What couples need to know about Social Security payments in April 2025

Social Security payments for couples follow the same schedule as all other beneficiaries — the payment date depends on your birth date, not your marital status. In April 2025, payments go out on the second, third, and fourth Wednesdays of the month (April 9, 16, and 23), plus a small group on the first Wednesday (April 2). Your specific payment date was set when you first claimed, and it does not change.

If you are married and both receiving Social Security, you each have your own payment date and your own benefit amount. The amount one spouse receives does not reduce what the other gets. However, the rules for how much each person can claim are different depending on when you were born and when you claimed — and those rules changed significantly in 2015.

The key distinction is whether you were born before January 2, 1954, or on or after that date. If you were born before that cutoff, you may have access to claiming strategies that are no longer available to younger couples. If you were born after it, your options are more limited but also more straightforward.

Key Takeaways

  • Couples receive separate payments on separate dates based on each person's birth date; one spouse's benefit does not reduce the other's.
  • If both spouses were born before January 2, 1954, you may be able to claim a spousal benefit while letting your own benefit grow, or claim your own benefit first and switch to a spousal benefit later.
  • If either spouse was born on or after January 2, 1954, you can only receive your own benefit amount; spousal benefits are no longer available as a separate claim.
  • The longer you wait to claim (up to age 70), the larger your monthly payment becomes, and this applies to both spouses independently.
  • Married couples should coordinate their claiming strategy because one person's decision to claim early or late affects household income and survivor benefits.

How spousal benefits work if you were born before January 2, 1954

If both you and your spouse were born before January 2, 1954, you have access to claiming strategies that are no longer available to younger couples. The most common is the ability to claim a spousal benefit while your own benefit continues to grow.

Here is how it works: suppose you reach full retirement age (between 66 and 67, depending on your birth year) and your spouse is already receiving Social Security. You can claim a spousal benefit equal to roughly half of what your spouse receives at their full retirement age — not half of what they are actually getting, but half of their full retirement age amount. Meanwhile, your own benefit continues to grow by about 8 percent per year until age 70.

At age 70, you can switch from the spousal benefit to your own benefit, which is now significantly larger because you waited. This strategy works only if you have not yet claimed your own benefit, and only if you were born before the January 2, 1954 cutoff.

Another option available to this group is the ability to claim your own benefit first and then switch to a spousal benefit later. This is less common because it usually results in a lower lifetime payout, but it can make sense in specific situations — for example, if you need income now but your spouse has a much higher benefit that you want to claim later.

How spousal benefits work if you were born on or after January 2, 1954

If you were born on or after January 2, 1954, the rules are simpler but offer fewer options. You can only claim your own benefit amount based on your own earnings record. There is no separate spousal benefit you can claim on top of it.

However, if you are married and your spouse has a higher benefit than you do, your payment will be adjusted upward so that you receive at least half of what your spouse gets at their full retirement age. This is called the "deemed filing" rule, and it happens automatically — you do not apply for it separately.

The practical effect is that you cannot strategically claim a spousal benefit while your own benefit grows. When you claim, you are claiming your own benefit, and it is reduced if you claim before your full retirement age. The only way to increase your payment is to wait longer before claiming.

How the payment schedule works in April 2025

Social Security payments are distributed on a fixed schedule based on your birth date. If your birth date falls between the 1st and 10th of any month, you receive your payment on the second Wednesday. If it falls between the 11th and 20th, you receive it on the third Wednesday. If it falls between the 21st and 31st, you receive it on the fourth Wednesday. There is also a small group of people who receive payments on the first Wednesday, typically those who claimed before May 1997.

In April 2025, this means payments go out on April 2, 9, 16, and 23. Your spouse's payment date is independent — it is based on their birth date, not yours. So one spouse might receive a payment on April 9 while the other receives theirs on April 16.

Payments are deposited directly into your bank account, usually the same day they are issued. If you have not set up direct deposit, you can do so through your Social Security account at ssa.gov or by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.

How to coordinate claiming decisions as a couple

The decision of when to claim Social Security is one of the most important financial choices a couple makes, because it affects not only monthly income but also survivor benefits if one spouse dies.

If one spouse claims early (before full retirement age), their benefit is permanently reduced. If that spouse dies first, the surviving spouse receives a survivor benefit based on the reduced amount — not the amount the deceased would have received at full retirement age. This can significantly lower the surviving spouse's income.

For this reason, many financial advisors suggest that the spouse with the higher earning record wait as long as possible to claim, ideally until age 70. The spouse with the lower earning record can claim earlier if the household needs income now. This strategy maximizes the survivor benefit if the higher-earning spouse dies first, and it also maximizes household income if the lower-earning spouse dies first (because the higher-earning spouse's benefit is not affected).

However, this is not a one-size-fits-all recommendation. If one spouse has serious health concerns or a family history of early mortality, claiming earlier might make sense. If one spouse is significantly younger than the other, the math changes. A financial advisor or a Social Security expert can help you think through the trade-offs specific to your situation.

What happens to your spouse's benefit if you die

If you die, your spouse may be able to receive a survivor benefit based on your earnings record. The amount depends on your age when you died and when your spouse claims.

If your spouse is at full retirement age or older when you die, they can receive up to 100 percent of the benefit you were receiving (or would have received at full retirement age, if you had not yet claimed). If your spouse claims before full retirement age, the benefit is reduced — the younger they are, the larger the reduction.

Your spouse can also remain unmarried and continue to receive their own benefit based on their own earnings record. They do not have to switch to a survivor benefit. Social Security will pay whichever amount is higher.

If you have not yet claimed Social Security when you die, your spouse may still be able to receive a survivor benefit based on your earnings record, even though you never claimed yourself. The rules for this are complex and depend on your age at death and your spouse's age, so it is worth asking Social Security directly if you are concerned about this scenario.

How cost-of-living adjustments affect couples in 2025

Social Security benefits are adjusted each year for inflation through a cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA. The 2025 COLA was 2.5 percent, which means all beneficiaries received a 2.5 percent increase to their monthly payment starting in January 2025.

For couples, this means both spouses received the same percentage increase, but the dollar amount of the increase is different because their benefit amounts are different. If one spouse receives $2,000 per month and the other receives $1,500, the first spouse's payment increased by $50 and the second spouse's increased by $37.50.

The COLA is applied automatically — you do not need to do anything. The new amount appears in your April payment (or whenever your payment date falls in the month you first receive the increase).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my spouse claim on my record if they never worked?

Yes, if you were born before January 2, 1954, your spouse can claim a spousal benefit on your record even if they have no earnings history. If you were born on or after that date, your spouse can still receive a benefit based on your record, but only if they are at least 62 years old and you are already receiving benefits. The amount is roughly half of your full retirement age benefit.

What if one of us claims early and the other waits until 70?

This is a common strategy. The spouse who claims early receives a reduced benefit immediately, while the spouse who waits receives a much larger benefit at 70. The household income is lower in the early years but higher later, and the survivor benefit is maximized if the higher-earning spouse dies first. The trade-off is that if the lower-earning spouse dies first, the household loses their income permanently.

Do we have to claim at the same time?

No. Each spouse claims independently on their own schedule. One spouse can claim at 62 while the other waits until 70. Your claiming decision does not affect when or how much your spouse can claim, except that if you were born before January 2, 1954, your spouse may need you to have claimed first in order to claim a spousal benefit.

What if we get divorced?

You may still be able to claim on your ex-spouse's record if the marriage lasted at least 10 years and you are at least 62 years old. The amount is the same as a spousal benefit — roughly half of their full retirement age benefit. Your ex-spouse does not need to agree, and it does not reduce their benefit. If you remarry, you lose the ability to claim on your ex-spouse's record unless the new marriage ends.

How do we know if we should claim now or wait?

This depends on your health, family history, household income needs, and how long you expect to live. A rough rule of thumb is that if you expect to live past 80, waiting usually results in a higher lifetime payout. If you have serious health concerns or need income now, claiming earlier may make more sense. A financial advisor can help you run the numbers for your specific situation.