Overview
- Retirees with birthdays on the 11th–20th receive March checks today, following the March 11 wave for the 1st–10th and ahead of March 25 for the 21st–31st.
- April 2026 payments follow SSA’s set calendar: SSI on April 1, Social Security for those who also get SSI on April 3, and retirement checks on April 8, 15 and 22 by birth-date ranges.
- April SSI amounts top out at $994 for individuals, $1,491 for couples and $498 for essential caregivers, with eligibility based on limited income and specific residency and citizenship rules.
- Benefit size depends on lifetime earnings and claiming age, with the average retired-worker check peaking at $2,275 at age 70 and averaging $851 less per month when claimed at 62, according to SSA data.
- Social Security is funded by payroll taxes, and analysts warn full benefits may be at risk around 2034 without legislation, with projections pointing to roughly a 20% cut rather than elimination if no action is taken.