Nearly 70 million Americans, including retirees, survivors, and individuals with disabilities, will start receiving payments from the Social Security Administration (SSA) this month.
The payments, which start this week, incorporate modifications made by the December 2024-approved Social Security Fairness Law.
The beneficiary’s profile and the type of benefit determine the payment dates.
The first money was distributed by the SSA on April 1, 2025, through Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is intended for older persons, those with functional or visual impairments, and those with low incomes.
The assistance, which aims to ensure financial security for disadvantaged populations, provides maximum sums of $967 for individuals and $1,450 for couples who apply for benefits jointly and reside together.
All of April is covered under the Social Security benefits calendar
On April 3, payments were made to retirees who had started receiving benefits prior to May 1997. SSI recipients are also included in this group.
Not including weekends or federal holidays like Memorial Day, the SSA recommends waiting three working days after the deadline before reporting delays.
The dates are determined by the date of birth for retirees who were not in the previous group: April 9 is for those born between the first and tenth of any given month; April 16 is for those born between the eleventh and the twentieth; and April 23 is for those born between the twenty-first and the thirty-first.
The upper limits fall between $2,831 (retirement at age 62) and $5,108 (retirement at age 70).
A new law will provide retirees with permanent increases
The Biden administration’s Social Security Fairness Act removed the WEP and GPO restrictions, which decreased payouts for retirees who received pensions from non-system employment including teachers, firefighters, and police officers.
Widows and spouses are among the 3.2 million persons affected by the legislation. Many got one-time retroactive payments for accumulated benefits in March 2025.
The hikes will be permanent beginning in April and will average $360 for retirees, $700 for beneficiary spouses, and $1,190 for impacted widowers.
The procedure could take up to a year in complicated cases that need manual review.
Permanent raises will be given to pensioners under a new law
Retirees who got pensions from non-system jobs, such as teachers, firefighters, and police officers, saw their payouts decline after the WEP and GPO limits were lifted by the Biden administration’s Social Security Fairness Act.
The law affects 3.2 million people, including spouses and widows. In March 2025, many received one-time retroactive payments for accrued benefits.
The increases, which will average $360 for retirees, $700 for beneficiary spouses, and $1,190 for affected widowers, will be permanent starting in April.
In complex instances that require manual review, the process could take up to a year.
If the April payment is the same as the March payment and is thought to be covered by the law, the SSA advises getting in touch with them.
Required switch to electronic benefit delivery methods
Donald Trump signed an executive order on March 25, 2025, which abolished paper checks for Social Security and other federal payments.
Disbursements will only be made by digital methods, prepaid cards, or direct deposit as of September 30 of that year. The goal of the policy is to cut down on expenses, delays, and fraud.
The White House estimates that the check system will cost $657 million in 2024. 456,000 recipients, or 0.7% of the total, are still paid in hard copy as of right now.
People who don’t have access to banking, experience emergencies, or have major issues as a result of the changeover are exempt. Candidates must provide supporting documentation for their claims.
Despite the measure’s apparent effectiveness, certain populations, such senior citizens or people living in rural locations, may encounter challenges.
The procedure of making an exception is not automatic; documentation and explanation are needed.
To ease the transition, the SSA will start proactively communicating with those who will be impacted.
Those who chose digital methods have to decide between government prepaid cards and direct deposit.
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