Good news for Social Security recipients; the March payments will be delivered on a revised schedule due to calendar changes. In related news, for those who didn’t know, some retirees this year received their February advance payments of up to $967 because of the interaction of the way the payment schedules play out on weekends and holidays. Read on to find out who got them and what that means for the month of March.
Understanding the Social Security payment schedule
The Social Security Administration usually pays Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits on the first day of each month. If the first day is a holiday or weekend, then the payment is made on the preceding business day. This ensures that recipients don’t have to wait any longer than is absolutely necessary to receive their money.
The 1st of February was a Saturday in February 2025; thus, the SSI payments were paid on Friday, January 31. The same will happen in March when the payments are paid early and arrive by February 28.
Who received a payment in February?
The advance payment largely impacted Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients. SSI is a need-based program providing cash assistance to individuals with limited income and resources who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled.
The maximum monthly SSI payment for singles in 2025 is $967 after a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). Couples can receive up to $1,450. As such, recipients of the SSI benefit who received theirs on January 31, essentially an early February payment.
What the March Social Security payment holds
Because SSI recipients received their February payments early, on January 31, they will not receive a separate SSI payment in February. Instead, their March payment will be disbursed on February 28. This adjustment is purely due to the calendar and does not indicate any change in benefit amounts or eligibility.
Regular Social Security retirement and disability payments
For regular Social Security retirement and disability beneficiaries (SSDI), the payment day is determined by birth date. Most of the time, payments will be made on Wednesdays and will be on the:
- February 12: Beneficiaries with birthdays between the 1st and the 10th of the month.
- February 19: Beneficiaries with birthdays between the 11th and 20th of the month.
- February 26: Beneficiaries with birthdays from the 21st to the 31st of the month.
Beneficiaries who started receiving Social Security prior to May 1, 1997, recipients who also receive SSI, live outside the U.S., or are enrolled in a Medicare Savings Program will have their payments cross-posted on February 3.
2025 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)
In 2025, Social Security benefits will increase by 2.5% under COLA. This adjustment attempts to protect the purchasing power of beneficiaries from inflation. Not as high as the 3.2% increase in 2024, but it does provide very much-needed financial relief.
- The 2.5% COLA means an increase of just under $50 to the average monthly benefit of about $1,900
- Maximum monthly SSI payment rose to $967 for individuals and $1,450 for couples.
Eligibility for SSI
To qualify for SSI the following must be met:
- Age or disability: The individual must be 65 years or older or blind or have a qualifying disability.
- Limited income and resources: Have limited income and resources. In 2025, this typically means having a combined income of less than $987 a month.
- Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen or meet certain noncitizen classifications.
Staying informed
The SSA provides several ways for beneficiaries to stay informed about their benefits. The “My Social Security” portal allows users to view benefit amounts and to receive personalized COLA notices. Email and text alerts even provide real time updates in the event of changes.
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