As the summer season begins, June is bringing good financial news for millions of retirees across the United States. While the cost of living continues to challenge many seniors, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has confirmed that certain groups will see a noticeable increase in their monthly checks this month. These adjustments come as part of ongoing federal efforts to align benefits with inflation and ensure that vulnerable populations receive the financial support they need.
Two specific groups of retirees are set to benefit most in June, receiving higher checks than in previous months. Here’s what you need to know.
Why the Increase in June?
Each year, Social Security benefits are adjusted based on the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), which is tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W). While the general COLA for 2025 won’t be announced until October, certain adjustments throughout the year—often linked to retroactive changes, back pay corrections, or state-level supplemental payments—can impact monthly benefit amounts.
June stands out this year due to two reasons:
- State Supplemental Payments being distributed.
- Correction-based increases and delayed benefit disbursements catching up.
These changes are not universal but are targeted at specific groups of retirees.
Group 1: Retirees Receiving State Supplemental Payments
Several states provide supplemental income payments to retirees on top of their federal Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. These additional payments vary by state and are aimed at helping low-income seniors afford basic necessities.
In June 2025, states such as California, New York, and Massachusetts will distribute higher-than-average supplemental checks due to either updated eligibility thresholds or delayed disbursements from earlier in the year.
For example:
- California’s State Supplementary Payment (SSP) has been adjusted for inflation, resulting in slightly higher checks for qualifying recipients this month.
- In New York, additional funding from state resources is being used to boost June payments for eligible elderly and disabled individuals.
- Massachusetts will also issue increased payments for June as part of a recalibration of benefits for low-income retirees who recently recertified their eligibility.
If you live in one of these states and qualify for SSI, you may already see the boost reflected in your direct deposit or benefit statement.
Group 2: Retirees Receiving Delayed or Retroactive Benefits
The second group of retirees set to receive higher checks in June are those who:
- Recently applied for Social Security and had delayed processing,
- Qualified for retroactive payments going back several months, or
- Had benefit underpayments corrected.
The Social Security Administration has been addressing a backlog of cases from earlier this year. This includes individuals who applied for benefits late in 2024 or early in 2025 and are now receiving both their regular monthly benefit and a lump sum representing back payments.
Additionally, some retirees who reported changes to their income, marital status, or disability classification in recent months may see an adjustment in their June payments to reflect those updates.
For many in this group, June will not just bring a routine monthly payment—but a significantly larger deposit that compensates for months of waiting.
What This Means for Retirees
For retirees living on fixed incomes, even modest increases in Social Security benefits can have a significant impact. Whether it’s helping to pay for rising medical costs, grocery bills, housing expenses, or utilities, these additional funds come at a crucial time—especially as inflation remains a concern.
Financial experts encourage recipients to:
- Review your SSA benefit letter or online account to confirm any increases.
- Set aside a portion of any lump-sum retroactive payments for emergencies.
- Check with your state’s human services department to see if you’re eligible for additional supplemental benefits you’re not already receiving.
How to Know If You Qualify
If you’re unsure whether you’re part of one of the two groups receiving higher checks in June, here’s what you can do:
- Log in to your My Social Security account at ssa.gov.
- Check the “Payment History” section to review the amounts paid in previous months.
- Look for any notices in your account or mail from the SSA or your state’s benefits office.
- Contact the Social Security helpline or visit your local SSA office if you believe your benefit amount is incorrect or if you’re missing a supplemental payment.
Looking Ahead: More Changes on the Horizon?
While June brings good news for these two groups, other retirees are already looking ahead to the 2025 COLA announcement in October, which will determine benefit increases for all Social Security recipients starting in January 2026.
Preliminary projections suggest the COLA may be between 2.5% and 3%, depending on inflation trends over the summer. While this is lower than the 8.7% record hike in 2023, it still represents a meaningful adjustment for retirees.
Final Thoughts
June is shaping up to be a brighter month for many American retirees, especially those who receive state supplements or are catching up on delayed payments. As the SSA continues to roll out improvements and address benefit gaps, recipients need to stay informed and proactive.