The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced the confirmation of new retirement payments for the second group of beneficiaries who began receiving their payments after May 1997. There are three groups in this category that receive their deposits each month, on the second, third, and fourth Wednesday, depending on their date of birth.
Those with birthdays between the 1st and 10th received their payment on the second Wednesday of the month, which was April 9. Then, on the third Wednesday (which is the next week), that is, April 16, those who have a birthday between the 11th and the 20th receive their payments. And finally, the following week, the payment is for those who have a birthday after the 21st of any month, which is Wednesday, April 23.
Who receives Social Security payments on April 16?
Payments to be paid on April 16 include retirement, disability (SSDI), and survivorship. To access retirement benefits, at least 40 work credits are required (equivalent to 10 years of work). Amounts depend on historical income and retirement age.
Disability benefits require a medical condition that prevents work for at least one year or causes death. Survivors must be spouses, children, or dependent parents of a deceased worker who was eligible for Social Security. Those recipients of SSDI benefits who reach retirement age automatically stop receiving their disability payments and begin receiving retirement payments.
Average and maximum amounts of Social Security in April 2025
The average retirement amount in 2025 is $1,976 per month, which represents an increase of 2.5% compared to $1,927 the previous year. For couples where both receive benefits, the combined average is $3,089, also adjusted for inflation.
These values are calculated using Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME). Most beneficiaries receive less than the maximum amount, since payments depend on income history and years of contributions. Only those who have had high salaries for at least 35 years can access payments close to the established ceiling.
In 2025, the maximum benefit for those who retire at age 62 is $2,831 per month, which is equivalent to approximately 70% of the amount that would be received upon reaching full retirement age, which grants up to $4,018 per month. If retirement is delayed until age 70, the benefit can increase up to $5,108 per month, thanks to an 8% increase for each additional year after full age.
These caps apply only to those who have had income close to the Social Security taxable limit, set at $176,100 for the year 2025.
The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, meanwhile, offers up to $967 for individuals and $1,450 for couples in 2025. Unlike Social Security, SSI is based on economic need and not previous employment contributions.
Working while receiving benefits can reduce payments if annual earnings exceed $23,400 (for people under age 67) or $62,160 in the year you reach full retirement age. These rules do not affect those who already receive the maximum amount, since those calculations are based on previous work records and not recent activities.
Legislation changes that would give beneficiaries up to $6,700 extra
It’s now in force the Social Security Fairness Act in January 2025 marked a before and after for thousands of public sector workers. Teachers, firefighters, federal employees and other professionals who for years saw their pensions reduced by regulations such as the WEP and the GPO, finally breathed a sigh of relief. These two provisions, criticized for cutting benefits to those who had retirement plans outside the traditional system, were abolished.
The impact was immediate: between February and March of that year, the Social Security Administration retroactively distributed more than $7.5 billion. One million one hundred thousand people received, on average, close to $6,700, tangible relief for family economies that had been dealing with unfair calculations for decades.
Starting in April, permanent increases began to be reflected in account statements. Retirees affected by the old rules now see an extra $360 each month, while spouses and widows receive an extra $700 and $1,190 respectively, according to congressional calculations. However, the transition has not been perfect. The SSA warns that some adjustments could be delayed, especially due to staff cuts implemented during the Trump administration and experimental changes to Elon Musk’s DOGE Department.
That’s why the SSA recommends beneficiaries avoid asking for specific amounts until after April, when payments should stabilize. For many, this change represents not only a financial respite, but also a belated recognition of years of undervalued contributions.
