Each month, millions of Americans receive Social Security payments, thanks to the efforts of the Social Security Administration (SSA). The process begins with determining an individual’s eligibility for benefits based on their work history and contributions to the Social Security system. Whatever your situation, if you are a qualifying person to receive Social Security benefits, you will receive payments on time, they will never fail you. The SSA will send you the money safely, without delay, and for this there is the schedule that is strictly followed.
As you may know, not everyone receives exactly the same amount of money every month. According to the SSA itself, the average payment for a retired worker in the United States in 2023 is $1,827, while SSI program beneficiaries receive on average about $550 with the possibility of collecting up to $914 maximum per individual and $1,371 for a married couple in which both spouses are eligible for the program.
Social Security’s $914 direct payments to arrive on August 1: Will you get to receive it?
For retired workers, their payment date is uniquely tied to a personal milestone: the day of their birth. This system not only honors their individuality but also serves as a reminder of their life’s journey. It allows them to celebrate their special day with the added comfort of financial support, acknowledging their years of hard work and dedication to the workforce.
On the other hand, SSI beneficiaries, who receive a vital supplementary income, can rely on the consistency of their payment date: every first day of the month. Now, there’s a trick: when the first of the month falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or a designated holiday, the payment date is adjusted to the previous business day. That happened, for example, on July, because the first business day was the 4th of July, and that date is a holiday. Having this happened, the beneficiaries received their money on June 30.
Social Security eligibility: Who qualifies to get the benefits
To qualify for Social Security benefits, you need to earn a minimum of 40 Social Security credits. These credits are earned through work and the payment of Social Security taxes. The good news is that the number of credits you have does not determine the amount of benefits you’ll receive. Instead, these credits serve as the foundation for assessing your eligibility for various benefits, including retirement, disability, Medicare, and survivors benefits for your family after your passing.
The number of credits you earn is closely tied to your total wages and self-employment income throughout the year. The good news is that you don’t necessarily have to work the entire year to earn all four credits; you might accumulate them in a shorter time frame.
As of 2023, you earn one Social Security and Medicare credit for every $1,640 in covered earnings per year, with a maximum of four credits achievable at $6,560 in total earnings. Those numbers are reviewed every year, and adjusted to meet the inflation and cost of living.
Will the extra credits give you more money when retiring?
You may accumulate more credits than you need to retire during your working life, especially if you start paying your Social Security taxes in your youth and work until retirement age. This may be a scenario where you got more credits, or because your salary was high enough to generate them.
However, these extra credits won’t increase the actual benefit amount you receive. Instead, the average of your earnings over your working years will determine your monthly payment once you begin receiving benefits.