as already confirmed, payments will be made on the 2nd, 14th, 21st, and 28th. Each of these days is reserved for a specific group, so it is essential to know which group you belong to in order to know exactly when you will receive your money.
In addition, this month some citizens may face a major review of their eligibility. If they do not meet certain criteria, they could even lose their monthly benefit.
Minimum requirements for Social Security in May 2025
To receive monthly Social Security payments, you must meet a series of requirements established by the Administration. The first of these is to have reached the minimum retirement age, which is usually between 62 and 67, depending on the beneficiary’s year of birth.
In addition, it is essential to have worked long enough to accumulate at least 40 work credits, which is equivalent to approximately 10 years of work with contributions to the Social Security system.
Other factors, such as the type of retirement (full, early, or deferred), also affect the amount of the check, but do not prevent access to the benefit as long as the basic requirements are met.
Reasons why Social Security cuts off benefits
Even if the initial requirements are met, there are several reasons why the Social Security Administration may stop sending payments to a beneficiary:
- Returning to work with high income: If the beneficiary starts working and their income exceeds the allowed limits, payments may be suspended or reduced.
- Failure to meet medical requirements (for disability): If a medical review determines that the person no longer has the disability that justified the help, the SSA may withdraw the benefit.
- Failure to update personal or financial information: Changes such as moves, additional income, marital status, or number of people in the household must be reported. Failure to do so may result in loss of payment.
- Fraud or false information: Providing incorrect, falsified, or incomplete information during the application or during periodic reviews is grounds for immediate suspension.
- Staying outside the U.S. for too long: Some beneficiaries cannot receive payments if they live outside the country for more than 30 consecutive days, depending on the type of benefit.
- Disqualification due to legal issues: In certain cases, such as a court order or criminal conviction, Social Security payments may be temporarily or permanently suspended.
- Exceeding resource or income limits (in programs such as SSI): If a beneficiary’s financial assets or regular income exceed the established limits, they may no longer qualify for help.
Knowing these reasons can help thousands of citizens protect their monthly Social Security check and plan their finances with greater security.