Millions of Americans are expected to receive an increase in their Social Security checks this year, and if you’re scheduled to receive a payment on April 9, your deposit could reflect the latest Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA).
As inflation continues to affect household budgets, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has confirmed a 2.5% COLA increase for 2025, providing financial relief for retirees, disabled workers, and other beneficiaries.
The adjustment, which takes effect in early 2025, is designed to help Social Security payments maintain their purchasing power in the face of rising prices. April’s payments will be among the first to reflect this new rate, especially those scheduled for April 9, based on SSA’s payment schedule.
Who Receives Social Security Payments on April 9?
The SSA issues payments on a staggered schedule based on beneficiaries’ birth dates. For those born between the 1st and 10th of the month, their Social Security benefits will be deposited on the second Wednesday of each month. In April 2025, that falls on Wednesday, April 9.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the April 2025 payment schedule:
- April 9: Beneficiaries born between the 1st and 10th
- April 16: Birthdays between the 11th and 20th
- April 23: Birthdays between the 21st and 31st
So, if your birthday is between April 1 and April 10 (or the same days in any other month), you can expect your next Social Security deposit on April 9, and it will likely include the new COLA increase.
To view the full payment schedule for 2025, visit the SSA’s official calendar.
How Much Will the COLA Raise Your Social Security Check?
The 2025 COLA increase of 2.5% will raise average monthly benefits across the board. According to the SSA, the average retirement benefit will increase from around $1,931 to approximately $1,980, an increase of about $49 per month.
Here’s how it may affect different types of beneficiaries:
- Retired workers will receive higher monthly payments
- Disabled workers will see increases in SSDI benefits
- Survivor benefits for spouses and children will also rise
- SSI recipients will see the federal maximum benefit go from $943 to $967 for individuals, and up to $1,450 for couples
These increases might not seem massive, but for seniors and disabled individuals on fixed incomes, even small boosts can help cover rising costs of food, rent, and medical care.
Legislative Changes Could Bring Additional Payments
In addition to the standard COLA boost, some retirees may see even more money in their accounts in 2025 due to ongoing legislative efforts like the Social Security Fairness Act. This act proposes to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) — two rules that currently reduce benefits for public servants with pensions.
If repealed, eligible recipients could receive retroactive payments for previous reductions in their monthly benefits. Some retirees have already begun receiving lump sum adjustments, with averages reaching $6,710, depending on how long their benefits were reduced.
What You Should Do Before April 9
If you’re expecting a payment on April 9, here are a few things you can do to prepare:
- Check your account on SSA.gov or the mySocialSecurity portal to ensure your bank information is up to date
- Monitor your deposit amount to confirm that the COLA increase has been applied correctly
- Keep documentation of any changes to your benefits or eligibility in case you need to dispute or clarify your payment with the SSA
- Report any missed payments or unusual activity to the SSA right away to avoid delays in receiving your benefits
You can also use the SSA benefit estimator to see how COLA changes will affect your future monthly payments.
The Bigger Picture: What COLA Means Long-Term
The annual COLA is one of the most important mechanisms built into Social Security. It helps protect the value of benefits in an economy that’s constantly changing. While 2025’s 2.5% increase is lower than the 2023 and 2024 COLAs, which exceeded 5%, it’s still a critical adjustment to help beneficiaries maintain their standard of living.
Long-term, COLA increases are tied to inflation through the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). If inflation remains high or even moderately steady, future COLAs may continue at similar or higher levels.
Conclusion
If you’re receiving Social Security and expecting your payment on April 9, it’s likely your check will be a little bigger this time. Thanks to the 2.5% COLA increase, retirees, disabled workers, and SSI recipients will see more in their monthly payments in 2025.
With rising costs across the country, these adjustments—along with potential retroactive payments from legislative changes—can provide some much-needed financial breathing room. To ensure you’re getting the full benefit of these changes, monitor your deposits closely and stay up to date with any policy announcements from the SSA.
For the most accurate and current information on your benefits, visit the Social Security Administration’s official website.
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