You may see headlines about a $4,983 direct deposit this month. Officially, the maximum Social Security retirement benefit in 2025 is $5,108 per month for someone who claimed at age 70 with a lifetime of maximum-taxable earnings. That’s the ceiling in August, too.
August 2025 payment schedule
Social Security pays on a staggered schedule tied to your birthday (and different rules apply if you’ve been on benefits since before May 1997).
This August, retirement benefits will land on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday; SSI pays on the 1st and, due to the September 1 Labor Day timing, an early SSI on August 29 as well.
August 2025 at-a-glance
| Benefit type | Who gets paid | August 2025 date(s) | How your date is decided |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSI | SSI recipients | Aug 1 and Aug 29 | SSI pays on the 1st; an extra August payment arrives when the next month’s 1st falls on a federal holiday/weekend. |
| Social Security (Retirement/Survivors/Disability) | On benefits before May 1997 (or both SS + SSI) | Aug 3 | These beneficiaries are paid the 3rd of each month. |
| Social Security—Birthdays 1–10 | Most retirees/SSDI | Aug 13 | Paid the second Wednesday. |
| Social Security—Birthdays 11–20 | Most retirees/SSDI | Aug 20 | Paid the third Wednesday. |
| Social Security—Birthdays 21–31 | Most retirees/SSDI | Aug 27 | Paid the fourth Wednesday. |
Tip: If your deposit doesn’t show up on the expected day, wait three business days before contacting SSA or your bank.
Who actually gets the maximum this month?
Only a small share of retirees qualify for the top check. To see up to $5,108 in August, you generally must:
- Have 35 years of earnings at or near the maximum-taxable wage base, and
- Delay claiming to age 70 (to earn delayed retirement credits).
For context, the average retired-worker benefit in 2025 is about $1,976—far below the maximum.
How COLA shaped 2025 amounts
The 2025 Cost-of-Living Adjustment lifted monthly checks, which is why the age-70 maximum rose from $4,873 (2024) to $5,108 (2025). SSI federal maximums also increased to $967 (individual) and $1,450 (eligible couple).
Make sure you’re eligible for August payments
You’ll receive your August deposit if you:
- Are entitled to Social Security (retirement, survivors, or SSDI) or SSI in August,
- Have direct deposit or a Direct Express® card set up, and
- Meet the standard identity and earnings/eligibility rules in SSA records.
Check your exact amount and date in my Social Security.
What to do if your payment is late
- Verify the scheduled date above.
- Wait three business days after the due date.
- If it still hasn’t arrived, contact your bank and then SSA.
The widely shared $4,983 figure misses the mark for 2025. The true maximum Social Security check this August is $5,108 for rare, long-time high earners who claimed at 70.
Everyone else will see their regular benefit on the schedule tied to their birthdate, while SSI beneficiaries get two deposits this month (Aug 1 and Aug 29). Use your my Social Security account to confirm your amount and exact date.