Your Social Security check is safe during the shutdown, but there’s a catch you need to know about

A recent article addresses Social Security recipients’ concerns about the federal government shutdown, benefit payments, and recent policy changes. It says that while monthly payments will continue without interruption, other services may be affected and some recipients may see changes in the amount of their checks due to cost-of-living adjustments and overpayment recovery policies. These are the 5 takeaways from the original article.

1. Payments continue despite shutdown, but office services are limited

Despite a partial federal government shutdown, the Social Security Administration has confirmed that all Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments will continue to be issued on their regular schedules. However, local offices will operate with reduced services. While essential transactions such as applying for benefits, appealing a decision, changing your address or replacing a social security card are still available, other services are temporarily suspended. These include obtaining proof of benefits letters, replacing Medicare cards, and obtaining income record updates. Recipients can find continuing updates on the impact of the shutdown at ssa.gov/agency/shutdown.

2. Benefit amounts vary significantly by retirement age

The monthly benefit a retiree receives is not a flat rate and is highly dependent on their earnings history and the age at which they apply for benefits. For 2025, the average monthly benefit for retired workers is $2,008.31. The maximum possible benefit varies significantly depending on retirement age: someone retiring at age 62 can receive a maximum of $2,831, while waiting until full retirement age, at 67, brings the maximum to $4,018. Those who delay retirement until age 70 are eligible for the highest maximum benefit of $5,108. This illustrates the financial incentive to delay the start of Social Security benefits.

3. A cost of living adjustment (COLA) of 2.5% is planned for 2025

The Social Security Administration announced a 2.5% cost of living adjustment (COLA) for 2025, which translates to a monthly increase of about $50 for the average beneficiary. This adjustment, intended to help benefits keep pace with inflation, is calculated using third-quarter data from the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). The 2.5% increase is modest compared to recent years, but is consistent with the 2.6% COLA average over the past two decades.

4. Benefit payment dates depend on date of birth

The precise day a beneficiary receives their monthly Social Security payment is determined by their date of birth. People born between the 1st and 10th of the month are paid on the second Wednesday. Those whose birthdays fall between the 11th and 20th receive their allowances on the third Wednesday, and those born between the 21st and 31st receive their allowances on the fourth Wednesday. Exceptions exist for people who received benefits before May 1997 or who receive both Social Security and SSI; these groups are generally paid earlier, on the 1st and 3rd of the month respectively.

5. The SSA can withhold 50% of benefits to recover overpayments

The Social Security Administration has implemented a new policy to withhold up to 50% of monthly benefits from recipients who were previously overpaid. Overpayments often occur when a recipient’s income changes without being reported, resulting in a larger benefit than they were entitled to. This aggressive clawback strategy follows a temporary suspension of withholdings on overpayments during the pandemic. After restoring them to a 10% rate last year and briefly proposing a 100% withholding tax, the agency opted for the 50% rate, which could significantly reduce the monthly income of those affected until the debt is repaid.