Some retirees will have to wait nearly two weeks longer for their checks despite no change in the amount.
May is off to a slow start for some retirees in the United States. Due to a quirk in the calendar, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will delay payments for one of its major recipient groups until well into the third week of the month. Although the agency will still issue all payments as planned, the delay could disrupt monthly budgeting for many American households.
The irregularity stems from how the days of the week fall in May 2025. Since the month starts on a Thursday, the second Wednesday—when a large group of retirees typically receive their checks—doesn’t arrive until May 14. That’s unusually late, and for group 2 beneficiaries, it means waiting longer than usual compared to other months.
Who’s affected by the May 2025 shift?
The delay primarily impacts retirees who began receiving Social Security benefits after May 1997 and were born between the 1st and 10th of any month. These individuals belong to what the SSA calls “group 2,” and they are typically paid on the second Wednesday of each month. In May 2025, that Wednesday lands on the 14th—making it one of the latest payment dates in recent memory for this group.
Importantly, there’s no error or reduction in benefits. The SSA calendar works like clockwork, but it can lead to months like this one where the distribution appears delayed simply because of how the weeks align.
How the rest of the payments are scheduled
As is customary, payments are issued in waves according to beneficiaries’ birth dates and the date they began receiving Social Security:
- May 2: Group 1 — recipients who started benefits before May 1997. This group always receives payment on the first business day of the month.
- May 14: Group 2 — post-1997 recipients born between the 1st and 10th.
- May 21: Group 3 — post-1997 recipients born between the 11th and 20th.
- May 28: Group 4 — post-1997 recipients born between the 21st and 31st.
Each payment is deposited directly into the retiree’s bank account or loaded onto their Direct Express card. While the dates may fluctuate, the method and amount remain consistent.
Planning ahead to avoid stress
These calendar-driven shifts happen occasionally throughout the year, but May 2025 stands out for the size of the gap between group 1 and group 2 payments—twelve days, to be exact. For beneficiaries living paycheck to paycheck, knowing these variations in advance is critical. It helps avoid misunderstandings and ensures families can better manage their monthly expenses.
Despite the wait, there’s reassurance in the system’s predictability: every payment is on its way. Just not always as soon as some would like.