What started out as a program aimed at preventing elder poverty in 1935 has today grown into a source of financial support to tens of millions of vulnerable individuals in varying circumstances. Month after month, the Social Security Administration (SSA) issues benefit payments to around 75 million people across the country, many of whom rely, at least in part, on these monthly payments to cover their living expenses. The SSA issues payment for both the regular Social Security benefit, as well as the Supplemental Security Income. Each of these benefits follow independent payment structures, both of which can be found on the SSA’s official benefit payment schedule.
The regular Social Security benefit includes retiree benefits, disability insurance benefits, and survivor benefits, and it is issued on a Wednesday rotation throughout the month. The Supplemental Security Income, or SSI benefit, on the other hand, is generally issued on the first of each month, however, this particular payment schedule has a quirk built into it. Here is everything you need to know.
SSI benefit payments for December
The Supplemental Security Income is a type of welfare benefit that is issued to seniors aged 65 and older, and those who are either blind or have a disability, all of whom have little to no other resources or income. There are currently over 7 million recipients of the SSI benefit in the Social Security program, and payment is typically issued to these individuals on the first of the month. The payment structure for the SSI benefit does, however, have a small quirk built into it that results in payment being issued early for some months during the year.
If the first of the month falls on a weekend or a holiday, the SSA will move up the payment date to the last working day of the previous month, instead of waiting for the first working day of the new month. This prevents any delays on the part of the beneficiary and allows them to have their benefit for the month as the month begins. This quirk will be in effect for the December/January round of payments from the SSA as well. On December 1st, one SSI benefit payment will be issued to recipients and this is the SSI for December.
On December 31st, a second SSI benefit will issued to recipients, however, this is not a bonus payment nor is it an error. Instead, it is the SSI benefit for the month of January 2026 that is being issued early due to January 1st being a holiday. This December 31st payment will also include the 2026 COLA increase a it is the January SSI benefit.
Social Security payment schedule for December
The regular Social Security benefit is issued on Wednesdays throughout the month depending on the recipient’s date of birth with the following structure:
- Second Wednesday — beneficiaries with birth dates from the 1st to the 10th of their respective birth month
- Third Wednesday — beneficiaries with birth dates from the 11th to the 20th of their respective birth month
- Fourth Wednesday — beneficiaries with birth dates from the 21st to the 31st of their respective birth month
As of today, November 26th, all benefits for the month of November will have been issued. In addition to the December round of payments being the last batch of benefits for the 2025 calendar year, it is also the final batch of payments before the 2026 COLA increase of 2.8% is put into effect. Payments for the December round of benefits will be rolled out on the following dates:
- Monday, December 1st — SSI benefit for December
- Wednesday, December 3rd — Social Security for those who had been receiving Social Security before May 1997, or for those who also receive the SSI benefit in addition to Social Security
- Wednesday, December 10th — recipients with birth dates from the 1st to the 10th
- Wednesday, December 17th — recipients with birth dates from the 11th to the 20th
- Wednesday, December 24th — recipients with birth dates from the 21st to the 31st
- Wednesday, December 31st — SSI benefit for January 2026