If you are retired or receive disability benefits, February brings important news for your pocket. This month, the Social Security Administration (SSA) approved payments of up to $5,108 for those who qualify under the maximum requirements.
Although the first disbursement of the month (February 12) has already reached the accounts of beneficiaries born between the 1st and 10th of any month, there are still two key dates ahead. We explain everything to you, step by step, so you don’t miss a single detail.
Payment schedule: When do you have to receive your retirement?
The SSA maintains an organized system to distribute payments, based on the date of birth of each beneficiary, as you saw in the previous paragraph, in which we talked about the first payment on February 12.
This month, the schedule is completed with the other two groups as follows:
- February 19 (third Wednesday): For those born between the 11th and 20th of any month.
- February 26 (fourth Wednesday): Aimed at birthdays from the 21st to the 31st.
The next payments for March are: the 12th, 19th, and 26th, in the same group order as in February. If you have received Social Security benefits since before May 1997, your payment was already made on February 3, following the usual schedule for this group.
Why do the amounts vary up to $5,108?
The figure of 5,108 is not random: it corresponds to the beneficiaries who accumulated the maximum work credits throughout their working life. These credits are earned by working and paying Social Security taxes, and in 2025, each credit is equal to $1,810 of income. To qualify, most people need 40 total credits, with at least 20 earned in the last decade before retiring or declaring a disability.
However, there is flexibility. For example, youth or people with early disabilities may require fewer credits to apply for disability benefits (SSDI), depending on their situation. The key is to demonstrate a significant contribution to the system through years of formal work.
The SSA recommends a payment method so that the money is not delayed
The Social Security Administration invites beneficiaries to enroll in Direct Deposit, a method that speeds up the arrival of money to your bank account, avoiding delays due to physical mail or losses. If you have not yet activated it, you can do so online through the official SSA portal or by visiting a local office.
First, check the official calendar and confirm that your date of birth corresponds to the group that has already received its payment. If everything matches and there are still no funds in your account:
- Wait 3 business days: Sometimes there are delays due to weekends or holidays.
- Contact the SSA: Call 1-800-772-1213 or visit their website to report the problem.
- Check your account statement: Make sure you have no blocks or errors in your banking information.
Additionally, it is recommended that you verify your date of birth in the system. Although it may seem obvious, some beneficiaries assume that the current month of birth affects the payment, but this is not the case: only the day you were born matters. For example, if your birthday is July 15, you belong to the 11-20 group, regardless of whether it is summer.
