Mark Your Calendar: Social Security Payments Are Heading Out on Wednesday, Dec. 10 – Who Will Receive Them?
Next week, millions of Americans will see their Social Security benefits arrive as the Social Security Administration (SSA) carries out the third distribution of December 2025. But here’s where it gets interesting: not everyone receives their payment on the same day, and the schedule depends on a few key factors.
Who is set to receive Social Security payments on Dec. 10?
On Wednesday, Dec. 10, the SSA will issue payments to certain recipients of retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and survivor benefits. Out of the more than 70.2 million Americans who rely on these payments, most receive their funds on either the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of each month.
How does the SSA decide who gets paid when? It’s actually linked to the birth date of the worker whose contributions earned the benefits. For the upcoming Wednesday, payments will go to beneficiaries whose birthdays fall between the 1st and 10th of any month. Subsequent Wednesdays – Dec. 17 and Dec. 24 – will cover those born between the 11th and 31st.
Quick December 2025 schedule based on birthdays:
* Born on the 1st-10th: Wednesday, Dec. 10
* Born on the 11th-20th: Wednesday, Dec. 17
* Born on the 21st-31st: Wednesday, Dec. 24
Who doesn’t follow this birthday-based schedule?
- Long-term Social Security recipients: Those who started receiving retirement, SSDI, or survivor benefits before May 1997 generally get their checks on the third day of the month, no matter their birth date. For December, these individuals were paid on Wednesday, Dec. 3.
- SSI beneficiaries: Nearly 7.4 million people receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which supports low-income seniors and disabled individuals. Their payments are typically sent on the first day of the month. December’s SSI payments were distributed on Monday, Dec. 1.
- Dual beneficiaries (SSI + regular Social Security): Over 2.5 million Americans receive both SSI and other Social Security benefits. These recipients got their SSI payment on Dec. 1 and their Social Security retirement, SSDI, or survivor check on Dec. 3.
Summary of December payments not based on birthdays:
* SSI recipients: Monday, Dec. 1
* Pre-May 1997 Social Security beneficiaries: Wednesday, Dec. 3
* Dual recipients: SSI on Dec. 1; Social Security on Dec. 3
You can view the SSA’s complete 2025 benefits distribution calendar here and even check the 2026 schedule here.
Average Social Security payments: How much are people receiving?
Retirees make up the bulk of Social Security beneficiaries, and their average monthly payment is $2,012.30, according to the SSA’s latest figures. Notably, the most recent report reflects data from October due to disruptions caused by the 43-day government shutdown in October and November.
For other programs:
* Disabled workers: average $1,588.44 per month
* Survivor benefits: average $1,575.89 per month
* SSI recipients: average $717.51 per month
COLA Increase for 2026
The SSA recently confirmed a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2026, meaning benefits will rise to help offset inflation. For retirees, this translates to an average increase of $56 per month. Interestingly, SSI recipients will be the first to receive the updated payments, with their January benefits distributed a day early on Dec. 31 due to New Year’s Day being a federal holiday.
How does Social Security send payments?
Most beneficiaries no longer receive paper checks. Instead, payments are sent electronically via two main methods:
- Direct deposit: By providing bank account information, recipients can have funds transferred directly. Account details can be updated via the SSA’s online portal, "my Social Security."
- Direct Express Card: For those without bank accounts, benefits can be loaded onto this special federal debit card.
Food for thought:
Do you think the birthday-based distribution system is the most efficient way to handle Social Security payments, or should the SSA consider a simpler method? Some argue it adds unnecessary complexity, while others appreciate the staggered schedule to ease administrative load. What’s your take? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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