The countdown is on, Social Security recipients are just hours away from receiving another round of direct deposits, with some getting checks as high as $5,108.
As the Social Security Administration (SSA) rolls out June’s second round of payments, retirees, survivors, and disabled Americans are watching their bank accounts closely. These hefty checks are the result of recent cost-of-living adjustments and demographic shifts, both pushing monthly benefits to historic highs.
Tomorrow’s batch of checks, scheduled for June 18, will go to beneficiaries born between the 11th and 20th of their birth month, as long as they started collecting Social Security after May 1, 1997. Those with birthdays from the 1st to the 10th were paid on June 11, and the final group, birthdays from the 21st to 31st, will be paid on June 25.
Here’s a look at the 2025 Social Security payment schedule for post-May 1997 filers:
| Month | 2nd Wednesday | 3rd Wednesday | 4th Wednesday |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Jan 8 | Jan 15 | Jan 22 |
| February | Feb 12 | Feb 19 | Feb 26 |
| March | Mar 12 | Mar 19 | Mar 26 |
| April | Apr 9 | Apr 16 | Apr 23 |
| May | May 14 | May 21 | May 28 |
| June | Jun 11 | Jun 18 | Jun 25 |
| July | Jul 9 | Jul 16 | Jul 23 |
| August | Aug 13 | Aug 20 | Aug 27 |
| September | Sep 10 | Sep 17 | Sep 24 |
| October | Oct 8 | Oct 15 | Oct 22 |
| November | Nov 12 | Nov 19 | Nov 26 |
| December | Dec 10 | Dec 17 | Dec 24 |
For those who filed before May 1997, payments go out on the 3rd of each month, so this group already got their June checks.
Thanks to a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that started in January 2025, Social Security payments have jumped significantly. The average retirement benefit went from $1,927 in 2024 to $1,976 this year. But that’s not all, the maximum monthly benefit for someone retiring at age 70 rose from $4,873 to a whopping $5,108. Retirees at full retirement age now get up to $4,018, and those retiring early at 62 can get as much as $2,831.
This year has also seen a historic milestone. In May 2025, the average retirement check hit $2,002, breaking the $2,000 barrier for the first time ever. That’s a 4.5% increase compared to the $1,916 average in May 2024. And the next SSA Monthly Statistical Snapshot could reveal a new record for June.
Breakdown of average Social Security payments in May 2025:
| Category | Average Monthly Payment |
|---|---|
| Retired workers | $2,002 |
| Nondisabled widow(er)s | $1,864 |
| Disabled workers | $1,582 |
| Children of deceased workers | $1,139 |
| Spouses of retired workers | $950 |
These rising numbers aren’t just about inflation adjustments. As older beneficiaries leave the program and higher-earning retirees come in, the average payout naturally increases. The Social Security Fairness Act, passed in January 2025, also contributed to higher payments across the board.
Looking ahead, things might get even better. A projected $40.70 increase in next year’s COLA could further boost monthly benefits. But it’s not all good news, some recipients might face losses up to $3,500 a year under a proposed retirement change plan that could affect more than 250 million people.
Still, for now, June is a big win for Social Security beneficiaries. With payments reaching all-time highs, and a third round still to go out later this month, Americans relying on these checks are feeling a bit more breathing room.
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