Social Security: Two Types of Benefits To Be Paid This Week – Newsweek

Report on Social Security Administration Payments and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides essential social protection floors, which are fundamental to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The distribution of retirement and disability benefits is a direct implementation of policies aimed at SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). This report analyzes the upcoming payment schedule and the adequacy of benefits in the context of these global goals.

Analysis of August Payment Distribution

The timely and structured disbursement of funds by the SSA demonstrates the functionality of a key public institution, a cornerstone of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). A predictable payment schedule ensures that millions of Americans can manage their finances, which is critical for their economic stability and well-being.

Scheduled Disbursements

The payment schedule for August is organized to ensure systematic distribution to various beneficiary groups:

1. August 1: Payments for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients and retirees who began receiving benefits before May 1997.
2. August 13: Payments for individuals with birthdays between the 1st and 10th of the month.
3. August 20: Payments for individuals with birthdays between the 11th and 20th of the month.
4. August 27: Payments for individuals with birthdays between the 21st and 31st of the month.
5. August 29: Early disbursement of September’s SSI payments due to a national holiday.

Beneficiary Groups and SDG Relevance

The SSA serves diverse populations, each corresponding to specific SDG targets:

• Retirees: Support for this group aligns with SDG 1 and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), ensuring a dignified life after decades of contribution to the economy.
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Recipients: These payments are a critical safety net for people with disabilities, directly addressing SDG 10 by reducing inequality and providing a basic income to prevent extreme poverty (SDG 1).

Financial Sufficiency and its Impact on SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

The effectiveness of Social Security as a tool for achieving the SDGs is contingent upon the adequacy of the benefits provided. Insufficient financial support can undermine progress towards eradicating poverty and ensuring healthy lives.

Current Benefit Levels

Benefit amounts are a key indicator of the program’s success in meeting SDG targets:

• Average Retirement Benefit (May 2025): $2,002.39
• Maximum Retirement Benefit (2025 at age 67): $4,018
• Average SSI Benefit: $718.30

While these payments provide a crucial income source, their ability to lift all recipients above the poverty line and ensure access to healthcare, nutritious food, and adequate housing remains a subject of debate.

Recipient Satisfaction and Implications for SDGs

Recent findings from The Senior Citizen’s League indicate a significant gap between the program’s provisions and the needs of beneficiaries. With 63 percent of recipients reporting dissatisfaction, it is clear that the current benefit levels may not be sufficient to guarantee financial security. This financial stress can have direct negative consequences on mental and physical health, hindering the achievement of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

Policy Considerations for Strengthening Social Protection in Line with SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

Addressing beneficiary concerns is essential for ensuring the Social Security system effectively reduces inequality and supports vulnerable populations, in line with SDG 10.

Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)

A primary concern among beneficiaries is the formula used for the annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). A significant portion of recipients (34 percent) advocate for updating the COLA formula to more accurately reflect the inflation experienced by older Americans. Reforming this mechanism is a critical policy step toward creating a more equitable social protection system that prevents the erosion of purchasing power for those on fixed incomes.

Institutional Responsibility and Future Outlook

The SSA acknowledges that benefit amounts change as new retirees with higher lifetime earnings enter the system. However, reliance on this trend alone may not be sufficient to address the systemic issues of benefit adequacy. Continuous evaluation and policy reform are necessary to ensure that the Social Security system remains a robust and effective institution that actively contributes to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals for all citizens.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

• SDG 1: No Poverty

  The article’s core subject is the Social Security Administration’s payments, including retirement benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for disability. These are social protection systems designed to provide a financial floor and prevent poverty among vulnerable populations like the elderly and persons with disabilities.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The Social Security program, as described, is a mechanism to reduce income inequality. By providing regular payments to “retirees,” individuals with disabilities (“disability payments”), and “survivors,” it supports the economic inclusion of groups that might otherwise have limited income, thereby addressing inequality based on age and disability status.

Identified SDG Targets

1. SDG 1: No Poverty

   • Target 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable.
   • The article directly discusses the implementation of the U.S. Social Security system, a national social protection measure. It highlights its coverage of vulnerable groups by detailing payments for “retirees,” recipients of “disability payments, known as Supplemental Security Income (SSI),” and “survivor benefits.” The scale of this coverage is indicated by the mention that “Millions of Americans” and “more than 50 million Americans” receive these benefits.

2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability…
   • The system described promotes the economic inclusion of older persons (through retirement benefits) and persons with disabilities (through SSI). The entire article is focused on the financial payments that enable these groups to participate more fully in the economy.
   • Target 10.4: Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality.
   • Social Security is a cornerstone social protection policy. The article’s discussion of specific payment amounts, the dissatisfaction among seniors (“63 percent reported being dissatisfied”), and the debate over the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) are all directly related to the role and effectiveness of this policy in achieving greater economic equality.

Implied Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. For Target 1.3

   • Indicator 1.3.1: Proportion of population covered by social protection floors/systems, by sex, distinguishing children, unemployed persons, older persons, persons with disabilities…
   • The article provides data points that would be used for this indicator. It quantifies the coverage of “older persons” by stating “more than 50 million Americans collecting retirement checks” and discusses the system for “persons with disabilities” by referencing “disability payments, known as Supplemental Security Income (SSI).”

2. For Target 10.4

   • Indicator 10.4.1: Labour share of GDP, comprising wages and social protection transfers.
   • While the article does not mention GDP, it provides specific values for the “social protection transfers” component of this indicator. The text states, “The average Social Security check was $2,002.39” and “SSI recipients received an average of $718.30.” These figures are direct measures of the financial transfers intended to promote equality.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: newsweek.com