Hailey
If you’re tracking your Social Security payment this month, the first round of November 2025 checks will arrive Wednesday, November 12, 2025 for most retirees whose birthdays fall early in the month.
Here’s everything you need to know — from who gets paid when, to how the 2025 cost-of-living adjustment affects your check.
Who is included in the “first round” this month?
The “first round” refers to beneficiaries whose birthdays are 1st through 10th of any month.
These people receive their benefit on the second Wednesday of the month — which for November 2025 is November 12.
If your birthday is the 11th-20th, you’ll receive payment on Wednesday, November 19. If your birthday is the 21st-31st, you’ll be paid on Wednesday, November 26.
This birth-date-based Wednesday schedule is the standard method for most Social Security payments.
Special groups with earlier payments
- If you began receiving benefits before May 1997, you fall under a “legacy” payment group and will be paid on the third of the month, which is Monday, November 3, 2025.
- For recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the November payment was made early on Friday, October 31, 2025, because November 1 happened on a Saturday.
2025 Payment Amounts & Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)
The 2025 benefits incorporate a 2.5% COLA (cost-of-living adjustment). Key figures for 2025 include:
- The average retired worker benefit is now about $1,976 per month.
- The maximum monthly benefit at full retirement age is $4,018, with higher possible amounts if you delay benefits until age 70.
- For SSI, the federal standard payment is $967 for an individual and $1,450 for a couple.
The actual amount you receive can vary due to factors like Medicare premiums, tax withholding, or any overpayment recovery the agency might apply.
November 2025 Payment Schedule at a Glance
| Program / Group | Who Gets It | November 2025 Payment Date |
|---|---|---|
| SSI (November payment) | All SSI recipients | Fri, Oct 31, 2025 |
| Legacy Social Security | Benefits started before May 1997 or both SS & SSI | Mon, Nov 3, 2025 |
| Social Security Round 1 | Birthdays 1st–10th | Wed, Nov 12, 2025 |
| Social Security Round 2 | Birthdays 11th–20th | Wed, Nov 19, 2025 |
| Social Security Round 3 | Birthdays 21st–31st | Wed, Nov 26, 2025 |
What to Do If You Don’t See Your Deposit
If your direct deposit hasn’t arrived on the expected date, wait three business days after the scheduled date before contacting the office.
Banking processing cut-off times, weekends, and holidays may cause slight delays.
Also, check your online account to confirm your benefit amount and whether any deductions (for extra tax withholding or overpayments) have been applied.
Why Your Check Might Differ From Someone Else’s
Even with the same birthday category, two people can receive different benefit amounts because of:
- Medicare Part B premiums, which are deducted from many people’s benefits.
- Income tax withholding, if you asked for part of your payment to be withheld.
- Overpayment recovery, where past payments were too high and part of current payments are withheld.
- Delayed retirement credits, for those who waited past full retirement age to claim benefits — giving them a larger monthly amount.
The first round of Social Security payments for November 2025, for beneficiaries born between the 1st and 10th of the month, will be deposited on Wednesday, November 12.
If you’re in the legacy group, your payment arrived on Monday, November 3, and if you receive SSI, you were paid on Friday, October 31.
Make sure you know your birthday band, monitor your bank account, and keep in mind the 2025 COLA when comparing your payment to previous months.
FAQs
I have a birthday on the 9th — when will my November payment arrive?
Since your birthday is between the 1st and 10th, your payment will be on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
Why didn’t I receive an SSI payment on November 1?
Because November 1, 2025, falls on a Saturday, the payment was moved up to Friday, October 31, 2025 for all SSI recipients.
What is the 2025 COLA and how does it affect my benefit?
The 2025 cost-of-living adjustment is 2.5%, raising average benefits and the maximum monthly amount. Your personal increase depends on your benefit amount.