Tomorrow, the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) will distribute benefits to millions across the country as part of its December payment schedule.
Who will get a Social Security payment on December 17th?
Payments will be issued to specific groups on Wednesday, December 17th, affecting those receiving retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), or survivor checks.
About 70.4 million Americans receive retirement, SSDI, or survivor benefits, with most scheduled to be paid on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Wednesdays of each month.
The payment distribution on Wednesdays is determined by the beneficiaries’ birth dates. Those whose benefits come from Social Security taxes will see their payments aligned with their birth date.
Tomorrow marks the third Wednesday of December, meaning payments will go out to individuals with birthdays between the 11th and 20th.
Overview – December’s Wednesday payment schedule:
- 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
Are there recipients not getting paid on these Wednesdays?
- Certain long-term Social Security recipients
If you began receiving retirement, SSDI, or survivor benefits before May 1997, you typically won’t receive a check on the 3rd of each month, no matter your birthday.
These long-standing beneficiaries will have already received their payment on Wednesday, December 3rd.
Additionally, roughly 7.4 million Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries, a different SSA benefit aimed at low-income individuals over 65 or those with disabilities, are usually paid on the 1st of each month.
This means that in December, SSI payments were sent out on Monday, December 1st.
- Dual beneficiaries (SSI and regular Social Security)
Overview – December payment dates not tied to birth dates:
- SSI beneficiaries: Monday, December 1st
- Social Security beneficiaries before May 1997: Wednesday, December 3rd
- Dual beneficiaries: SSI on Monday, December 1st; Social Security on Wednesday, December 3rd
You can view the SSA’s complete benefit distribution schedule for 2025 in an online calendar. There’s also a schedule available for 2026.
What are the payment amounts for Social Security retirees?
Retired workers, who comprise the bulk of Social Security recipients, receive an average monthly payment of approximately $2,013.32, according to the latest SSA data. Meanwhile, the current maximum monthly retirement benefit is set at $5,108.
What about payments for disabled individuals, survivors, and SSI recipients?
According to SSA figures, workers with disabilities average about $1,588.52 per month. Survivors receive an average of $1,576.20, while SSI beneficiaries typically receive around $717.90 monthly.
COLA increase expected for 2026
In October, the SSA announced that beneficiary payments are projected to rise by 2.8% in 2026 due to the agency’s annual cost of living adjustment (COLA). For retirees, this translates to an average increase of about $56 per month.
The initial group to receive the updated payments will be SSI beneficiaries, with January funds distributed on December 31st, a day earlier than usual due to the New Year holiday.
How does the SSA process payments?
The SSA has stated that, in most cases, beneficiaries are no longer offered paper checks. Instead, recipients have two primary options for receiving payments electronically:
By providing bank account information, beneficiaries can opt for direct deposit. They can update their account details via the online “my social security” portal.
Alternatively, those without bank accounts can receive their payments through a direct express card, a special debit card designed for federal benefits.
