Millions of Americans who rely on social security benefits as a key part of their monthly income are scheduled to receive payments at different times in August 2025, and not all will be paid this week. The social security administration (SSA) states that only individuals with birthdays between the 1st and 10th of any month will see deposits on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, while others will have to wait until later in the month.
This system, outlined by the SSA, staggers disbursements to maintain efficient processing. According to Marca, the approach is designed to manage the high volume of Social Security Erin transactions nationwide.
Who Gets Paid This Week
On Wednesday, August 13, only beneficiaries with birthdays falling between the 1st and the 10th of any month will receive their social security payment. This rule applies to retirement, spousal, and survivor benefits. Individuals with birthdays that do not fall within this range will be paid later in the month, according to the following calendar:
- August 20 – birthdays from the 11th to the 20th
- August 27 – birthdays from the 21st to the 31st
This staggered system allows the SSA to process millions of payments more efficiently. Recipients of supplemental security income (SSI) operate on a different timetable. Due to the Labor Day holiday, the September SSI payment will be issued early, on Friday, August 29.
Possible Payment Reductions
Some retirees will notice that their deposits are smaller than usual this month. The SSA has initiated a process to withhold 50 percent of benefits from individuals who were overpaid and have not arranged a repayment plan. An investigation by the SSA’s Office of the Inspector General reported $13.6 billion in overpayments between 2020 and 2023.
According to the agency, most of these overpayments occurred when beneficiaries failed to report changes in income or medical conditions that would affect their eligibility for benefits.
This recovery policy can be especially challenging for retirees living on fixed incomes, as losing half of their monthly payment may force them to adjust their budgets and spending habits significantly.
How Benefit Amounts Are Determined
The amount a retiree receives in social security benefits depends on their highest 35 years of earnings, adjusted for inflation. The age at which benefits are claimed also plays a major role. Claiming early at age 62 can result in a maximum monthly payment of $2,831, while waiting until full retirement age of 67 increases the maximum to $4,018.
For those who delay until age 70, the maximum benefit reaches $5,108 per month.
As of June 2025, the average monthly benefit stands at $2,005.05, equivalent to roughly $24,000 annually before taxes. While this amount provides important income support, it is often supplemented by personal savings, pensions, or other retirement income sources.
Social security benefits are adjusted annually to reflect inflation through the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). For 2026, the Senior Citizens League projects a 2.6 percent increase, slightly higher than the 2.5 percent adjustment applied in January 2025. The SSA will announce the official figure in October.
