The Social Security Administration (SSA) has just firmly confirmed that the third payment of retirement benefits is arriving in a few days, being the third of the payments for the month of January. At this point, two payments have already been sent for the first two groups.
The three groups are arranged based on the beneficiaries’ birthdays, as is already the SSA’s custom. Some beneficiaries who meet certain requirements can expect up to $5,108 per month, but later we will explain what the requirements are to be able to claim this juicy monthly check.
Two Social Security beneficiary groups will not receive more payments in January
As we said, based on the date of birth of the beneficiaries, the SSA distributes payments on the second, third, and fourth Wednesday of each month, as explained below:
- The second Wednesday, which was January 8, was the payment for beneficiaries who have birthdays between the 1st and 10th of any month.
- The third Wednesday, that is, January 15, was the date for beneficiaries with a date of birth between the 11th and the 20th.
- The fourth Wednesday, which is January 22, is the next payment on the list, for beneficiaries who turn their birthday between the 21st and 31st of any month.
Although normally the payment on the 22nd would be the last of the month, there is one more round of deposits to make. This is the advance payment for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries: generally, this group of recipients is paid on the 1st of each month, except when that day falls on a weekend or holiday. In this case, it is a Saturday, and that is why the payment is advanced to January 31.
How to qualify for the Maximum Social Security payment of $5,108
The maximum Social Security payment in 2025, set at $5,108 per month, is a benefit reserved for those who have met certain strict requirements throughout their working life. This maximum amount is not automatically awarded to all beneficiaries, as it depends on factors such as income, years of work, and the age at which they decide to retire.
The first requirement is to have earned the maximum Social Security taxable amount for at least 35 years. In 2025, the taxable limit is $168,600, meaning contributions from those who reached this income level are the maximum possible.
They must also have worked and contributed to the program for at least 35 years. This is because the average monthly benefit calculation is based on the 35 years with the highest earnings. If you have fewer years worked, years with zero income will be included, reducing the average.
To receive the $5,108 per month, it is necessary to delay retirement until age 70, maximizing benefits. Although full retirement age is between 66 and 67, waiting until age 70 increases benefits by 8% for each additional year.
Those who meet these requirements tend to be high-income professionals, entrepreneurs, or employees in well-paid sectors. Additionally, it is important to remember that the maximum payment may be subject to tax if the recipient’s total income exceeds certain limits.
