The Social Security Administration (SSA) has outlined its payment schedule for August 2025. Due to the high volume of recipients, the more than 70 million Americans who receive retirement or disability benefits are paid on a staggered schedule.
Most retirees receive their payments based on their birth date. However, there are exceptions for individuals who began receiving benefits before May 1997 or who also qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSI is a separate federal program providing monthly assistance to adults over 65, or those with blindness or disabilities, who meet specific financial criteria.
The payment distribution for August 2025 is as follows:
- August 1: Payments for SSI recipients. This date also includes benefits for individuals who have received Social Security since before May 1997, or who receive both Social Security and SSI.
- August 13: Benefits for individuals with a birth date between the 1st and 10th of the month.
- August 20: Benefits for individuals with a birth date between the 11th and 20th of the month.
- August 27: Benefits for individuals with a birth date between the 21st and 31st of the month.
- August 29: September SSI payments will be issued on this date. The early distribution is because September 1 is the Labor Day federal holiday.
Individual benefit amounts vary significantly. As of May 2025, the SSA reported the average retirement benefit was $2,002.39, while the 7.4 million SSI recipients received an average of $718.30.
Retirement payments are calculated based on an individual’s 35 highest-earning years, adjusted for inflation, and the age at which they claim benefits. For 2025, the maximum monthly benefit for someone retiring at the full retirement age of 67 is $4,018. Claiming benefits early at age 62 reduces the maximum to $2,831, whereas delaying until age 70 can increase the maximum payment to $5,108.
Looking ahead, a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) is projected to increase benefits in 2026. According to the latest estimate from The Senior Citizens League, the 2026 COLA is expected to be approximately 2.6%. The official COLA for 2026 will be announced in October 2025.
