New and juicy payments are being sent starting this week, starting with the first of the three groups of Social Security retirement beneficiaries, which during fiscal year 2025 can reach a maximum of $5,108 for those recipients who qualify.
Retirement benefits are distributed into three groups that are delivered on the second, third, and fourth Wednesday of each month, and February is no exception: the first payment will begin this Wednesday.
When does the first of February’s Social Security benefits fall?
It turns out that your birthday rules here. It’s not a horoscope, it’s the Social Security Administration (SSA), organizing the deposits like this:
- From the 1st to the 10th of any month: Your day is February 12.
- From the 11th to the 20th: Grit your teeth until February 19.
- From the 21st to the 31st: Patience, which arrives on February 26.
But be careful, if in addition to your retirement you receive SSI (Supplemental Security Income), in February you will not receive anything. This is because they gave it to you in advance on January 31. But in March, surprise: you get paid in advance to February 28 (which is technically March because the 1st falls on a Saturday).
The maximum SSI payment is $976 for a single beneficiary, but for a couple it is $1,450. For the beneficiary who needs to pay for an essential help person, the program can provide up to $484.
Tricks and secrets to obtain the maximum Social Security in 2025
The SSA has a big check in store, up to $5,108, but it’s not for everyone. There are a number of requirements that the beneficiary should meet in order to get that juicy check. These are the three basic pillars to qualify for these benefits:
Delay retirement until age 70: I know it sounds like a punishment, but waiting is worth gold here. If you retire before your FRA (that magical age that varies depending on when you were born), they cut your monthly payment… forever.
35 years earning well (and stable): It’s not worth it with any salary. We are talking about reaching the taxable limit, which by 2025 will be $168,600 a year. In other words, it is not for people who earn the minimum.
40 work credits: translated, a minimum 10 years contributing (yes, paying taxes as God intended). If you are missing them, don’t even dream about it.
If you are already a beneficiary, these errors could leave you without your payment
The SSA does not mess around when it comes to ensuring that all its beneficiaries legally comply with all requirements and, even if they have already granted them to you, there are certain actions that could culminate in the termination of payments. Take note:
Earning more after retiring: Yes, working in old age is fine, but if you exceed the income limit that they set (and it changes every year), goodbye to part of your payment.
Lying on the application: If you make up your age, income, or disability, be prepared to pay back every penny. The SSA has accounting detectives who review cases at random. No cheating!
Improve health could also end your payments: Ironic, right? If you recover from a disability and the SSA believes you can work full-time, your benefits (such as SSDI) may be reduced. Be careful with medical reports.
Back to work may stop your Social Security checks: If you suspend your retirement to return to the office, payments are paused. But don’t worry: then you reactivate them (although recalculated and adjusted to accumulated inflation, of course).
