December 2025 brings a busy Social Security month, with two SSI deposits and four regular Social Security paydays on the usual Wednesday schedule. SSI recipients are paid on December 1 and again on December 31, while Social Security retirement, survivor, and disability benefits arrive on December 3, 10, 17, and 24.
Exact December 2025 SSI Payment Dates
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) follows its standard rule of paying on the first of the month, unless that date is a weekend or federal holiday. In December 2025, that means:
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Monday, December 1, 2025: Regular SSI payment for December
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Wednesday, December 31, 2025: Early SSI payment for January 2026
The December 31 deposit is not a bonus check; it is your January 2026 SSI benefit paid early because January 1 is a federal holiday and SSA pays SSI on the prior business day when the first falls on a holiday.
Full Social Security Schedule for December 2025
Social Security retirement, survivor, and disability benefits (SSDI) are paid on different days depending on your situation and your birthday. Those who began benefits before May 1997, or who receive both SSI and Social Security, follow one rule; everyone else is paid based on their birth date.
Here is the complete December 2025 schedule:
| Date | Who gets paid and what type of benefit |
|---|---|
| Monday, Dec. 1, 2025 | SSI payment for December 2025 |
| Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025 | Social Security for those on benefits before May 1997, or receiving both SSI & SS |
| Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025 | Social Security: birthdays on the 1st–10th of any month |
| Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025 | Social Security: birthdays on the 11th–20th |
| Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025 | Social Security: birthdays on the 21st–31st |
| Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025 | Early SSI payment for January 2026 (includes new 2026 COLA) |
If you only get SSI, the dates that matter most are December 1 and December 31. If you also receive Social Security, you could see up to three federal deposits in December, depending on when you first claimed benefits and your birthday.
How the Early December 31 SSI Payment Works
Because January 1, 2026 is a federal holiday, SSA moves the January SSI payment to the last business day of December, which is Wednesday, December 31. That December 31 deposit is your January benefit and you will not receive another SSI payment in January 2026.
The December 31 SSI check is also the first to include the 2026 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), estimated at about 2.8%, so many recipients will see their monthly benefit increase starting with this payment. The December 1 payment remains at the 2025 benefit level.
Tips for Budgeting December’s Payments
Having two SSI deposits in the same calendar month can be confusing, but treating them as separate months’ income can help you stay on track. The December 1 payment is meant for December expenses, and the December 31 payment is for January 2026.
Consider:
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Marking December 1 as “December SSI” and December 31 as “January SSI” in your budget.
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Listing your January bills (rent, utilities, food, medical) against the December 31 deposit so you do not overspend around the holidays.
If your payment does not show up on the scheduled date, SSA asks that you wait three additional mailing days before contacting them or checking your my Social Security account.
Short FAQs
Q1: What are the SSI payment dates in December 2025?
A1: SSI pays on Monday, December 1 (for December) and Wednesday, December 31 (for January 2026).
Q2: What are the Social Security pay dates for December 2025?
A2: Social Security benefits arrive on December 3, 10, 17, and 24, depending on when you started benefits and your birthday.
Q3: Will I get an SSI check in January 2026?
A3: No, the January 2026 SSI payment arrives early on December 31, 2025, so there is no separate SSI deposit in January.
