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Aliss Higham is a Newsweek reporter based in Glasgow, Scotland. Her focus is reporting on issues across the U.S., including state benefits, national and local politics, and crime. She has previously extensively covered U.S. and European politics, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the British Royal Family. Aliss joined Newsweek full time in January 2024 after a year of freelance reporting and has previously worked at digital Reach titles The Express and The Mirror. She is a graduate in English and Creative Writing from Goldsmiths, University of London. You can get in touch with Aliss by emailing a.higham@newsweek.com. Languages: English.
US News Reporter
Two rounds of payments from the Social Security Administration will be made this week.
Why It Matters
The SSA pays out retirement, survivor and disability benefits every month, helping to form the bedrock of income for some 70 million Americans. Payments are administered on a monthly basis and paid in one lump sum for most recipients.
What To Know
Retirement checks are issued throughout the month, and are determined by the claimant’s birth date and the length of time they have been receiving benefits. Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which supports elderly, blind and disabled individuals with limited income and assets, is typically paid at the beginning of each month.
This week, Social Security payments will be made on Wednesday, February 26 to all those with a birthday that falls between the 21st and 31st of any given month.
This will be followed by a round of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, which will be paid on Friday, February 28. This is a day earlier than usual due to the normal payment date—the 1st of every month—falling on a weekend.
“We do this to avoid putting you at a financial disadvantage and make sure that you don’t have to wait beyond the first of the month to get your payment,” the SSA said in a 2022 blog post. “It does not mean that you are receiving a duplicate payment in the previous month, so you do not need to contact us to report the second payment.”
How Much Social Security Can I Get?
For those who claim retirement benefits at Full Retirement Age—67 years old—the maximum monthly payment is $4,018. However, if you choose to start benefits at the earliest eligible age of 62, the maximum monthly amount would be $2,831. But delaying your retirement checks until the age of 70 could increase your maximum monthly benefit to as much as $5,108.
Although these are the maximum amounts, the actual benefit you receive will vary depending on your lifetime earnings and the number of years you have contributed to Social Security taxes. In January 2025, the average retirement payment was $1,976.
For 2025, the maximum monthly SSI benefit is $967 for an individual and $1,450 for a couple. However, your actual payment may be lower based on factors such as your income, living arrangements, and other eligibility considerations.
Remember, to claim Social Security benefits, you must:
- Be aged 62 or older, and
- Have worked and paid Social Security taxes for 10 years or more.
What Happens Next
The next round of Social Security and disability payments will be made in March.
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About the writer
Aliss Higham is a Newsweek reporter based in Glasgow, Scotland. Her focus is reporting on issues across the U.S., including state benefits, national and local politics, and crime. She has previously extensively covered U.S. and European politics, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the British Royal Family. Aliss joined Newsweek full time in January 2024 after a year of freelance reporting and has previously worked at digital Reach titles The Express and The Mirror. She is a graduate in English and Creative Writing from Goldsmiths, University of London. You can get in touch with Aliss by emailing a.higham@newsweek.com. Languages: English.
Aliss Higham is a Newsweek reporter based in Glasgow, Scotland. Her focus is reporting on issues across the U.S., including … Read more