Social Security recipients who are 65 years old and have been receiving benefits since after May 1997 could get a new payment on February 19, 2025. This applies to those with birthdays between the 11th and 20th of any month, regardless of the year they were born. These individuals are part of “group 3.”
To receive the payment on the exact day it is sent, retirees must have an active Direct Deposit setup.
This ensures the money is available instantly. Those without Direct Deposit may have to wait around three days for the funds to become accessible. A new round of Social Security payments will be distributed this week, with some beneficiaries set to receive up to thousands of dollars in monthly benefits.
The payment date depends on the recipient’s birthdate and how long they have been claiming benefits. Retirees born between the 1st and 10th receive payments on the second Wednesday of the month. Those born between the 11th and 20th are paid on the third Wednesday.
Beneficiaries born from the 21st to the 31st receive payments on the fourth Wednesday.
February Social Security payment details
The maximum monthly payment for retirees claiming Social Security at the full retirement age is $4,018.
Starting benefits at age 62 allows for a maximum of $2,831 per month, while delaying until age 70 can provide up to $5,108 monthly. Social Security benefits are based on lifetime earnings and the duration of paying Social Security payroll taxes. A minimum of 10 years of work and contributions is required to qualify for benefits.
A 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) was applied in January 2025 to account for inflation. This is the smallest COLA since 2021, but prices remain high, affecting household budgets. To get the biggest possible Social Security benefit of $5,108 per month, retirees must meet two key requirements.
First, they need to have earned a high salary for at least 35 years, consistently reaching the “wage base limit.” In 2025, this limit is $176,100. Second, they must delay claiming Social Security until age 70 to maximize delayed retirement credits. These credits increase the benefit amount by about 8% annually for each year past the full retirement age.
While achieving the maximum benefit is challenging, retirees can increase their payments by earning as much as possible throughout their career, working for at least 35 years, and delaying their Social Security claim until age 70, if feasible.
