Social Security Sends Final May $2,000 Checks to Retirees, SSDI, Survivors

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is issuing the final round of May Social Security payments on Wednesday, May 28, to beneficiaries whose birthdays fall between the 21st and 31st of any month. These payments include retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and survivor benefits, with amounts averaging around $2,000 but reaching up to $5,108 for those who retire at age 70 and have paid into the system for 35 years. Payments are distributed on one of three Wednesdays each month based on the recipient's birthday, while those who began receiving benefits before May 1997 receive payments on the third day of each month. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients are paid separately, usually on the first of the month, but due to June 1 falling on a Sunday, the June SSI payments will be advanced to May 30. Social Security payments are funded by payroll taxes and are projected to face shortfalls by 2034 without Congressional intervention. Beneficiaries can maximize payments by delaying retirement and using the SSA’s personalized calculator to estimate benefits.