Social Security Payments for December 2025
At the end of December, many recipients of Social Security will notice some extra funds in their accounts. This isn’t due to new legislation but rather an interesting quirk of the calendar related to New Year’s Day.
2026 COLA Increase and Early SSI Payments
Individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will benefit from early January payments, which are scheduled for December 31. This early deposit is necessitated by the fact that January 1 is a federal holiday. Payments for SSI are advanced whenever the first of the month coincides with a weekend or holiday.
Details on Early Payments for SSI Recipients
This early disbursement will also include a recently announced adjustment for the 2026 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). The federal government has increased the COLA from 2.5% in 2025 to 2.8% for 2026. Consequently, individual SSI recipients will see their benefits increase from $967 to $994, while couples will see their benefits rise from $1,450 to $1,491.
Approximately 7.5 million individuals are set to receive these increased benefits one day earlier than usual.
Three Payments for Certain Americans in December
Interestingly, around 2.5 million Americans who receive both SSI and Social Security will be receiving three separate payments in December. These include the SSI payment on December 1, their regular Social Security payment based on their birthdate, and the early SSI payment on December 31.
Upcoming Early Payments in February and March
The calendar shift will also impact payments in early 2026. Because February 1 falls on a Sunday, SSI recipients will see their payments issued early on January 30. Similarly, for March, SSI checks will be distributed on February 27 due to March 1 also being a Sunday. Notably, the next instance of such a double payment event won’t occur until July 2026.
Social Security Benefits Increase with COLA in 2026
With the upcoming COLA adjustment, Social Security recipients can expect their monthly payments to rise. Workers retiring at the full retirement age will receive $4,152 each month, up from $4,018 in 2025. For those retiring at age 70, the maximum benefits are set to increase from $5,108 to $5,251.
Social Security Payment Dates for January and February 2026
Social Security payments will adhere to the standard Wednesday schedule, based on the recipients’ birthdates. For January 2026, those born between the 1st and 10th will receive payments on January 14, while those born between the 11th and 20th will receive theirs on January 21. Those born from the 21st to the 31st will see payments on January 28. SSI payments for January are scheduled for January 30.
As for February 2026, Social Security payments will be made on February 11, February 18, and February 25 depending on birthdates, while SSI payments will arrive on February 27.
FAQ
What will the increase be for SSI payments in 2026?
Individual SSI benefits will increase from $967 to $994, and couples will see an increase from $1,450 to $1,491.
Why are some individuals receiving three payments in December?
About 2.5 million individuals who receive both SSI and Social Security will be receiving an SSI payment on December 1, a regular Social Security payment, and then an early SSI payment on December 31.
