Key Highlights
- Social Security payments for December 2025 follow a specific schedule based on beneficiaries’ birth dates.
- Average monthly increase of $56 due to the 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment starting in January 2026.
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients will receive payments on the first business day or adjusted dates as per the SSA calendar.
Social Security Payment Schedule for December 2025 and January 2026
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced the schedule for December 2025 and January 2026 payments, which will be based on beneficiaries’ birth dates. According to Mike Snider from USA TODAY, these schedules are crucial for recipients planning their budgets.
December 2025 Payments
For regular Social Security retirement benefits in December 2025:
- Beneficiaries born between the first and 10th of the month will receive payments on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
- Born between the 11th and 20th, they’ll get their checks on Wednesday, Dec. 17.
- Born after the 20th, their payments are due on Wednesday, Dec. 24.
Additionally, for Social Security recipients who started receiving benefits before May 1997, their payment will be sent out on Dec. 3.
January 2026 Payments
The January 2026 schedule follows a similar pattern:
- Born between the first and 10th of the month: Wednesday, Jan. 14.
- Born between the 11th and 20th: Wednesday, Jan. 21.
- Born after the 20th: Wednesday, Jan. 28.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Payment Schedule for December 2025 to January 2026
Recipients of SSI checks are typically issued payments on the first business day of each month. However, due to New Year’s Day being a holiday in 2026, their payment will be delayed until Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025.
- Begins: Monday, Dec. 1, 2025 (December checks).
- Continues with: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025 (January checks).
- Further payments in early 2026 are as follows:
- Friday, Jan. 30, 2026 (February checks).
- Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 (March checks).
- Wednesday, April 1, 2026 (April checks).
- Friday, May 1, 2026 (May checks).
- Monday, June 1, 2026 (June checks).
Impact of the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)
Following these payments, recipients will see an increase in their benefits due to a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) effective January 2026. This adjustment is expected to raise average monthly payments by approximately $56.
The SSA’s announcement regarding the COLA underscores the ongoing importance of Social Security for many Americans, especially those in their retirement years. The agency notes that this increase will help mitigate the effects of inflation on these beneficiaries’ financial well-being.
