Millions of Americans will receive an extra Social Security check worth up to $1,491 in December, thanks to a calendar quirk. This bonus payment is a welcome boost to bank accounts during the holiday season. While the Social Security Administration typically distributes retirement, spousal, survivor, and disability benefits according to a predetermined schedule based on beneficiaries' birthdays, those on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) have a different timeline. SSI is a monthly payment for individuals with limited income and resources who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled. The payment dates are adjusted if the first of the month falls on a weekend or federal holiday, with checks sent out on the first business day prior. In 2025, SSI recipients missed their November payment due to this quirk, but will receive two payments in December: one on December 1, 2025, and another on December 31, 2025. The latter is due to New Year's Day being a federal holiday. The December payment will be the same as previous months, but the January 2026 check will be boosted by a 2.8% COLA adjustment, increasing the cap from $967 to $994 for individuals and $1,450 to $1,491 for couples. Social Security benefits will also increase by 2.8% in January 2026, with the maximum allotment jumping by roughly $143 to $5,251. Americans will receive their new monthly benefit details within weeks.
