In an autumn marked by political tension and economic volatility in the United States, Social Security beneficiaries are looking forward to the remaining two payments of the month with relief. Millions of retirees, disabled people, and survivors who depend on these funds to cover basic needs, many of whom already received the first payment of the month, distributed on October 8.
The eyes of the rest of the beneficiaries are focused on the 15th and 22nd, key dates that could inject up to $5,108 a month into the accounts of those who planned their Social Security withdrawal claims wisely.
Social Security calendar confirmed for October
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a meticulous schedule designed to prevent errors in its electronic payment system, since, when all beneficiaries (retirement, disability, SSI, among others) are combined, the total number of recipients is more than 70 million.
For pension and retirement beneficiaries—the largest group, with more than 50 million people—deposits are staggered based on the recipient’s date of birth. Those whose birthday falls between the 1st and 10th of the month received their check on Wednesday, October 8th.
Those born between the 11th and 20th of the month will receive their money on Wednesday, the 15th, while the final group, with birthdays between the 21st and 31st, will receive it on October 22nd.
The payment system has been in place since 1997 and aims to achieve equitable distribution and minimize the impact on banks. However, in a month like October, with holidays and weekends looming, it occasionally creates surprises.
For SSI (Supplemental Security Income) recipients, the picture is even more favorable: a double payment this month, with deposits on October 1 and 31, because November 1 falls on a Saturday. Remember, this isn’t an “extra” payment, but rather an advance on the November allowance: each beneficiary receives two deposits or checks in total in a year.
Retirement amounts in October: maximums and averages
These payments are not fixed amounts for all individuals equally; in fact, they vary drastically depending on the worker’s retirement age and contribution history. In 2025, after a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), the average benefit for working retirees reaches $2,006.69 per month, a modest increase that barely offsets rising food and housing prices.
For the largest group of retirees—those who claim at age 66 or 67, the full retirement age for most—the average rises slightly to $2,178.71, reflecting longer careers and average wages in the current workforce.
However, these numbers mask deep disparities: women and ethnic minorities often receive less due to historical wage gaps, with averages below $1,800 for many widowed or disabled people.
Other Social Security figures to have in mind
At the high end, the maximum benefits reward patience and financial discipline. If a worker waits until age 70 to claim—optimizing annual growth of 8% per year of delay—they can expect $5,108 per month, equivalent to $61,296 per year.
This cap, applicable only to those who earned the maximum taxable salary ($176,100 in 2025) for 35 years, is a dream for few: less than 1% of beneficiaries reach it. At 62, the minimum age to claim, the maximum falls to $2,831, penalized by a 30% reduction for early retirement—a common trap for those facing medical emergencies or family pressures.
At full retirement age (67 for those born after 1960), the peak is $4,018, balancing stable income without the delay penalty.
This is how the SSA calculates your retirement
These amounts aren’t arbitrary; they’re calculated using the Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) formula, which averages the 35 highest-earning years, adjusted for inflation, and applies progressive bands to favor those with lower incomes.
In 2025, with a still-shaky post-pandemic economy, the overall average for all retirees is around $1,900, but it varies by age cohort: Baby boomers approaching 70 average $2,500, boosted by booming careers during the 1980s and 1990s; in contrast, Generation X, now retiring around 62-65, stays at $1,700, affected by recessions and the gig economy.
Experts like those at the Bipartisan Policy Center warn that, without reforms, these averages will erode with the aging population, projecting a depletion of the trust fund by 2035.
In high-cost Southern states like California and New York, the impact is even greater: 25% of seniors rely exclusively on Social Security, according to recent data. And while Wall Street celebrates corporate profits, retirees in the Midwest struggle with heating bills that rise 15% annually.
The 2026 COLA increase could be delayed
But this October of timely payments is colliding with dark political clouds. The announcement of the 2026 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA)—the annual adjustment that synchronizes benefits with inflation—is facing an unprecedented delay due to the government shutdown that began on October 1.
Scheduled for October 15, based on the September Consumer Price Index (CP-W), the Department of Labor’s report is postponed due to the federal shutdown. SSA sources indicate that, as in the 2013 shutdown, the release could be delayed until late October or November, leaving beneficiaries in suspense over an estimated 2.7% increase.
