Social Security benefits will be paid to millions of recipients this month—but there are some important changes that beneficiaries should be aware of.
Boosted Benefits for 3 Million
April marks the first month that boosted benefits will be paid out to those who were formally impacted by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). These were both repealed by an act of Congress in January this year.
The WEP reduced Social Security benefits for individuals receiving pensions from public-sector jobs—such as those held by state and federal employees—that did not require Social Security payroll tax contributions. This reduction applied even if they contributed to Social Security through other employment and qualified for benefits.
The GPO reduced spousal or survivor benefits for retired federal, state and local government workers who did not pay into Social Security funds through their payroll taxes.
The SSA confirmed in February that boosted benefit payments would be made beginning in April. Retroactive payments for benefits issued back to January 2024 have already been issued.
The SSA has said that, “depending on factors such as the type of Social Security benefit received and the amount of the person’s pension, the change in payment amount will vary from person to person.”
GETTY
How Much Can I Get?
For retirement benefits, the SSA explains on its website: “The maximum benefit depends on the age you retire. For example, if you retire at full retirement age in 2025, your maximum benefit would be $4,018.
“However, if you retire at age 62 in 2025, your maximum benefit would be $2,831. If you retire at age 70 in 2025, your maximum benefit would be $5,108.”
For Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the amount you can get varies based on factors like income, type of disability, and how many people live in a claimants household.
For 2025, the maximum available for a single person is $967, and $1,450 per month for a couple.
Payment Dates for April 2025
Benefit payments will be made on the following dates this month:
- April 1: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
- April 3: Benefits for those who have been collecting since before May 1997.
- April 9: Benefits for those born between the 1st and 10th of any month.
- April 16: Benefits for those born between the 11th and 20th.
- April 23: Benefits for those born between the 21st and 31st.
What People Are Saying
Lee Dudek, acting commissioner of Social Security, said in a press release on February 25: “Social Security’s aggressive schedule to start issuing retroactive payments in February and increase monthly benefit payments beginning in April supports President Trump’s priority to implement the Social Security Fairness Act as quickly as possible. The agency’s original estimate of taking a year or more now will only apply to complex cases that cannot be processed by automation. The American people deserve to get their due benefits as quickly as possible.”
Other Changes
Starting on April 14, millions of Social Security benefit claimants will no longer have the option to verify their identity with the SSA over the phone. Identity proofing is required for benefit claims and to change direct deposit information.
The changes, announced by the SSA earlier this month, mean those who can’t properly verify their identity using the agency’s “my Social Security” online service must visit a field office in person to verify themselves. The new rule does not apply to those collecting or applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Medicare or SSI.