The United States’ Social Security Administration (SSA) distributes benefit payments on a scheduled basis based on the beneficiary’s benefit type and date of birth. During the first week of October 2025, from October 1 to 7, the main payments are concentrated on the first and third weeks.
On Wednesday, October 1, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments are issued, targeting low-income individuals with disabilities or those age 65 and those with ages beyond that point. This payment covers the month of October and is especially relevant for those receiving both SSI and Social Security benefits, as the SSI payment is advanced to the first of the month.
Additionally, because November 1 falls on a weekend, there will be a second SSI payment on October 31 to cover November, but this does not affect the first week.
More Social Security payments to come this week
On Friday, October 3, Social Security benefit payments are made to a specific group of recipients: those who began receiving benefits before May 1997, or those who receive both Social Security and SSI. These payments are made on a fixed basis on the third business day of the month, regardless of birthdate.
For the rest of the retirement, widow’s, or disability beneficiaries, payments are based on birth date: those born between the 1st and 10th receive their check on October 8 (the second Wednesday), which falls just outside the first week.
Overall, the first week sees a moderate volume of distributions, focused on SSI and legacy payments, with average amounts varying based on contribution history, but in cases of maximum SSI, they can reach around $967 per month for individuals.
Attention: Social Security no longer sends payments by paper check
From October 2025, all payments are deposited electronically in most cases, which speeds up the process, although mailed checks may take up to three additional days.
Paper checks have been discontinued by President Donald Trump since October, after he signed an executive order to modernize the federal payments system and reduce check fraud and theft.
The SSA recommends checking the status of your deposit through its online portal. If you haven’t made the change to electronic payment, call 1-800-772-1213 if you don’t receive your payment by the expected date.
SSA maximum payments remain in effect through December
The maximum SSA retirement benefit amounts in October 2025 depend on the age at which the benefit is claimed, a history of maximum taxable earnings for at least 35 years, and cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs).
For a worker who has contributed at the maximum level since age 22 and retires in January 2025, the maximum benefit at age 62 (minimum claim age) is $2,831 per month. This amount represents an approximate 30% reduction from the amount at full retirement age (FRA) due to early claim penalties, and assumes an exact claim at age 62 years and 1 month.
At full retirement age, which for individuals born in 1960 or later is 67, the maximum benefit amounts to $4,043 per month. This amount reflects 100% of the Primary Insured Life Insurance (PIA) with no additional reductions or increases, assuming an exact claim at age 67.
Finally, postponing your claim until age 70 generates the maximum possible benefit of $5,108 per month, thanks to deferred retirement credits that increase the amount by 8% annually for each year after FRA, up to a total of 24%.