As April begins, millions of retirees in the United States prepare to receive their monthly Social Security checks. However, not all recipients will be paid during the first week of the month.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a staggered payment schedule, distributing benefits based on recipients’ birth dates and the date they first received payments.
If you were born between the 11th and 31st of any month and began collecting benefits after May 1997, you will not receive your April payment until mid or late April. Understanding this schedule is critical for retirees who rely on Social Security as their primary source of income, particularly when budgeting for necessities.
Who Gets the First April Social Security Check?
Retirees born between the 1st and 10th of April will be the first to receive their April payment, as long as they began receiving benefits after May 1997. This group’s payment date is Wednesday, April 9. The remainder of the month’s payments are distributed to other birthdate groups on subsequent Wednesdays.
Here is the complete April 2025 Social Security payment schedule:
- April 3: Retirees who started receiving benefits before May 1997, regardless of their birth date.
- April 9: Those born between the 1st and 10th, receiving benefits after May 1997.
- April 16: Those born between the 11th and 20th.
- April 23: Those born between the 21st and 31st.
If you are not in the first group, your payment will not arrive during the first week of the month. This explains why retirees born after the 11th will have to wait until at least mid-April to receive their next check.
March’s Final Payment Already Sent
The final Social Security payment for March was made on Wednesday, March 26, to retirees born between the 21st and the 31st. This group has already received March benefits and will be the last to receive April payments on April 23.
To avoid delays, retirees should strongly consider enrolling in Direct Deposit, which provides faster and more secure access to funds. Paper checks may take up to three business days to arrive, depending on mail delivery speed.
With inflation still affecting household budgets, knowing when your payment will arrive can make a big difference. The SSA’s structured calendar helps to avoid confusion, but staying informed remains critical for financial stability.
Also See:- US Government confirms that the first Social Security payments will not be for retirees after 1997
