In the hustle and bustle of December, it’s important to know when your Social Security (SSA) money will arrive—especially for those with unstable income or who rely on SSI. Below is a clear schedule and essentials, in simple language, for US-based readers—so you can plan your expenses and bills appropriately according to your December 2025 calendar.
A brief introduction – what are the rules?
Social Security retirement, SSDI, and survivor benefits payments for those who claimed after May 1997 are made on the second, third, and fourth Wednesdays of the month—depending on their birth date. (The 1st–10th Wednesdays are the second Wednesday, the 11th–20th Wednesdays are the third, and the 21st–31st Wednesdays are the fourth.) For those who received benefits before May 1997, payments are generally made on the 3rd of each month. These rules are outlined in the SSA’s official guide.
Clear dates for December 2025
The main payments as of the December 2025 calendar (if the birthday rule applies) will be as follows:
- Birthdays 1–10 → Payment: Wednesday, December 10, 2025.
- Birthdays 11–20 → Payment: Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
- Birthdays 21–31 → Payment: Wednesday, December 24, 2025.
This detail will help you mark the exact day on your December 2025 calendar. If you’re an SSI recipient, your regular SSI payment typically arrives on the 1st of the month — this time your December SSI payment will arrive on December 1, 2025. Additionally, because January 1, 2026, is a federal holiday, the SSA has advanced the January 2026 SSI payment to December 31, 2025; this means some SSI recipients may receive money twice this month.
(Note: Payment coordination may be different if you receive both Social Security and SSI — see SSA instructions or contact your nearest Social Security office).
COLA and December-January difference
The SSA has announced that the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2026 is approximately 2.8%—it typically takes effect in January 2026. However, some SSI beneficiaries will see this increase earlier in their December 31, 2025, payment (because January 1 falls on a holiday). Note this on your December 2025 calendar.
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Quick and useful tips
- Check your My Social Security account — that’s where individual payment notices and dates are found (searchable keywords: SSA, social security office, my Social Security).
- Credit times may vary at the bank if Direct Deposit is set up; check banking cutoffs.
- If the payment doesn’t arrive on the expected date, contact the SSA website or your local Social Security office — it’s often recommended to wait up to 3 business days.
- Mark these dates and the SSI surplus (December 31) in a different color on your December 2025 calendar — this will help cover holiday expenses.
As of the December 2025 calendar: Regular Social Security (post-May 1997) payments will arrive on December 10, 17, and 24 (depending on the birthday rule), SSI regularly on December 1, and an additional payment may be due on December 31 because the January payment was advanced due to the New Year’s Day holiday. If you are a pre-1997 beneficiary, your date will be different (usually the 3rd). All of this information is based on SSA’s schedule and recent COLA announcements; check with the SSA website or your nearest Social Security office for further confirmation.
