A selection of Social Security payments worth up to $4,873 will be paid this week.
Around 68 million Americans receive some form of Social Security benefit each month.
Total payouts, including for retirement, disability and survivor benefits, now cost the government around $1.5 trillion a year.
The payments tend to be staggered throughout the month due to the large number of people receiving checks.
Two groups of Americans can expect to receive their payments in the first week of September.
For those that have been claiming Social Security since 1997, or claim both retirement benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), these were paid yesterday, September 3.
The highest retirement payments are as much as $4,873, though the figure is likely to be lower for the majority of recipients.
In fact, the average monthly retirement check is $1,907, a figure that takes into account the 35 highest-earning years in a recipient’s career and is adjusted for inflation.
‘The maximum benefit depends on the age you retire. For example, if you retire at full retirement age in 2024, your maximum benefit would be $3,822,’ the SSA states on its website.
‘However, if you retire at age 62 in 2024, your maximum benefit would be $2,710.
‘If you retire at age 70 in 2024, your maximum benefit would be $4,873,’ the site explains.
Those who only receive SSI benefits, not retirement, should have received their checks on August 30, as the usual 1st of the month payment day fell on a weekend.
The highest SSI payment that can be claimed for an individual is currently $943 and $1,415 for a couple.
Other beneficiaries will begin receiving their payments from next week, depending on their date of birth.
If you’re born within the 1st and 10th of any month you will receive your monthly check on September 11.
Claimants with a birthday between the 11th and 20th of any given month, will receive their payments the following week on September 18.
The last group, whose birthdays fall between 21st and 31st of the month will have their benefits paid on September 25.
The SSA recommends waiting three working days following a due date before contacting them about a late payment.
