Social Security payments move again this week, and for millions of retirees the key question is simple: is my Social Security check coming today or not. The second wave of December payments is already scheduled, with deposits landing before the end of the month.
This payment closes the December cycle and sets the stage for a bigger change ahead. The January 2026 cost-of-living adjustment is close, but it is not included yet. What arrives now is still the regular Social Security benefit, unchanged.
For most people, the situation is already clear in the first few days of the week. If your birthday falls in a specific range, your check is due now. Everything else is context, timing rules, and what to expect next month.
Social Security payments scheduled for this week
Social Security beneficiaries born between the 11th and the 20th of any month are the group receiving their payment this week. According to the official payment calendar, their check is sent on Wednesday, December 17.
This applies to retired workers and most older beneficiaries who receive monthly Social Security benefits. The payment is issued automatically, usually by direct deposit or loaded onto a Direct Express card.
Paper checks are now rare. Most recipients already receive their money electronically, and that has become the standard method across the system.
How Social Security decides payment dates
Social Security does not send all checks at once. The system is based mainly on the beneficiary’s date of birth, and payments are almost always issued on Wednesdays.
If you were born between the 1st and the 10th, your check usually arrives on the second Wednesday of the month. Birthdays between the 11th and 20th are paid on the third Wednesday. Anyone born after the 20th is paid on the fourth Wednesday.
There are exceptions. People who started receiving Social Security before May 1997 follow a different rule and are typically paid on the 3rd of each month, unless that date falls on a weekend or holiday.
What about SSI and mixed benefits
Some beneficiaries receive both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income. In those cases, the payments are split across the month. SSI is normally paid on the first day of the month. Social Security follows on the third day for these recipients, again adjusted if weekends or holidays interfere.
This structure is important now because some January payments will actually be sent early, before the year ends.
The upcoming COLA increase is not in this check
One point causes confusion every December: the cost-of-living adjustment. A 2.8% COLA has already been approved, but it does not apply to the payment being sent this week.
The increase starts with January 2026 benefits. On average, that means about $56 more per month for Social Security recipients, depending on their current benefit amount.
The first check that reflects the COLA will arrive in January. December payments remain tied to the old benefit levels.
SSI payment dates moving into 2026
SSI follows a slightly different calendar, especially around year-end. Because of how dates fall, some January SSI checks are paid early.
Here are the confirmed SSI payment dates for the end of 2025 and early 2026:
- December 31, 2025: SSI payment for January 2026
- January 30, 2026: SSI payment for February 2026
- February 27, 2026: SSI payment for March 2026
These early payments are normal and do not represent extra money. They simply adjust for weekends and federal holidays. If your Social Security check is due this week, it should arrive automatically on your scheduled day. Delays are uncommon unless there is a banking issue.
It is also worth remembering that December payments often feel different because of timing, holidays, and year-end expectations. The actual benefit amount does not change until January.
For now, the takeaway is straightforward. If you were born between the 11th and the 20th, your Social Security check today or this week is already on the way. The increase comes next, not now.