The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced that the third retirement benefit payment for January will be sent out in a few days. So far, two payments have been made for the first two groups.
The three groups are organized by the beneficiaries’ birthdays, which is how the SSA usually does it. Some people who qualify can receive up to $5,108 each month. We will explain the requirements needed to get this payment later.
Two Social Security beneficiary groups will not receive more payments in January
The SSA pays beneficiaries based on their birth dates. Payments are made on the second, third, and fourth Wednesday of each month, as detailed below:
- The second Wednesday, which was January 8, was the payment for beneficiaries who have birthdays between the 1st and 10th of any month.
- The third Wednesday, that is, January 15, was the date for beneficiaries with a date of birth between the 11th and the 20th.
- The fourth Wednesday, which is January 22, is the next payment on the list, for beneficiaries who turn their birthday between the 21st and 31st of any month.
Usually, the payment on the 22nd is the last one of the month, but there’s still one more round of deposits to complete. This is the early payment for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients. Usually, these payments are made on the 1st of each month, unless that day is a weekend or holiday. Since it is a Saturday, the payment is moved up to January 31.
How to qualify for the Maximum Social Security payment of $5,108
In 2025, the highest Social Security payment will be $5,108 per month. This amount is given to people who have met specific requirements during their working years. Not everyone automatically gets the full amount; it depends on things like income, how long they have worked, and when they choose to retire.
You need to have earned the maximum taxable amount for Social Security for at least 35 years. In 2025, the taxable limit is $168,600. This means that anyone who earns this amount can make the highest allowed contributions.
They need to have worked and helped the program for at least 35 years. This is because the average monthly benefit is calculated using the 35 years when you earned the most money. If you have less work experience, any years without income will count, lowering the average.
To get $5,108 a month, you need to wait until you are 70 to retire, which will give you the highest benefits. The full retirement age is 66 to 67 years old. If you wait until you are 70 to retire, your benefits will increase by 8% for each extra year you wait.
People who meet these requirements are usually high-income workers, business owners, or employees in well-paying jobs. Also, keep in mind that the highest payment might be taxed if the person’s total income goes over certain limits.
