The Social Security Administration (SSA) has stated that millions of recipients in the United States would begin receiving monthly payments on March 19, 2025. This distribution applies to persons who started receiving benefits after May 1997 and were born between the 11th and 20th of any month. In 2025, the Social Security Administration records roughly 68 million beneficiaries.
Of this total, around 3.2 million began receiving benefits prior to May 1997, with approximately 64.8 million beginning on or after that date. Payments are handled based on benefit start date and day of birth, which impacts retirees, handicapped individuals, survivors, and dependents.
Average and maximum Social Security amounts: More money in your bank account
The average monthly amount for beneficiaries is $1,850, adjusted for a 2.5% cost of living increase (COLA). However, some could receive up to $5,108, depending on their work history and type of benefit, according to official SSA data.
The SSA distributes payments based on two criteria: benefit start date and date of birth. Those who started before May 1997 receive their payment on the 3rd of each month. For those who started on or after that date, the schedule is as follows:
- Second Wednesday (March 12): Born from 1 to 10.
- Third Wednesday (March 19): Born from the 11th to the 20th.
- Fourth Wednesday (March 26): Born from the 21st to the 31st.
March 19, 2025 payments include several types of beneficiaries
The March 19 payments go to different categories of beneficiaries, all connected to an insured worker’s history:
- Retired workers: People who have reached retirement age (66-67 years, depending on year of birth) with sufficient contribution history.
- Disabled workers: Individuals with disabilities that prevent them from working and meeting work requirements.
- Survivors: Spouses, children or dependents of deceased workers who receive benefits for their registration.
- Dependents are also included, such as spouses and children of retirees or disabled people, whose payments coincide with that of the main beneficiary. This scheme covers a wide range of situations.
The amounts vary depending on the type of benefit. For retirees, the average is $1,976; for disabled, $1,580; and for survivors, about $1,400, according to SSA statistics.
Some beneficiaries will receive more money this month
The recent Social Security Fairness Act, which eliminates the Windfall Elimination provision WEP and Government Pension Offset (GPO), would affect more than 3.2 million beneficiaries. These restrictions impacted non-Social Security pensioners, such as teachers and firefighters.
Although the exact effect of March 19 is unknown, individuals may receive retroactive payments or increases beginning in April 2025. This might add thousands of dollars to their current benefits.
The maximum sum of $5,108 is available to retirees with a strong earnings history who retired at full age, adjusted for the 2.5% COLA. This represents variances in payments.
Conversion of SSDI to retirement benefits: How to do it?
When a person receiving SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) payments reaches their full retirement age, which ranges from 66 to 67 depending on their birth year, their disability benefits are immediately converted to retirement benefits. The method and what happens with the quantities are described below:
Automatic conversion: No extra procedures are required. When you reach full retirement age, the Social Security system will automatically convert your SSDI benefits to retirement benefits.
Calculation based on earnings history: SSDI and retirement payments are computed using the worker’s work and earnings history. As a result, the amount received during the incapacity period will be used to calculate the retirement benefit.
COLA updates occur before and after conversion, which implies that the value of the benefit is modified to reflect economic developments while keeping the beneficiary’s purchasing power.
