The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced that millions of beneficiaries in the United States will begin receiving monthly payments on March 19, 2025.
This disbursement applies to those who started receiving benefits after May 1997 and were born between the 11th and 20th of any month. In 2025, the Social Security Administration registers approximately 68 million beneficiaries.
Of this total, approximately 3.2 million began receiving benefits prior to May 1997, with approximately 64.8 million beginning on or after that date. Payments are organized based on benefit start date and day of birth, which affects retirees, disabled people, survivors, and dependents.
Average and maximum Social Security amounts: More money in your bank account
The average monthly benefit amount for beneficiaries is $1,850, adjusted for a 2.5% cost of living increase (COLA). According to official SSA data, some individuals may receive up to $5,108, depending on their work history and type of benefit.
The SSA makes payments based on two criteria: benefit start date and date of birth. Those who began before May 1997 receive payment on the third of each month. The following schedule applies to those who started on or after that date:
- 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 Wind Benefit Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), will affect more than 3.2 million beneficiaries. These measures impacted non-Social Security pensioners, such as teachers and firefighters.
Although the exact effect of March 19 is unknown, some may receive retroactive payments or increases beginning in April 2025. This could add thousands of dollars to their current benefits.
The maximum amount of $5,108 is available to retirees with a strong earnings history who retired at full age, adjusted for the 2.5% COLA. This reflects variation in payments.
Conversion of SSDI to retirement benefits: How to do it?
When a person receiving SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) benefits reaches their full retirement age, which ranges from 66 to 67 depending on their birth year, their disability benefits are automatically converted to retirement benefits. The process and what happens with the amounts are described below:
Automatic conversion: No additional procedures necessary. Once full retirement age is reached, the Social Security system automatically converts SSDI benefits to retirement benefits.
Calculation based on earnings history: Both SSDI and retirement benefits are calculated based on the worker’s work and earnings history. Therefore, the amount received during the disability is the same that will be used for the retirement benefit.
COLA updates apply the same before and after conversion: This means that the value of the benefit is adjusted to reflect changes in the economy, maintaining the purchasing power of the beneficiary.
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