Millions of Social Security beneficiaries can expect their monthly payment to arrive in the coming days.
Why It Matters
More than 70 million Americans rely on Social Security as a key source of income through retirement, disability and survivor benefits. Because the program supports such a large population, the Social Security Administration (SSA) distributes payments on a staggered schedule throughout the month.
What To Know
This week, beneficiaries whose birthdays fall between the 11th and 20th of any month will receive their payments on Wednesday, March 18.
If a payment does not show up on the expected date, recipients should allow up to three business days before reaching out to the SSA to enquire about their payment.
How Much Are Social Security Benefits?
Retirement benefit amounts differ widely depending on a worker’s lifetime earnings, the age at which they begin claiming benefits and the year those benefits start. To qualify, individuals must accumulate at least 40 Social Security credits, with no more than four credits earned each year—meaning most workers become eligible after roughly a decade in the workforce.
For higher earners, the difference between claiming early and waiting can be significant. Someone who earned the taxable maximum every year starting at age 22 and begins collecting benefits in 2026 would receive around $4,152 per month at full retirement age. That amount would fall to roughly $2,969 per month if claimed at age 62, but climb to about $5,181 per month if benefits were delayed until age 70.
Further Payment Dates
There is only one more payment left, with those born between the 21st and 31st expected to receive their benefits on Wednesday, March 25.
Latest Social Security News
While still some time away, analysts have been predicting the next boost to Social Security benefits, and recent forecasts for the 2027 cost of living adjustment (COLA) vary considerably. The Senior Citizens League (TSCL), a nonpartisan advocacy organization, has projected a 2.8 percent COLA for 2027, matching the increase beneficiaries received in 2026. Meanwhile, the Congressional Budget Office has forecast a 3.1 percent boost next year, followed by a 2.5 percent increase the year after.
Changes are also on the way for those who receive disability benefits. Under a new policy, the SSA will take full control of medical continuing disability reviews (CDRs), ending its long-standing reliance on state Disability Determination Services (DDS) to conduct those assessments. Going forward, all medical CDRs will be processed through the agency’s federal Disability Case Review (DCR) unit.
Medical CDRs are legally required, periodic evaluations used to determine whether individuals receiving Social Security disability benefits still meet eligibility requirements. Non-medical reviews have already been handled directly by the SSA, but medical CDRs had previously been carried out by state DDS offices.