The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced that eligible senior couples will receive a payment of $3,089 in July 2025. This increase is due to adjustments in the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA), which has raised the average monthly payment for an aged couple, both receiving benefits, by about 2.5% from $3,014 in 2024 to $3,089 in 2025. Senior couples can receive Social Security benefits either from their work records or through spousal benefits, where one spouse may be eligible to receive benefits based on the other spouse’s work history.
Spousal benefits can provide a financial boost for couples needing additional money. The payment schedule for eligible senior couples is based on their birth dates. Those on benefits before May 1997 or receiving both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) simultaneously will receive their payment on July 3.
Recipients whose birth dates fall between the 1st and the 10th of any month will receive their payment on July 9, while those born from the 11th to the 20th will receive theirs on July 16. Recipients born between the 21st and 31st will receive their payment on July 23. Another payment will follow on August 1 for individuals who received benefits before May 1997 and those receiving both Social Security and SSI.
It is important to note that not all senior couples will receive the same amount. Payments depend on the work history and contributions of each recipient. While some may receive $3,089, others might get slightly more or less.
Senior couples who both earned the taxable maximum for 35 years, filed at age 70, and worked jobs covered by SSA can receive significantly higher amounts.
Social Security payment schedule update
The maximum benefit for a single individual in 2025 is $5,108, while the average single retiree can receive around $1,611, and spouses of retired workers can expect about $950.
The largest payments go to those who maximized their contributions to Social Security over their working lives. This adjustment in benefits reflects the SSA’s ongoing efforts to keep pace with changes in living costs and ensure the financial well-being of senior citizens nationwide. However, it is essential to note that starting later this month, the SSA will begin withholding up to 50% of monthly benefits for individuals who have been overpaid and have not yet begun repaying the excess funds.
This measure could impact many recipients, as the agency reportedly attempted to reclaim overpayments from approximately 2 million people during the fiscal year that ended in September 2023. If you do not receive your payment on the expected date, the SSA recommends allowing three additional mailing days before contacting the agency, as most beneficiaries are paid electronically. In 2025, several changes to Social Security will take effect, including a smaller cost-of-living adjustment (2.5%, down from 3.4%), an increase in the maximum taxable earnings limit from $168,000 to $176,100, and expanded appointment-based services at Social Security offices nationwide.
For 2024, the highest monthly benefit for individuals retiring at full retirement age was $3,822. This maximum benefit will increase to $4,018 per month in 2025, totaling over $48,000 annually, due to inflation adjustments in the calculation process. Recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can expect their payments to be disbursed on a regular schedule for the remainder of 2025.
Typically, SSI payments are issued on the first day of the month. The July payment will be issued on Tuesday, July 1, and the August payment will be issued on Friday, August 1. SSI beneficiaries will receive two checks in certain months—August, October, and December—because the first day of the subsequent month lands on a weekend or holiday.
Individuals who believe they may qualify for SSI can initiate the application process by visiting the Social Security Administration’s website, visiting their local SSA office in person, or calling during business hours.
