Social Security Payments December: Final Checks Before 2026, Here’s the Full Schedule

Social Security Payments: The final round of Social Security payments for 2025 will be issued in December, following the standard distribution schedule used by the Social Security Administration (SSA). These payments will be the last before the 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) officially increases benefits beginning January 2026.

Social Security benefits primarily received by older or retired Americans are paid on Wednesdays. The payment date depends on the beneficiary’s birth date. Those born between the 1st and 10th will receive their December check on Wednesday, December 10, while recipients with birthdays from the 11th to the 20th will be paid on Wednesday, December 17. Individuals born after the 20th will get their benefit on Wednesday, December 24. Beneficiaries who began receiving payments before May 1997 will get their December check earlier, on December 3.

After the December payments are completed, Social Security recipients will receive larger monthly checks thanks to the 2.8% COLA increase, which will raise the average payment by roughly $56 per month starting in January 2026.

December 2025 Social Security Payments Schedule

• Dec. 10 – Birthdays 1st–10th

• Dec. 17 – Birthdays 11th–20th

• Dec. 24 – Birthdays 21st–31st

January 2026 Social Security Payment Schedule

• Jan. 14 – Birthdays 1st–10th

• Jan. 21 – Birthdays 11th–20th

• Jan. 28 – Birthdays 21st–31st

SSI Payment Schedule: December 2025 to Early 2026

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) follows a different payment structure. SSI checks are issued on the first business day of each month. Because January 1, 2026 is a federal holiday, the January SSI payment will be delivered a day earlier, on December 31, 2025.

• Dec. 1, 2025 – SSI payment for December 2025

• Dec. 31, 2025 – SSI payment for January 2026

• Jan. 30, 2026 – SSI payment for February 2026

• Feb. 27, 2026 – SSI payment for March 2026

• Apr. 1, 2026 – SSI payment for April 2026

• May 1, 2026 – SSI payment for May 2026

• June 1, 2026 – SSI payment for June 2026

What Is SSI?

Supplemental Security Income provides monthly financial support to people age 65 or older, as well as individuals—adults and children—who are blind or have qualifying disabilities and meet strict income limits. According to the SSA, SSI applicants typically must earn less than $2,019 per month to qualify.

Those who believe they may be eligible for SSI can apply online, visit their nearest Social Security office, or call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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