Today, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is distributing benefits to millions of people in the U.S. What will be the third payment on their December schedule?
Who will receive Social Security payments today, December 10th?
Payments are designated for specific groups, including those receiving retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), or survivor benefits.
Out of about 70.3 million Americans who receive retirement, SSDI, or survivor benefits, most get their payments on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Wednesdays of each month.
The schedule for recipients is based on the birth dates of the beneficiaries, linked to their accumulated benefits from Social Security taxes.
Today’s payments are for those whose birthdays fall between the 1st and 10th of the month. The following two Wednesdays (December 17th and 24th) will cater to those born from the 11th to the 31st.
Payment schedule for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Wednesdays in December:
- Birthdays from the 1st to the 10th: Wednesday, December 10th
- Birthdays from the 11th to the 20th: Wednesday, December 17th
- Birthdays from the 21st to the 31st: Wednesday, December 24th
Who won’t receive benefits this month on those Wednesdays?
- Some long-term Social Security recipients
If you began claiming retirement, SSDI, or survivor benefits before May 1997, you typically won’t receive a check on the 3rd of any month, regardless of your birthday.
Thus, for these long-term recipients, the December payment was scheduled for Wednesday, December 3rd.
In addition, around 7.4 million people receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is for low-income individuals aged 65 and older or those with disabilities, usually get paid on the 1st of the month.
Consequently, SSI payments for December went out on Monday, December 1st.
- Dual beneficiaries (SSI and regular Social Security)
Approximately 2.5 million individuals receive both SSI and either SSA retirement, SSDI, or survivor benefits.
These individuals were set to get their SSI payments on December 1st and their SSA payments on December 3rd.
Overview of December payment dates, not based on birthdays:
- SSI recipients: Monday, December 1st
- Beneficiaries before May 1997: Wednesday, December 3rd
- Dual beneficiaries: SSI on December 1st; SSA on December 3rd
You can review the complete 2025 benefit distribution schedule on the SSA’s site. The agency has also shared the 2026 schedule.
How much will retirees receive from Social Security?
The majority of Social Security recipients in the U.S. get an average of $2,012.30 per month, based on the latest data from the SSA.
In the most recent fact sheet, published just days ago, the SSA shared October’s figures, which may have been affected by the government shutdown from earlier this fall.
How much do disabled persons, survivors, and SSI recipients get?
The SSA reports that workers with disabilities receive an average of $1,588.44 monthly, while survivors average about $1,575.89 per month. For SSI beneficiaries, the average monthly payment is $717.51.
COLA increase expected in 2026
In October, the SSA confirmed that payments are likely to increase by 2.8% in 2026 as part of the yearly cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). For retirees, this equates to an average addition of $56 per month.
The first beneficiaries to receive the updated amounts will be those on the SSI plan, as payments for January will be sent out a day early on December 31st, due to New Year’s Day being a federal holiday.
How are Social Security benefits distributed?
The SSA states that, in “most cases,” recipients are no longer given the option of receiving paper checks. Instead, beneficiaries have two electronic payment options:
By providing bank details to the SSA, they can receive benefits via direct deposit. Updating bank account details can be done through the SSA’s online portal.
Recipients may also opt for a Direct Express card, which is a special debit card for those without bank accounts, allowing them to access their funds.
