The Social Security Administration (SSA) has confirmed the retirement payment dates for April 2025. Millions of older Americans rely on these monthly payments, and this month, some are also receiving up to $6,700 extra. Here’s a clear guide to who gets paid when, and why some retirees are getting a big bonus.
April 2025 Social Security Payment Schedule
Social Security retirement benefits are sent out based on a person’s date of birth. In April 2025, the SSA is following its regular schedule, sending payments on the second, third, and fourth Wednesdays of the month:
- April 3: For people who started collecting benefits before May 1997 or receive both Social Security and SSI.
- April 9: For people born between the 1st and 10th of any month.
- April 16: For those born between the 11th and 20th.
- April 23: For people born between the 21st and 31st.
This schedule helps the SSA manage payments for over 70 million recipients.
Who Gets Paid on Which Date?
The dates are simple to follow:
- If you were born early in the month (1st to 10th), you got paid on April 9.
- If your birthday falls in the middle (11th to 20th), you’ll be paid on April 16.
- If you were born late in the month (21st to 31st), expect payment on April 23.
- If you started receiving Social Security before May 1997 or receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you got your money early on April 3.
How Much Is the Maximum Social Security Benefit in 2025?
The monthly amount a person gets depends on when they started claiming their benefits. Here’s a breakdown of the maximum monthly amounts for 2025:
- At age 62: up to $2,831
- At age 67 (full retirement age): up to $4,018
- At age 70: up to $5,108
If you delay taking your benefits until age 70, your payment grows due to an 8% annual increase after reaching full retirement age. These benefits also go up each year due to Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA). In 2025, COLA increased benefits by 2.5%.
Why Are Some Retirees Getting $6,700 Extra?
Some Social Security beneficiaries are receiving extra money this year, up to $6,700, because of a major change in the law.
In January 2025, the Social Security Fairness Act was passed. This law removed two rules—the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO)—which had reduced benefits for people who also received pensions from jobs not covered by Social Security, such as:
- Teachers
- Firefighters
- Police officers
Many of these workers were getting smaller benefits for years. Now, they are being compensated with retroactive payments from January 2024 to now.
How Much Will Each Person Receive?
The average extra amount is around $6,650 per person, but some may get a little more or less depending on their specific case. For example, someone who got a monthly increase of $587 could receive up to $7,044 for the full 12 months.
This one-time back payment is being sent out in April 2025 along with the usual Social Security benefits, helping millions of retired public service workers.
Social Security continues to be a vital income source for millions of retired Americans. With regular payments based on birth dates and new changes like the Social Security Fairness Act, 2025 brings significant financial relief—especially for those previously affected by unfair rules.
Whether you’re expecting a standard monthly benefit or a bonus from the law change, it’s good to stay informed about payment schedules and updates. If you’re unsure about your case, checking with the SSA or creating an account at SSA.gov can give you the answers you need.
