Why Americans are getting a $4,800 Social Security check today (2024)

Americans are set to receive a Social Security check worth up to $4,800 today, but not all seniors are happy about the increase in monthly payments.

Social Security benefits grew by 3.2 percent this year, in accordance with this year's calculated cost of living adjustment (COLA).

However, not all payments arrive on the same day.

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For a select group of seniors, today is the day you can expect a payment of up to $4,800.

When to Expect Social Security Payments

The arrival of benefits tends to be based on each recipient's birth date.

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Everyone whose birthday falls between the first and 10th of a month earned their benefits on February 14. Meanwhile, today, Social Security payments will go out for everyone with a birthday between the 11th and 20th. And those with a birthday between the 21st and 31st of any month get their payments a little bit later, on February 28.

There's one exception to this rule, as those who've been receiving Social Security since before May 1997 can always expect their payments a bit earlier. For this month, they arrived on February 2.

Before you contact the Social Security Administration about any missed payments, you should wait three days to make sure there wasn't just a mail lag time.

How Much Money You Can Expect

For this year, the highest-earning Social Security beneficiaries can see payments of $4,873 if they retired at age 70. This is in stark contrast to the average monthly benefit, however.

Across the board, payments increased by roughly $50 a month due to the COLA.

Beneficiaries earn higher payments based on several factors. Those who wait longer to retire generally end up with more money. At the same time, how much you paid into Social Security based on how many years of work you had also impacts the monthly check you'll see.

Those who retired at the youngest age possible, 62, will earn only $2,710 a month this year. Meanwhile, those retiring at the full retirement age of 67 get a more average check, at $3,822.

While the 2024 COLA adjusted Social Security checks based on inflation, not everyone believes the payment update adequately reflects the price hikes seniors are seeing on healthcare and housing.

"Whether the annual COLA is appropriate for a specific retiree to ensure equal purchasing power as the prior year is highly specific to the life situation of the individual retiree, both in terms of expenses and other sources of income," Jonathan Price, the national retirement practice leader at employee benefits consulting firm Segal, previously told Newsweek.

In 2024, around $1.4 trillion in payments will be sent to more than 70 million people.

Why Americans are getting a $4,800 Social Security check today (1)
Why Americans are getting a $4,800 Social Security check today (2024)

FAQs

Why are Americans getting a 4800 Social Security check? ›

For this year, the highest-earning Social Security beneficiaries can see payments of $4,873 if they retired at age 70. This is in stark contrast to the average monthly benefit, however. Across the board, payments increased by roughly $50 a month due to the COLA.

Why is Social Security giving me extra money this month? ›

If you received extra money from Social Security this month, one possible explanation is that the payment is for the back benefits you are owed by the Social Security Disability program.

Who is eligible for the Social Security bonus? ›

There is no specific “bonus” retirees can collect from the Social Security Administration. For example, you're not eligible to get a $5,000 bonus check on top of your regular benefits just because you worked in a specific career. Social Security doesn't randomly award money to people.

Why did I get a one-time Social Security payment? ›

We may pay a one-time emergency advance payment to an individual initially applying for benefits who is presumptively eligible for SSI benefits and who has a financial emergency.

Why are we getting two Social Security checks? ›

It's all because of a quirk in the Social Security Administration's payment schedule. A few times a year, two Supplemental Security Income (SSI) checks will go out in a month instead of the usual one. May happens to be the first of three double-payment months of 2024.

Is Social Security getting a raise in 2024? ›

Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 71 million Americans will increase 3.2 percent in 2024.

Is Social Security giving a grocery allowance? ›

As of June 1, 2019 SSI recipients may be eligible for CalFresh Food benefits. With CalFresh Food, you can afford more food without affecting your other benefits. It's easy to apply and even easier to use.

How do I get my $16728 Social Security bonus? ›

Have you heard about the Social Security $16,728 yearly bonus? There's really no “bonus” that retirees can collect. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a specific formula based on your lifetime earnings to determine your benefit amount.

Is Social Security Disability giving extra money this month, June 2024? ›

If you're wondering, “is social security disability giving extra money this month?”, here's the quick answer: For June 2024, there are no additional one-time payments or special adjustments scheduled beyond regular monthly benefits. Cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for 2024 have already been applied in January.

Why did I receive an unexpected payment from Social Security? ›

WHAT CAN CAUSE AN OVERPAYMENT? Your income is more than you estimated. Your living situation changes. Your marital status changes.

At what age is Social Security no longer taxed? ›

While you may have heard at some point that Social Security is no longer taxable after 70 or some other age, this isn't the case. In reality, Social Security is taxed at any age if your income exceeds a certain level.

Can I get a tax refund if my only income is Social Security? ›

You would not be required to file a tax return. But you might want to file a return, because even though you are not required to pay taxes on your Social Security, you may be able to get a refund of any money withheld from your paycheck for taxes.

What is the highest Social Security check you can get? ›

Here's an explanation for how we make money . If you're planning for retirement, one of your key questions is how much you can earn from Social Security – what's the maximum you can get? As of January 2024, the maximum benefit you can receive at full retirement age is $3,822 per month.

What is the average Social Security check at age 67? ›

Full retirement age, full benefit

As of the end of December 2023, the average monthly Social Security benefit for retired workers aged 67 was $1,883.50. This amounts to $22,602 per year. The averages differ based on the sex of the beneficiary, though.

What is the average Social Security check for most Americans? ›

Social Security offers a monthly benefit check to many kinds of recipients. As of July 2024, the average check is $1,782.74, according to the Social Security Administration — but that amount can differ drastically depending on the type of recipient. In fact, retirees typically make more than the overall average.

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