Social Security and SSI benefits in December 2025 will follow the standard Wednesday schedule, with one important twist: SSI recipients will receive two payments that month, including an early deposit for January 2026.
Key December 2025 payment dates
The Social Security Administration staggers payments through the month based on benefit type and the beneficiary’s birth date.
In December 2025, this structure remains in place, but SSI recipients also see an extra payment at month’s end because January 1 is a federal holiday.
Exact dates for Social Security and SSI
Here is when benefits are scheduled to arrive in December 2025:
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December 1, 2025 (Monday): Regular SSI payment for over 7 million SSI recipients.
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December 3, 2025 (Wednesday): Social Security for people who get both SSI and Social Security, those who started benefits before May 1997, and certain beneficiaries living abroad.
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December 10, 2025 (Wednesday): Social Security for people whose birthdays fall on the 1st–10th of any month.
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December 17, 2025 (Wednesday): Social Security for people with birthdays on the 11th–20th.
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December 24, 2025 (Wednesday): Social Security for people with birthdays on the 21st–31st.
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December 31, 2025 (Wednesday): Early January 2026 SSI payment, including the new 2.8% COLA increase.
December 2025 payment calendar
| Date | Who gets paid | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| December 1, 2025 | SSI recipients | Regular December SSI payment |
| December 3, 2025 | SSI + Social Security, pre‑May 1997 beneficiaries | Standard 3rd‑of‑month group |
| December 10, 2025 | Birthdays 1st–10th | Second Wednesday payments |
| December 17, 2025 | Birthdays 11th–20th | Third Wednesday payments |
| December 24, 2025 | Birthdays 21st–31st | Fourth Wednesday payments |
| December 31, 2025 | SSI recipients | Early January 2026 SSI payment with 2.8% COLA |
Direct deposit users should generally see funds available on the same day the SSA issues payment, though exact timing can vary by bank.
Paper checks may take several days to arrive, so mailing time should be factored into bill planning and budgeting.
Why there are two SSI payments in December
Normally, SSI is paid on the first of the month, but payments cannot be issued on weekends or federal holidays.
Because January 1, 2026 is a holiday, the SSA moves that SSI payment up to December 31, 2025, giving SSI recipients two deposits in December but none on January 1.
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What to do if your payment is late
If a payment does not show up on the expected date, beneficiaries should first check their bank or Direct Express account and wait one to three business days, as processing times can differ by institution.
If it still has not arrived, the next step is to verify details through a “my Social Security” account and then contact the SSA or the bank to investigate and correct any issues.
