If you’re waiting on your Social Security payment this week, there’s good news. The Social Security Administration is sending out checks to millions of people, and some could be as high as $5,108.
That’s not the amount everyone will get. But it is the maximum monthly benefit for someone who waited until age 70 to start collecting retirement. Let’s break down who’s getting paid this week and how the benefit amounts really work.
Who gets paid on June 18
Payments are being made on Wednesday, June 18, for people whose birthdays fall between the 11th and 20th of any month. This includes retirees, as well as those getting survivor or spousal benefits.
It doesn’t matter what month you were born in—just where your birth date falls within the month. So if your birthday is on June 15, August 14, or March 12, and you’re receiving Social Security retirement or similar benefits, you’ll likely see a direct deposit or check show up on June 18.
How much you could receive
Most people aren’t getting the top payment. The amount you get depends on how long you worked, how much you earned, and when you decided to start claiming your benefits.
Here’s how it breaks down in 2025:
- Retiring early at age 62 caps the maximum benefit at $2,831
- Retiring at full retirement age (67) brings it up to $4,018
- Waiting until age 70 boosts the maximum monthly payment to $5,108
Your personal benefit will be somewhere in between, based on your own work history and earnings. Social Security looks at your highest 35 years of income to figure out your benefit. Those years are adjusted for inflation.
Also, the formula is built so that lower earners actually get a higher percentage of their income replaced than higher earners. That helps provide more protection for people with smaller earnings over their lifetime.
SSI and other payments
Social Security isn’t just about retirement. Some people get Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is for people who are elderly, disabled, or blind with limited resources. Those payments usually come at the start of the month.
This week’s payments are mainly for retirement, survivor, and spousal benefits. The next and final payment for June will go out on June 25. That one is for people with birthdays from the 21st to 31st.
Bigger checks likely in 2026
Social Security payments go up almost every year thanks to something called the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). It helps payments keep up with inflation.
In 2026, experts are expecting a 2.5% COLA, which would match what beneficiaries saw in 2025. The official update will come from the SSA in October.
So if you’re getting a check this week, take a moment to see where you fall in the schedule. That payment could be anywhere from a few hundred dollars to over five grand, depending on your age, earnings, and when you filed.