Overview

• The third and final wave of March 2025 Social Security payments will be distributed on Wednesday, March 26, to recipients born between the 21st and 31st of any month.
• The maximum monthly benefit for retirees in 2025 is $5,108, available to those who delay retirement until age 70, while the average retirement payment in January 2025 was $1,976.
• Starting March 27, the Social Security Administration will begin withholding 100% of payments to recover overpayments, reversing a previous policy that capped clawbacks at 10%.
• From March 31, recipients will no longer be able to verify their identity with the SSA over the phone, a measure aimed at reducing fraud.
• Analysts warn that without Congressional action, Social Security faces potential funding shortfalls by 2034, which could result in reduced payments for beneficiaries.