Social Security Administration (SSA) will be sending out Social Security benefits which on average amounts to $2,000. All qualifying Social Security recipients can look forward to receiving this federal benefit. After 4 days, on July 9, all eligible beneficiaries born between the 1st and 10th of any month will receive their Social Security benefit. With the average Social Security benefit being said to be over $2,000, citizens must check if they qualify to receive this beneficial benefit.
How much can Social Security beneficiaries receive?
As it stands, Social Security beneficiaries can receive on average $2,002 as of May 2025. This is a rather significant amount, and it is the first time that the average benefit amount crossed the $2,000 mark. The amount reflected is inclusive of the 2,5% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) that took effect from January 2025.
While receiving over $2,000 does sound great, not all beneficiaries receive this amount. Each citizen’s Social Security payment amount is determined by looking at:
- Their lifetime earnings.
- The age at which they started claiming their benefits.
- Their respective work history as well as other periods of non-employment.
- Their eligibility for spousal or survivor benefits.
Each Social Security recipient receives a different payment amount taking into consideration certain criteria, however, the amount that each citizen receives is still highly beneficial and can assist them with their financial burdens once they have retired.
How to address the issue of late payments?
While most SSA payments follow a set schedule and almost 90% of payments are received on time, SSA beneficiaries who do not receive their payments as expected on July 9 should:
- As per the advice of the SSA, wait for three days before contacting SSA offices.
- Check all direct deposit and mailing information. With paper checks still being issued to 8,7% of beneficiaries, it is usual to expect delays due to incorrect information or information that has not been updated.
- Check with banks and financial institutions to determine if there is a delay on their side.
Recipients should keep track of payment dates to understand when a payment delay has occurred.
Which Social Security beneficiaries qualify for payment on July 9?
The SSA makes use of a staggered payment system, and all payment dates are determined by the Social Security payment schedule, which works with the respective birthdates of the recipients. As per the payment schedule, on Wednesday, July 9, payments will go out to beneficiaries who:
- Were born between the 1st and 10th of any month.
Citizens receiving retirement, spousal, or survivor benefits who meet the criteria can expect payments either via direct deposit or check. The group receiving their benefits in 4 days does not include:
- Individuals who started collecting benefits before May 1997.
- Recipients who received both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Citizens should remain aware of the SSA payment schedule, and they should note the 3 Social Security mistakes to avoid to ensure that they receive the maximum benefit.
Looking at possible Social Security payment amounts
In order to understand how much Social Security recipients could be receiving on July 9, it is important to look at the Social Security’s Monthly Statistical Snapshot, which indicates that the average payment of $1,950,27 can be received by citizens. However, not all citizens will receive exactly this amount. The payment usually received by citizens is based on the age at which a citizen chooses to retire, and more or less looks like this:
- $2,002 – average for a retired worker
- $4,018 – maximum benefit at full retirement age (67)
- $5,108 – maximum benefit at age 70 for citizens who delayed their retirement
- $2,831 – maximum for citizens who started claiming at the early age of 62
With the official change to the full retirement age (FRA) of 65 coming into effect soon, Social Security beneficiaries need to choose when to retire rather wisely. Receiving the maximum benefit amount could help considerably and all citizens should consider retiring at 70 to receive the maximum retirement benefit.
Disclaimer: This content is informational only and does not supersede or replace the SSA’s or IRS’s own publications and notices. Always verify any specific dates and amounts by following the direct links in our article to SSA.gov or IRS.gov, or by consulting your local SSA field office or tax professional.
