If you’re receiving Social Security benefits your benefit amount will increase in January 2025. The Social Security Administration’s cost-of-living adjustment for January 2025 means that everyone who receives benefits from the SSA will get more money.
The January 2025 Social Security payment dates are important to know. If you know when you will get your January 2025 Social Security payment it will be easier to budget your money and get a handle on some of those holiday bills.
The extra money that you receive from the SSA’s COLA will change the amount of money that you receive for the rest of the year.
The amount of money that you receive from the SSA in January is the amount you should receive all year, unless there is a change in your status.
Types of Social Security Benefits
When you receive your Social Security benefit payments depends on several factors including the type of benefit that you receive.
Your birth date also is a factor in when your Social Security benefit money is paid out. You could be receiving one or more different types of Social Security benefit depending on your situation. The different types of Social Security benefits that are available are:
Retirement Benefits
You can start claiming retirement benefits once you have reached the age of 62. In order to qualify for retirement benefits you need to have worked a paid job for at least 10 years, and you must have earned at least 40 work credits.
The only exception to these requirements is if you were a stay-at-home spouse. If you never worked because you stayed home and raised children or took care of your spouse then you can apply for retirement benefits through your working spouse.
Your spouse must have worked for at least ten years and earned at least 40 work credits in order for you to be eligible for retirement benefits.
Even though you can start drawing your retirement benefits at age 62, it’s strongly recommended that you wait if you can.
If you wait until the maximum age of 70 to start drawing retirement benefits you will get paid a larger benefit amount.
If you are disabled and can’t work and you’re over the age of 62 you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits.
The money from disability benefits can help offset your living costs until you reach the age of 70, when you can claim your amount of retirement benefits.
Disability Benefits (SSDI)
SSDI is a disability benefit from the Social Security Administration that is paid to anyone that has worked before but can’t work now because they are disabled.
When you apply for SSDI you may end up waiting several months to a year to get a decision.
However, if your application is approved you will be paid benefits for all the months you were waiting for a decision.
You can increase the chances of getting your application for SSDI approved by including as much documentation as you can that shows why you are disabled.
You also should make sure that all your forms are filled out correctly and that you have included copies of all important documents.
Working with a Social Security disability attorney can be a big help avoiding the most common SSDI application mistakes.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
There is another type of disability benefit available for anyone that was never able to work because they have been disabled since they were a child.
SSI can be paid to adults that were never able to work because of a disability. SSI also can be paid to the low-income parents of a disabled child.
Parents that apply for SSI for a child must submit W-2s, tax returns, or other financial proof showing the income of each adult in the household that works full-time.
The total income for the household must be below the cap set by the SSA or your application will be denied.
If you’re a parent that applies for SSI for your child keep in mind that all the money must be used for the child’s expenses, and you will have to document how that money is spent.
Survivor Benefits
If your spouse was the main earner in the household and they are now deceased you can apply for survivor’s benefits. So can your children.
Children can receive survivor benefits if they are under 18, or over 19 and still in high school, or if they are an adult that was disabled before they turned 22.
Adopted children and stepchildren qualify for survivor benefits too. Survivor benefits will increase in January 2025 because of the SSA’s COLA increase.
If you are disabled and you lost your spouse, you can receive survivor’s benefits starting at 50. Spouses who are 60 or older and not disabled can also qualify for survivor benefits.
If a deceased worker’s parents are elderly and dependent on the worker for 50% or more of their income, they can also qualify for survivor benefits.
Overview of Social Security Payment Schedule 2025
The 2025 Social Security payment schedule is pretty much the same as the 2024 Social Security payment schedule but the payment amounts will be higher because of the SSA’s 2025 COLA increase.
All Social Security benefits except for SSI are paid on a Wednesday. The Wednesday that you receive your benefits depends on your date of birth. If payment dates fall on a holiday or a weekend you will receive your SSA benefits on the business day before the holiday or on the Friday before a weekend.
Social Security Benefit Payment Dates for January 2025
Social Security benefit payment dates for January 2025 fall on:
- Wednesday, December 31st
- Wednesday, January 8th
- Wednesday, January 15th
- Wednesday, January 22nd
- Friday, January 31st
If you are receiving Social Security benefits in January 2025 you can expect your payment to be deposited into your account on one of those days, depending on your birth date and the type of benefit you receive.
If you are receiving SSI you will get your January 2025 SSI payment on Wednesday, December 31st.
You will receive your February 2025 SSI payment on Friday, January 31st. That’s because February 1st is a Saturday. So, the benefit is paid on the Friday before the 1st, which is Friday, January 31st.
People that are receiving other types of Social Security benefits will receive their January 2025 Social Security benefits on these dates:
- Wednesday, January 8th – If your birthdate is the 1st-10th of the month.
- Wednesday, January 15th- If your birthdate is the 11th-20th of the month.
- Tuesday, January 22th If your birthdate is 21st -31st of the month.
- Keep your pantry stocked with essential ingredients that you can use to cook meals from scratch. By the end of the month if those benefits are running out, you can use those essentials and leftovers to make meals.
- Protect your credit by putting your bills on autopay. Set the autopay for the day you receive your benefits. That way you won’t accidentally overspend and not have money for your bills.
- Use coupons and shop sales to make the most of your grocery money. Consider having potluck meals with friends and neighbors to make your food dollars stretch.
- Get on budget billing plans for your utilities. That way you will know exactly how much money to budget for your utility bills each month.
- Find a local food pantry to fill in the gaps. If your find that your groceries are running out before you get your monthly Social Security benefit a food pantry can be a great place to get some groceries for free or low cost.
You can always check your MySSA account page by logging into MySSA to see when your January 2025 Social Security benefit payment is arriving and how much your benefit payment is.
Will There Be An Extra Social Security Benefit Payment In January?
Technically, there will not be an extra Social Security benefit payment in January. But if you are receiving SSI it might feel like you’re getting an extra payment because you will receive your January 2025 SSI payment on December 31st, because January 1 is a holiday.
Then you will receive your February 2025 SSI payment on Friday, January 31st, because February 1st is a Saturday.
Payment Methods
All Social Security benefits are deposited electronically. You can choose how you want to receive your benefit payment.
You can have your Social Security benefit payment deposited directly into your checking or savings account each month. This is an easy and free option if you have a bank account.
Some banks may hold deposits for a day or two, which could mean that even when your benefits have been deposited you can’t actually use them until the hold runs out. Check with your bank to see if your benefit payment is subject to a hold.
If you want to have immediate access to your Social Security benefit payment each month you can sign up for a Direct Express debit card from the SSA.
If you sign up for a Direct Express card your funds will be available on your Direct Express card on your scheduled payment date.
You can use the card like a debit or credit card to withdraw cash or pay for purchases. You can sign up for a Direct Express card through your MySSA account on the SSA’s website.
Important Considerations
Your January 2025 Social Security benefit payment will be higher than your 2024 payment. The SSA’s COLA increase starts with the January 2025 payment, so you will see a 2.5% increase in your Social Security benefit amount.
If you have questions about what date your Social Security benefit payment will be deposited into your account or onto your Direct Express card you can always check your account on the SSA’s website. You can also call or email the SSA directly and ask about your payment date.
Managing Your Benefits
Taking the time to learn how to stretch your benefit money can make a big difference in making sure your money lasts all month.
Even though groceries, utilities, and other bills are increasing, there are ways that you can plan ahead and maximize how far your benefits go.
Some expert tips to help manage your Social Security benefit money include:
You can join groups on Facebook and other social media where people share tips on everything from cooking to covering household emergencies when you are receiving only one payment per month.
Conclusion
You can count on the Social Security Administration to deposit your January 2025 Social Security benefit payment on the date that best corresponds to the type of benefit you receive and your date of birth.
You should always receive your 2025 SSI payment on the 1st of the month, or the business day before the first if the first falls on a weekend or holiday. Remember, if you are receiving SSI you will get your February 2025 SSI payment on Friday, January 31st.
Your benefit amount will be 2.5% higher every month starting in January 2025 because of the SSA’s 2025 COLA increase.
If you aren’t sure when you should be receiving your January 2025 Social Security benefit payment, or if you’re not sure what your Social Security benefit payment date is you can always check your MySSA account on the SSA’s website. The date of your payment and the amount you receive should be visible in your account.
If you can’t work because of a disability you should apply for SSDI as soon as you can so that you don’t end up waiting a long time for a decision. Working with a disability attorney is a good way to make the process easier.
A disability attorney can help you understand the application process, how to fill out the application documents, and advise you what documentation you need to include with your application to increase the chances of approval.
Disability attorneys don’t get paid until your application is approved. And their fee is paid by the SSA directly, so you don’t ever have to pay out of pocket or up front.
Fill out a Free Case Evaluation now to get connected with a participating disability attorney who can answer your questions and help you start your application for Social Security benefits.
