As April approaches, millions of retirees across the United States are getting ready to receive their monthly Social Security payments. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has released the official payment schedule for the month, confirming that there will be four possible paydays depending on each beneficiary’s specific circumstances.
The timing of your payment will depend on two primary factors: when you first started receiving benefits and your birth date. For some older recipients and those who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the first round of payments will arrive early in the month. Others will receive their checks on one of three Wednesdays later in April.
Who Gets Paid on April 3?
Beneficiaries who began receiving Social Security before May 1997 will receive their monthly payment on April 3, 2025. This group includes many retirees who have been on benefits for over 28 years. If you also receive SSI along with your retirement benefits, you are typically scheduled for this same early-April payment date.
However, SSI recipients generally receive smaller payments, as the program is designed to assist Americans with limited income and resources. While the average monthly retirement benefit is around $1,980, SSI beneficiaries often receive much less.
Payment Dates for Those Who Filed After April 30, 1997
If you started collecting Social Security benefits after April 30, 1997, your payment date will be based on your birthdate. The SSA divides payments across the second, third, and fourth Wednesdays of the month:
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April 9, 2025: For retirees born between the 1st and 10th
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April 16, 2025: For those born between the 11th and 20th
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April 23, 2025: For individuals born after the 20th
Some retirees who are 62 years old may qualify for payments of up to $2,831, but reaching that amount requires meeting specific conditions. To get the maximum benefit, you must have worked for 35 years, filed at age 62, paid into Social Security throughout those years, and earned the maximum taxable income annually.
For comparison, the average payment for 62-year-old retirees is approximately $1,300. If you’re still receiving paper checks, the SSA recommends switching to direct deposit to receive your funds more securely and without delays.