Social Security Payments for December 2025
December’s Social Security payments will follow the usual schedule, marking the last payment before the new Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) takes effect.
According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), those whose birthdays fall between the 1st and 10th will receive their payment on the second Wednesday of December, which is December 10. Beneficiaries with birthdays from the 11th to the 20th will get paid on the third Wednesday (December 17), while those born after the 20th will see their payments on the fourth Wednesday (December 24). It’s also worth noting that earlier recipients, specifically those who began their benefits before May 1997, will get their payments on December 3.
Upcoming COLA Increase
Following the December payment, recipients can expect a 2.8% COLA increase when the new rates take effect in January 2026. This adjustment is anticipated to raise monthly payments by about $56 on average, according to SSA estimates.
Payment Schedule for December 2025 and January 2026
You can check the Social Security Administration’s website for the benefit payment calendars for 2025 and 2026, which can help with financial planning.
For regular Social Security retirement benefits in December:
- December 10: For birthdays from the 1st to 10th.
- December 17: For birthdays from the 11th to 20th.
- December 24: For birthdays from the 21st to 31st.
In January 2026, the payment schedule continues as follows:
- January 14: For birthdays from the 1st to 10th.
- January 21: For birthdays from the 11th to 20th.
- January 28: For birthdays from the 21st to 31st.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Payments
SSI recipients usually receive their payments on the first business day of each month, meaning that December’s checks will be issued on Monday, December 1. However, since January 1, 2026, falls on a holiday, these payments will instead be processed on Wednesday, December 31, 2025.
