Social Security beneficiaries will receive their final regular monthly payment of the year in December, following the standard distribution schedule used by the Social Security Administration. This December payment will be the last before the upcoming cost-of-living adjustment takes effect, increasing benefit amounts beginning in January 2026.
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How December Social Security Payments Will Be Sent
Most Social Security retirement and disability payments are issued on Wednesdays, with the exact date determined by the beneficiary’s birth date. For December 2025, the payment dates follow the usual pattern outlined by the SSA:
- Individuals with birthdays between the 1st and 10th of the month will receive their payment on Wednesday, December 10.
- Beneficiaries born from the 11th through the 20th will be paid on Wednesday, December 17.
- Those with birthdays from the 21st through the end of the month will receive their check on Wednesday, December 24.
People who began receiving Social Security benefits before May 1997 continue to follow a different schedule and will receive their December payment on December 3.
COLA Increase Begins January 2026
After the December payments are issued, recipients will see an increase in their monthly benefits as the 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment goes into effect for 2026. According to the SSA, the average beneficiary will receive approximately $56 more per month starting in January.
December 2025 and January 2026 Social Security Payment Calendar
For planning and budgeting purposes, the Social Security Administration has already released its payment schedules for both 2025 and 2026. The dates for regular retirement benefits are:
December 2025
- Wednesday, December 10: Birthdays between the 1st and 10th
- Wednesday, December 17: Birthdays between the 11th and 20th
- Wednesday, December 24: Birthdays between the 21st and 31st
January 2026
- Wednesday, January 14: Birthdays between the 1st and 10th
- Wednesday, January 21: Birthdays between the 11th and 20th
- Wednesday, January 28: Birthdays between the 21st and 31st
SSI Payment Schedule for Late 2025 and Early 2026
Supplemental Security Income payments follow a different set of rules. SSI payments are typically issued on the first business day of each month. Because January 1, 2026, falls on a holiday, the January SSI benefit will be sent the day before.
Here are the confirmed SSI payment dates:
- Monday, December 1, 2025: SSI payment for December
- Wednesday, December 31, 2025: SSI payment for January 2026
- Friday, January 30, 2026: SSI payment for February
- Friday, February 27, 2026: SSI payment for March
- Wednesday, April 1, 2026: SSI payment for April
- Friday, May 1, 2026: SSI payment for May
- Monday, June 1, 2026: SSI payment for June
What SSI Provides and Who Qualifies
Supplemental Security Income is designed to support individuals who have limited financial resources and are aged 65 or older, blind, or living with a qualifying disability. Children with disabilities may also qualify. Most adults approved for SSI have very limited income, typically not exceeding monthly wages of $2,019.
Anyone who believes they may qualify for SSI can begin their application online, visit a local SSA office, or call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays for assistance.