2025 Social Security payments: When will the first COLA adjusted payments arrive?

In October, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that Social Security beneficiaries, along with those that receive Supplemental Security Income, will see their benefits increase by 2.5 percent.

The Cost-of-living Adjustment (COLA) is calculated each year using consumer price information. The SSA uses the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) and compares the average from the third quarter of the current year (July, August, and September) to that from the year prior. Based on the calculation conducted in October, the SSA determined that the COLA would be 2.5 percent for 2025.

How will this increase impact benefits?

In October 2024, the average Social Security check paid to a retired worker was $1,924.35, and once the 2.5 percent COLA is applied, those checks will increase in value by $48.10 to $1972.45.

However, most beneficiaries do not receive benefits this high. Most, 55 percent, are paid less than this amount, but because some retired workers make well above this level, it increases the overall average.

To calculate your benefit amount you will want to multiply your current check value by 2.5 percent and add that figure to your current benefit check.

When will the first benefit checks arrive?

Social Security recipients are paid on a schedule that depends on their birthday.

Those born between the 1st and 10th of any date will be paid on the first wednesday of the month. The SSA pays those with birthdays between the 11th and 20th second wednesday, and all the remaining beneficiaries on the third wednesday of the month.

There are two caveats to this schedule. If the payment date falls on a weekend or holiday, beneficiaries will be paid the prior regular working day. The second being that those who have been receiving Social Security since May 1997 or earlier are paid on the first of the month, which is also when the SSA distributes Supplemental Security Incomes.

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