A new Social Security payment is landing this week, and for millions of Americans the date matters more than the amount. On Wednesday, December 17, the Social Security Administration will release another major batch of retirement, SSDI, and survivor benefits.
This is the fourth payment round on the December Social Security schedule, and it covers a very specific group of beneficiaries. If your check hasn’t arrived yet, this date may be exactly the one tied to your birthday.Add Post
Social Security payments going out on December 17
The SSA is set to issue benefits on Wednesday, December 17, to recipients whose payments are scheduled for the third Wednesday of the month. This includes people receiving retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance, and survivor checks.
Payment timing under Social Security is not random. For most beneficiaries, it depends on the birth date of the worker whose earnings record supports the benefit. Because December 17 falls on the third Wednesday, this payment run applies to people with birthdays between the 11th and the 20th of any month.
How Social Security decides your payment date
The Social Security Administration uses a staggered Wednesday system for most recipients. It spreads payments across the month to manage volume and processing. If you started receiving Social Security benefits after May 1997, your check is assigned to the second, third, or fourth Wednesday each month.
The exact Wednesday is tied to the day of birth, not the month or year. That’s why two retirees with similar benefits may be paid weeks apart.
Here is how Social Security structured its December payments for most retirement and disability beneficiaries:
- Born on the 1st–10th: paid Wednesday, December 10
- Born on the 11th–20th: paid Wednesday, December 17
- Born on the 21st–31st: paid Wednesday, December 24
If your birthday falls in the middle of the month, December 17 is your Social Security payday.
Who is not paid on December 17
Not every Social Security recipient follows the Wednesday schedule. Some groups are paid earlier in the month, regardless of birth date. People who began receiving Social Security before May 1997 are paid on the 3rd of each month. For December, that payment already went out on December 3. Supplemental Security Income recipients are on a completely different calendar, since SSI is a separate program with its own rules.
SSI benefits are usually paid on the first of the month. December’s SSI payments were issued on Monday, December 1. Americans who receive both SSI and regular Social Security benefits were paid in two steps: SSI on December 1, followed by Social Security on December 3. These payments are not affected by birthdays and do not move with the Wednesday system.
How much Social Security pays right now
For most retirees, the monthly Social Security benefit now averages just over $2,000. That figure reflects current payment levels before the next cost-of-living adjustment. Disabled workers receiving SSDI are paid less on average, while survivor benefits fall in a similar range.
The maximum possible retirement benefit in 2025 exceeds $5,000 per month, but only applies to high earners who delayed claiming until age 70.
COLA increase already on the horizon
Social Security beneficiaries are set to receive a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment in 2026. The increase was announced earlier this fall and will apply to checks issued next year. For retirees, that adjustment means an average monthly increase of around $56. Actual amounts vary by benefit level.
SSI recipients will be the first to see the higher payments, with January benefits scheduled to arrive at the end of December due to the New Year’s holiday. Paper checks are now rare. The Social Security Administration delivers most benefits electronically. Recipients can choose direct deposit to a bank account or receive funds through the Direct Express debit card. Both options are handled automatically once set up.
Payment method does not affect the date, but outdated banking information can delay access to funds.
What to do if your Social Security payment is missing
If a payment scheduled for December 17 does not arrive, the SSA recommends waiting at least three business days before reporting it. Most delays are tied to bank processing times rather than issues at Social Security itself.
For now, if your birthday falls between the 11th and the 20th, December 17 is the key date to watch.