Social Security benefits scheduled this week may include payments up to $5,181

Recipients with birthdays from the 21st–31st are scheduled to receive February Social Security payments on Feb. 25, and a worker who earned the maximum taxable amount and waits to claim until age 70 would receive about $5,181 per month in 2026.

Millions of people who rely on Social Security are due to receive monthly payments in the coming days. The Social Security Administration issues benefits on a rolling schedule tied to recipients' birth dates rather than a single national date. For February, people with birthdays between the 21st and 31st are scheduled to get their payments on Wednesday, February 25. The amount an individual receives depends on lifetime earnings, the age benefits are claimed, and the year benefits begin. Key details: - More than 70 million people receive Social Security benefits nationwide, including retirement, disability and survivor payments. - Recipients with birthdays from the 21st through the 31st are scheduled to receive February payments on Feb. 25. - The SSA recommends waiting three business days after a scheduled payment date before contacting the agency about a delayed payment. - Benefit size examples reported: a worker who earned the maximum taxable amount and claims in 2026 would receive roughly $4,152 per month at full retirement age, about $2,969 if claimed at 62, and about $5,181 if claimed at age 70. - As of December, the average monthly payment for a retired worker was $2,071.30. - The Congressional Budget Office projects the Social Security retirement trust fund reserves could be exhausted in 2032; the CBO reports that, without legislative action, benefits would have to be funded only from ongoing revenue and could be reduced under that scenario. Summary: The article reports scheduled payment timing for late-February recipients and notes how claim age and lifetime earnings affect monthly benefit amounts. It also highlights a CBO projection about the trust fund's future reserves and the potential for reduced benefits if no legislative action occurs. Undetermined at this time.