In April 2025, the Social Security Administration (SSA) confirmed the payment dates for retirement benefits. Millions of Americans depend on this monthly income, and timely updates help them manage their finances better. This month, Social Security payments are scheduled based on the birth dates of the beneficiaries, as usual.
Besides the payment schedule, there’s also good news for some retirees: many are receiving up to an extra $6,700 this year due to recent changes in federal law. Here’s everything you need to know about the April 2025 payments, who qualifies for higher amounts, and how these payments are calculated.
Social Security April 2025 Payment Dates Based on Birthdays
The SSA splits retirement benefit payments into groups based on date of birth, and distributes them on Wednesdays. Here’s how it works for April 2025:
Group 1: Already received their payment on April 9
Includes people born between 1st and 10th of any month
Group 2: Will receive payment on April 16
Includes those born between 11th and 20th
Group 3: Will be paid on April 23
Includes those born between 21st and 31st
Special Group: Those who started collecting before May 1997 or receive SSI
Received payment early, on April 3
These dates follow the regular SSA calendar, which assigns payments to the second, third, and fourth Wednesdays of the month depending on birthdates.
How Much Can You Get in 2025?
The maximum monthly Social Security benefit in 2025 depends on the age at which you start collecting:
- At age 62: Up to $2,831
- At full retirement age (67): Up to $4,018
- At age 70: Up to $5,108
If you delay retirement, you receive extra benefits. From full retirement age (FRA) to 70, the amount grows by 8% per year. These numbers are based on maximum taxable income and official SSA formulas.
Also, the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2025 is 2.5%, which is already included in the above figures.
Why Some Retirees Are Receiving Up to an Extra $6,700
In January 2025, the U.S. government passed the Social Security Fairness Act, which ended two rules that had reduced benefits for some people: the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).
These rules mainly affected people who worked in jobs that didn’t pay into Social Security, like some teachers, police officers, and firefighters. The removal of WEP and GPO means these retirees are now getting higher monthly payments, plus retroactive payments for the time the rules were still applied unfairly.
Who Qualifies for These Extra Payments?
To get the extra amount:
- You must receive a pension from a job that didn’t contribute to Social Security
- You must have been affected by WEP or GPO in the past
- Not all public workers qualify—only those who never paid Social Security taxes on their job income
About 2.1 million retirees and 770,000 spouses or survivors are expected to benefit from this change.
How Much Extra Are They Getting?
- The average back payment is around $6,650
- Some retirees are receiving up to $7,044, based on a monthly increase of $587 for 12 months
The total retroactive payment depends on the person’s benefit history and date of eligibility.
April 2025 brings important updates for Social Security beneficiaries. Regular payments continue according to birth dates, and some people are receiving a significant bonus of up to $6,700 due to the repeal of two old laws that reduced their rightful benefits.
For retirees who were affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision or Government Pension Offset, this year could be financially rewarding. As always, it’s a good idea to stay informed, check your payment schedule, and contact the SSA for personal updates.
