Millions of Social Security recipients will be getting their monthly payment this week.
Why It Matters
More than 70 million Americans rely on the Social Security Administration (SSA) for financial support through retirement or disability benefits. Because the program is so large, payments are issued throughout the month rather than all at once.
What To Know
For most retirees, payment dates are based on their birth date. However, there are a few exceptions. People who started receiving retirement, spousal, or survivor benefits before May 1997—or who also receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI)—follow a separate payment schedule. SSI is a federal program that offers monthly support to low-income individuals over 65, as well as those who are blind or disabled.
This week, payments will be made on Wednesday, October 15 to all those with a birthday between the 11th and 20th of any given month.
This will be followed by another round of payments on Wednesday, October 27, which are for those with birthdays between the 21st and 31st.
How Much Is Social Security?
Benefit amounts vary based on a person’s lifetime earnings and the age they choose to start collecting payments. Someone who begins claiming at age 62, the earliest possible age, may receive up to $2,831 per month. Claiming at full retirement age, which is 67, increases the potential maximum to $4,018. The largest possible payment—$5,108 per month—is only available to those who wait until age 70 to file.
As of August 2025, the average monthly Social Security benefit for retired workers was $2,008.31.
COLA Update
The SSA has confirmed to Newsweek the delayed Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) update will be announced on October 24.
A spokesperson for the SSA told Newsweek: “The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has announced they will issue the September 2025 Consumer Price Index on October 24. The Social Security Administration will use this release to generate and announce the 2026 Cost of Living Adjustment on October 24 as well.”
It was originally due to be announced on October 15, but the government shutdown has delayed the release of key inflation data used to calculate the COLA by the BLS.
The SSA also confirmed that all benefits “will be adjusted per the 2026 COLA, beginning January 1, 2026, without any delay due to the current government lapse in appropriation.”
The Senior Citizens League, which provides regular predictions on how much the COLA will be, currently projects a 2.7 percent adjustment.
