Social Security Payments: Checks Worth Up to $5,108 Due This Week
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Social Security payments will be issued to recipients across the country this week.
Why It Matters
The Social Security Administration (SSA) pays retirement, survivor and disability benefits to some 70 million Americans. Payments go out every month and are delivered in one lump sum for the majority of recipients.
What To Know
Retirement, spousal and survivor benefits are paid out over the course of the month, depending on the recipient's birth date and how long they've been receiving payments. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)—which supports elderly, blind and disabled individuals with limited income and resources—is typically issued at the beginning of each month.
This week, retirement and other benefits payments will be made on Wednesday, June 18, for all those with a birthday that falls between the 11th and 20th of a month.
A Social Security card with U.S. dollars.
A Social Security card with U.S. dollars.
GETTY
How Much Are Retirement Benefits?
Social Security retirement benefits are based on your highest 35 years of earnings, adjusted for inflation. The SSA calculates your average monthly earnings and uses a formula to determine your base benefit, called the Primary Insurance Amount (PIA).
The formula is progressive, meaning lower earners get a higher percentage of their income replaced. The age you start claiming also affects your benefit: Claiming at full retirement age, currently 67, gives you 100 percent of your PIA, claiming early reduces it, and delaying past full retirement age increases it, up to age 70. Your benefit reflects both earnings and timing.
In 2025, retiring at full retirement age would provide a maximum monthly benefit of $4,018. Retiring early at age 62 would lower the maximum to $2,831, while delaying retirement until age 70 could increase it to $5,108.
Increased Benefits Likely For 2026
The cost-of-living adjustment, commonly referred to as COLA, has been a long-standing element of Social Security benefits, being put it in place in 1975. The adjustment is designed to keep payments in line with inflation so that the purchasing power of benefits is not eroded over time.
In recent years, because of the high inflation amid the coronavirus pandemic, beneficiaries have seen their benefits rise more than usual.
In 2026, benefit recipients can likely expect a 2.5 percent COLA, according to a new estimate by Social Security and Medicare policy analyst Mary Johnson. This would match the 2025 COLA.
The SSA will officially announce the 2026 COLA in October.
What Happens Next
The final payment for June will be made on the 25th, for all those born between the 21st and 31st.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time Business News
an hour ago
- Time Business News
IRS expands public awareness on IP PIN renewals, Amicus issues calendarized tax-season identity plan
Vancouver, Canada — The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has expanded its nationwide campaign to encourage taxpayers to renew and use Identity Protection Personal Identification Numbers, known as IP PINs, as the 2026 filing approaches. The six-digit number, designed to prevent identity thieves from filing fraudulent returns, must be renewed annually and linked to a taxpayer's Social Security number before electronic filing. Amicus International Consulting has announced a new calendarized tax-season identity plan, designed to help families, small businesses, and independent professionals build fraud-prevention habits across the entire year. The IRS's focus on IP PIN renewals is a response to persistent tax-related identity theft. Each year, criminals exploit stolen Social Security numbers to file fraudulent returns early in the season, often before legitimate taxpayers file. Without IP PINs, many victims only discover fraud when their e-filed return is rejected or when they receive IRS notices of suspicious activity. The agency's latest outreach underscores the importance of renewing IP PINs on time and safeguarding them from misuse. Amicus emphasizes that while IP PINs are powerful tools, they are only effective when combined with organized documentation and proactive filing habits. The firm's calendarized plan breaks the year into manageable steps, ensuring taxpayers avoid missed renewals, filing delays, and preventable fraud. Why IP PINs are essential in today's environment An IP PIN is a six-digit number that adds a second layer of authentication to federal tax returns. Unlike a password that can be guessed or a Social Security number that can be stolen, an IP PIN changes annually and is tied directly to IRS systems. Fraudulent returns filed without the correct IP PIN are automatically rejected. This protects refunds, blocks improper credits, and reduces audit-triggering errors. The IRS initially offered IP PINs only to confirmed victims of identity theft. The program has since expanded, and all taxpayers may now opt in. Amicus recommends adoption for individuals in high-risk categories, including seniors, divorced spouses navigating joint returns, frequent movers, self-employed contractors, and military families. IRS's expanded awareness campaign The IRS's new awareness push is multifaceted. It includes direct mail notices reminding taxpayers of renewal deadlines, expanded digital education through partnerships with libraries and community centers, and targeted messaging to prior victims of fraud. The agency stresses that IP PINs are never issued via email, text, or unsolicited calls, a safeguard meant to reduce phishing. Taxpayers are urged to treat any such communications as scams. The campaign also highlights that failure to renew can disrupt filings. If a return is submitted without the correct IP PIN, the IRS will reject it. Taxpayers must then wait for re-issuance, delaying refunds and creating stress during peak filing season. The Amicus calendarized tax-season identity plan Amicus International Consulting has developed a comprehensive framework that integrates IP PIN renewals into a household or business's annual calendar. The plan aligns identity protection with the rhythms of tax preparation, making fraud prevention a matter of habit rather than crisis management. January: Renewal and organization Taxpayers confirm IP PIN renewal status, update IRS addresses if they have moved, and store renewal letters in secure folders. Families are advised to create both physical and digital binders for all tax-related documents, including PIN notices, W-2s, 1099s, and receipts. February: Verification and preparation Credit reports should be checked for inconsistencies. Taxpayers must confirm that their renewed IP PIN has been correctly linked to their IRS record. Preparers, accountants, or tax software systems should be updated with the correct number. March: Fraud checks and monitoring Applicants log into IRS accounts to review transcripts and ensure no fraudulent activity has occurred. Families run credit monitoring scans or dark-web checks for leaked Social Security numbers. Any anomalies are addressed before filing. April: Filing early Taxpayers are advised to file as soon as all required forms are received. Filing early reduces the window for criminals to submit fraudulent returns. Families double-check that the return includes the IP PIN. May–July: Post-filing confirmation Refund status is tracked through Taxpayers log refund receipts and retain electronic acknowledgments. Monitoring continues for unusual IRS notices that could indicate attempted fraud. August–October: Reflection and review Households review what worked and what didn't. Families assess whether filing was smooth, refunds were timely, and fraud alerts were avoided. Processes are refined, and new habits are documented. November–December: Pre-season readiness Families prepare for the next cycle by confirming mailing addresses, scheduling renewal reminders, and refreshing their documentation binders. By December, taxpayers should be fully positioned for January renewals. Case study: family prevented refund theft A family in Ohio enrolled in the IP PIN program after experiencing refund theft in 2023. In 2024, criminals attempted to file using their Social Security numbers but were blocked. By adopting Amicus's calendarized framework, the family renewed their IP PINs in January, confirmed integration in February, and filed by mid-March. Their return processed smoothly, and the fraud attempt was rendered ineffective. Case study: independent contractor's recovery A freelance designer in Texas ignored her IP PIN renewal in 2024 and faced a rejected return. The oversight delayed her refund for six weeks. In 2025, she adopted Amicus's plan, placing her renewal on her January calendar and logging each IRS interaction. She filed by early March, avoided delays, and reported improved confidence in her tax season planning. Case study: small business partnership A family-owned business in California required all partners to adopt IP PINs after repeated phishing attempts. Amicus implemented a shared tax binder for the partnership, including IP PIN notices, renewal letters, and preparer confirmations. The firm renewed all PINs by January, logged confirmations, and filed early. No fraudulent attempts succeeded in 2025, protecting both refunds and business continuity. Accessibility and equity challenges Amicus warns that not all taxpayers benefit equally from digital tools. Seniors often struggle to access or store renewal letters securely. Rural families with unreliable mail delivery risk missing deadlines. Disabled individuals may require authorized representatives or caregivers to manage documentation. The Amicus plan addresses these challenges by recommending certified mail for critical communications, representative authorization letters, and physical documentation kits, thereby reducing reliance on digital portals. Fraud trends during tax season Fraudsters have become more sophisticated, using phishing emails disguised as IP PIN renewal notices or spoofed phone calls claiming to be from the IRS. Some attempts include fake 'PIN recovery portals' designed to harvest Social Security numbers. Amicus emphasizes that the IRS never issues or confirms IP PINs by email or phone. Taxpayers should only rely on official IRS correspondence or Criminals also increasingly target small businesses, filing fraudulent employment tax returns using stolen EINs. Amicus recommends that business owners treat EINs as carefully as Social Security numbers and consider parallel protective measures. Policy and systemic implications The expansion of IP PIN awareness reflects a larger trend of shifting fraud-prevention responsibilities to taxpayers. While the program is effective, it requires high levels of organization. Amicus argues that additional government support is needed, such as clearer caregiver designation systems, expanded outreach in vulnerable communities, and longer renewal windows for households facing logistical barriers. Other jurisdictions provide valid comparisons. Canada, for example, has emphasized multifactor authentication and account monitoring for tax filers, while the UK's HMRC has invested in call-back verification systems. These models suggest that stronger taxpayer support can accompany fraud prevention without reducing security. Amicus recommendations Treat IP PIN renewal as a fixed annual task, scheduled every January. Store IP PIN letters securely, both digitally and physically. File as early as possible to shorten the fraud window. Educate family members, particularly seniors, about phishing tactics. Authorize representatives in advance to handle renewals if the taxpayer becomes incapacitated. Track all IRS notices and responses in a structured log. Quotes from Amicus 'IP PINs are one of the most effective protections against refund theft, but only if taxpayers use and renew them consistently,' said an Amicus employee. 'Our calendarized plan turns renewal into a family habit, like renewing insurance or updating wills.' 'Fraudsters move fast at the start of every tax season. Filing early with the correct IP PIN is the best way to stay ahead,' another employee explained. Conclusion The IRS's expanded outreach on IP PIN renewals underscores the importance of disciplined, proactive identity management during tax season. Fraud prevention is no longer optional. Taxpayers who adopt Amicus International Consulting's calendarized identity plan can protect refunds, reduce stress, and avoid the pitfalls of last-minute scrambling. Tax identity protection is not only about technology, it is about routine. By integrating renewals into annual calendars, organizing documents, and filing early, families and businesses can stay secure in an environment of growing fraud threats. About Amicus International Consulting Amicus International Consulting guides lawful anonymity, identity protection, and compliance workflows. The firm develops structured checklists, documentation strategies, and calendarized plans that allow families and organizations to safeguard identities across multiple jurisdictions. Contact Information Phone: +1 (604) 200-5402 Email: info@ Website: TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Time Business News
an hour ago
- Time Business News
The Rise of USA-Africa Flights Opens Up New Opportunities For Travelers
For years, U.S. travelers wanting to visit Africa couldn't escape long, complicated trips with many stops. A vacation in Africa was a dream that required a lot of planning and patience. Luckily, things are changing. Flights between the United States and Africa are now more accessible, frequent, and traveler-friendly than ever before, with more and more tours to Africa becoming available everyday. This increase was caused by high demand and the need for more transcontinental routes. Getting to Africa is no longer the hard part; it's just the start of the adventure. Whether you're interested in ancient cultures, exciting safaris, or the business opportunities in Africa's growing economies, now is the time to go! More and more U.S. airlines are putting money into direct and one-stop flights to Africa through added, more frequent routes and codeshares. This makes it easier for Americans to see all that the continent has to offer. There are now flights from cities such as New York, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and Chicago to prominent African cities like Johannesburg, Lagos, Nairobi, Accra, and Cape Town. Delta is one of the companies that has led this change. Over the years, the number of flights to Africa has steadily grown. Travelers looking for Delta flights from New York to Africa or connections through Atlanta are finding it easier and more comfortable to travel, with shorter travel times and easier connections across Africa. United and American Airlines, among others, have also added more flights, which has led to healthy competition and new ideas across the board, such as better service on flights, lower prices, and more flexible schedules. Africa is one of the most diverse continents in the world. It has more than 50 countries, many ecosystems, and a wide range of cultures, languages, and landscapes. However, for a long time, a lack of flights made it difficult for many Americans to access this wealth of experiences. A trip to Africa is no longer just a 'once in a lifetime' dream; it's a real, repeatable travel option now that air travel has become more accessible. These flights are more than just a way to get from one place to another. They are also for business travel, connecting with people from the diaspora, tourism, and humanitarian work, making it easier for people to get to know each other and build bridges between countries. The rise in flights between the U.S. and Africa means that safari dreams are easier to realize. Smoother air connections mean less time in transit and more time on the ground, whether you're going to the grasslands of the Serengeti or on a game drive in the Kruger National Park. Direct flights also make it easier to switch between airlines and find lost luggage, which is great for anyone who is travelling with gear or has a tight schedule. Travelers today want flexibility, dependability, and a smooth booking process, and that's exactly what U.S. airlines are giving them. Delta Africa flights are especially known for being on time, comfortable, and having outstanding customer service. Their reputation makes them a favorite among both new and experienced travelers to Africa. There are more flights between the U.S. and Africa than ever. The question is no longer 'Can I get there?' but 'Where do I want to go first?' TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Boston Globe
3 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Immigrant population in US drops for the first time in decades
Advertisement But experts predict looming negative economic and demographic consequences for the United States if the trend persists. Immigrants are a crucial workforce in many sectors, and the country's reliance on them is growing as more baby boomers retire. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up After campaigning on a promise of mass deportations, Trump has introduced sweeping measures to reduce immigration. His administration has restricted access to asylum at the southern border, tightened visa requirements for students and tech workers, and deployed thousands of federal agents to detain and deport immigrants without lawful status. The crackdown has led immigrants to leave the country voluntarily and has discouraged others from coming. Lillian Divina Leite, 46, chose to use the government's new self-deportation program to return to Brazil. A housekeeper in Charlotte, N.C., Leite said that she had begun to panic when she saw immigrants being 'hunted down like hardened criminals.' Advertisement 'I got really scared,' said Leite, who had fallen out of legal status after overstaying a six-month tourist visa. 'I thought, I haven't done anything wrong in my life,' she said, 'and suddenly I could be imprisoned.' Despite the study's findings, Kevin Lynn, executive director of the Institute for Sound Public Policy, which advocates for less immigration, said that foreign workers who enter lawfully continue to pour into the United States and undermine Americans. 'There has been no letup,' he said. 'People coming here legally, whether on green cards or employment visas, are impacting American workers at all strata, whether low-skilled or high-skilled.' Net migration — the difference between the number of immigrants arriving and departing — has turned negative, a shift that the chief Pew demographer, Jeffrey Passel, called a 'demographic certainty' so far in 2025. His team's analysis did not calculate a separate number for immigrants without lawful status who seem likely to represent the largest number of departures, because heightened enforcement probably diminished immigrants' participation in the census survey that was used to make estimates, he said. They may have been undercounted, which would suggest the drop is not as severe, or their low participation could mask an even more striking decline. The United States experienced negative net immigration in the 1930s, during the Great Depression, when between 400,000 and 1 million Mexicans and Mexican Americans left, many under coercive repatriation programs. In July, the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute projected net migration in 2025 would be flat or would even drop and predicted that the Trump administration's policies would continue to squeeze out low- and high-skilled foreign workers at least through 2026. Advertisement 'A rapid decline in immigration is going to cause economic harm,' said Tara Watson, an economist at the Brookings Institution and one of the authors of the report. Political pushback and legal challenges could lead the Trump administration to ease its crackdown and, thus, soften the impact, she said. But legislation recently passed by the Republican-controlled Congress has significantly increased funding for immigration enforcement, suggesting that the restrictive approach could extend throughout Trump's term. If so, 'we could go into a spiral of continued decline,' said Watson, which could undermine US competitiveness for global talent. 'If things are really bad, we no longer are the place where people go to do science or tech, and that could have generational repercussions,' she said. In addition to targeting migrants without lawful status, the administration has introduced measures that have undermined legal immigration. It has paused the refugee program, which offered green cards and a path to citizenship to people fleeing persecution. It has increased screening and vetting of visa applicants, which experts expect will reduce the numbers of foreign workers and students. The Trump administration has ended several Biden-era programs that had allowed people from troubled countries to live and work temporarily in the United States. Thousands of immigrants are set to lose their protected status in coming months. Migration across the southern border, which had begun to slow under asylum restrictions imposed late in the term of President Joe Biden, has declined further since Trump returned to office. Employment opportunities have long been the primary draw for immigrants, with migration typically slowing during economic downturns. During the Great Recession, more Mexicans without authorized status left the United States than arrived. Advertisement But the current decline is unfolding in response to stringent policies and at a time when the United States needs immigration to offset a falling birthrate and an aging population. 'We have more and more people over 65 and not in the workforce,' said Dowell Myers, a demography professor at the University of Southern California. 'A new baby won't help us for 20 years, but a young immigrant helps us immediately.' 'If you take a sledgehammer to the labor force by cutting immigrant flows,' he said, 'we are all going to be seeing the consequences in our everyday lives.' Restaurants, farms, and assisted-living facilities are already grappling with labor shortages that could become more pronounced, he said. Many of those roles are filled by unauthorized immigrants, whose population reached 14 million in 2023, according to Pew, and who accounted for 4 percent of the total US population and about a quarter of the foreign-born population. California had the most unauthorized residents in 2023, at 2.3 million, followed closely by Texas, with 2.1 million. Florida had the largest increase, adding 700,000 for a total of 1.6 million. Through mid-2024, the unauthorized population continued to grow at a fast clip, before starting to contract following policy changes in 2025, according to a preliminary Pew analysis. About half of the 14 million unauthorized immigrants in 2023 had been in the United States for more than a decade, and 4.6 million US-born children have parents who are in the country without lawful status. Pew's estimates are based on an analysis of Census Bureau data, including the American Community Survey and the Current Population Survey. Advertisement The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency is holding a record 60,000 immigrants in detention, and that number is expected to soar as planned facilities open. Confined immigrants often agree to be swiftly deported rather than languish in custody while awaiting court rulings on whether they can remain in the United States. This article originally appeared in
