The Social Security Administration (yes, the same agency many people rely on every single month for their Social Security checks) will shake up the payment calendar this December. Changes tied to federal holidays mean some beneficiaries will see money earlier than expected. For millions who depend on these monthly payments, even a small shift matters a lot.
This adjusted Social Security benefits December 2025 payments schedule affects retirees, disabled workers, survivors and especially SSI recipients, who actually get two deposits in December. The agency moves payments when the calendar gets messy, something that happens more often around winter holidays.
Social Security Administration: December 2025 payment timeline
The core of the Social Security benefits December 2025 payments schedule is simple: SSI lands on December 1, and the January 2026 SSI check will hit early on December 31. Everyone else—retirement, survivor and SSDI beneficiaries—will follow the usual Wednesday cycle based on birth dates.
These adjustments may feel routine, but they’re important for people budgeting groceries, rent, medication or utilities. December brings higher expenses for many households, and knowing when support lands can help plan ahead.
December SSI payment cycle explained
The Social Security check that kicks off the month arrives Monday, December 1. This is the standard SSI deposit and the last “normal” one of 2025. Roughly 7.5 million claimants will see this money in the first week.
But December brings a twist: SSI recipients will also get the January 2026 benefit on December 31. Since January 1 is a federal holiday, the Social Security Administration pushes the payment to the nearest business day. This is not a bonus check just a date shift.
SSI is normally paid on the first of each month, unless that day falls on a weekend or holiday. When that happens, the agency moves the deposit to avoid delays.
Who qualifies for SSI? Main rules and requirements
SSI is aimed at people with low income and limited resources. It covers adults 65 and older, as well as children and adults with disabilities. Eligibility is based on financial need, not on work history or Social Security tax records.
Payment amounts for December 2025 remain consistent with the standard federal rates:
- Average SSI benefit: $717.84
- Maximum SSI for an individual: $967
- Maximum SSI for a couple: $1,450
- Some states add a small optional supplement
Retirement, survivor and SSDI payments in December 2025
For beneficiaries outside SSI, the December schedule follows the familiar Wednesday pattern tied to birthdays. Under the Social Security benefits December 2025 payments schedule, deposits fall on:
- Birth dates 1–10: Wednesday, December 10
- Birth dates 11–20: Wednesday, December 17
- Birth dates 21–31: Wednesday, December 24
These rules rarely change unless a federal holiday interferes. It helps claimants predict when monthly checks will arrive.
Receiving both SSI and Social Security? What to expect
People who receive both SSI and another Social Security benefit will get two payments early in the month. SSI arrives on December 1. Retirement, survivor or SSDI benefits arrive on December 3.
This dual-payment week is fairly common in months when calendars shift, but some people may not expect it if they’ve recently started receiving benefits.
The first payment (December 1) is the regular monthly SSI benefit. The second payment (December 31) is the January 2026 check arriving early due to the New Year’s Day holiday. Because of this early deposit, SSI recipients will not get a payment in January.
The next SSI deposit after December 31 will land on January 30, 2026, which counts as the February benefit because February 1 is a Sunday. This can feel confusing, but the purpose is to avoid gaps caused by federal office closures.