When you receive your 2025 Social Security payment is determined, with a few exceptions, by your date of birth. However, if you received Social Security before May 1997 or are receiving both Social Security & SSI, Social Security is paid on the 3rd and SSI on the 1st. If your payment date falls on a federal holiday or weekend, you can expect to receive that month’s payment on the weekday immediately prior.
The official COLA increase for 2026 is 2.8%, and it mirrors the forecast provided by Kiplinger economist David Payne.
The average monthly social security check in 2025
In August 2025, the average Social Security monthly check for all retirement beneficiaries was $2,008.31, according to the Social Security Administration's Monthly Snapshot (SSA). If you are interested in knowing more about SS benefit payments and how your check measures up to peers, take a look at what the average Social Security check is by age.
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Using that amount for illustrative purposes, a COLA of 2.8% in 2026 would result in an average monthly increase of $56.23 or an annual average increase of $674.80.
Schedule of Social Security benefit payments in 2025
Here are all the confirmed payment dates for retirees based on the Social Security payment schedule for 2025. Just find the day of the month you were born on the left side of the table. Then, look under each month for the specific payment date. If you want to start marking your calendar for next year, here is the Social Security Payment Schedule for 2026.
Birth date on | MONTH | MONTH | MONTH |
|---|---|---|---|
Birth date on | January | February | March |
1st – 10th | Wednesday, January 8 | Wednesday, February 12 | Wednesday, March 12 |
11th – 20th | Wednesday, January 15 | Wednesday, February 19 | Wednesday, March 19 |
21st – 31st | Wednesday, January 22 | Wednesday, February 26 | Wednesday, March 26 |
Birth date on | April | May | June |
1st – 10th | Wednesday, April 9 | Wednesday, May 14 | Wednesday, June 11 |
11th – 20th | Wednesday, April 16 | Wednesday, May 21 | Wednesday, June 18 |
21st – 31st | Wednesday, April 23 | Wednesday, May 28 | Wednesday, June 25 |
Birth date on | July | August | September |
1st – 10th | Wednesday, July 9 | Wednesday, August 13 | Wednesday, September 10 |
11th – 20th | Wednesday, July 16 | Wednesday, August 20 | Wednesday, September 17 |
21st – 31st | Wednesday, July 23 | Wednesday, August 27 | Wednesday, September 24 |
Birth date on | October | November | December |
1st – 10th | Wednesday, October 8 | Wednesday, November 12 | Wednesday, December 10 |
11th – 20th | Wednesday, October 15 | Wednesday, November 19 | Wednesday, December 17 |
21st – 31st | Wednesday, October 22 | Wednesday, November 26 | Wednesday, December 24 |
Consider signing-up for a my Social Security account
You can use a my Social Security account to safely manage your personal Social Security information. If you are concerned about mail theft or travel often, you can opt out of mailed notices for those available online.
The account can help you manage tasks such as requesting a replacement Social Security card, checking the status of an application, estimating future benefits, and receiving updates about the COLA. This account can also be used to update your direct deposit information and get your Social Security 1099 form.
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