The Social Security Administration has finalized its December 2025 payment schedule, confirming that millions of beneficiaries will receive checks during Christmas week, including a rare Christmas Eve disbursement. The timing depends entirely on your birthdate and the type of benefit you receive.
Here’s a clear breakdown of who gets paid on December 17, who is paid on December 24, and how SSI payments are being adjusted as the calendar turns to 2026.
December 2025 Social Security Payment Schedule Explained
Social Security retirement and disability payments follow a long-standing schedule based on the beneficiary’s date of birth. This system applies to most people who began receiving benefits after May 1997.
So far, the first December payment has already gone out.
Payments Already Sent
Beneficiaries born between the 1st and 10th of any month received their December payment on:
December 10, 2025
Second Wednesday of the month
This payment followed the standard distribution schedule with no holiday-related changes.
Who Gets Paid on December 17 or December 24
Two payment dates remain to complete the December cycle.
December 17, 2025
You will receive your Social Security payment on Wednesday, December 17 if your birthdate falls between the 11th and 20th of the month.
This is the third Wednesday payment and will be deposited as usual.
December 24, 2025 Christmas Eve Payment
Beneficiaries born between the 21st and 31st will receive their payment on Wednesday, December 24, which falls on Christmas Eve this year.
While rare, Christmas week payments are not unusual when holidays align with the Wednesday schedule.
Official payment calendars are published by the Social Security Administration.
SSI Payments Are Moving Earlier
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) follows a different rule. SSI is normally paid on the first day of each month.
Because January 1, 2026 is a federal holiday, the January SSI payment will be issued early, on:
December 31, 2025
This early payment is significant because it will be the first SSI payment that includes the 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment.
Details on SSI payment rules are outlined by the Social Security Administration.
COLA Changes: December vs January Payments
December 2025 marks the final month under the 2025 COLA of 2.5 percent.
Starting in January 2026, all Social Security and SSI benefits will reflect the new 2026 COLA of 2.8 percent.
That means:
December payments use the old COLA
January payments increase automatically
Maximum Social Security Benefits for December 2025
Maximum monthly benefits vary based on retirement age and lifetime earnings history. The following figures assume a worker earned the maximum taxable income for most of their career.
Age 62: up to $2,831
Age 65: up to $3,374
Age 66: up to $3,795
Full Retirement Age 67: up to $4,043
Age 70 (delayed retirement): up to $5,108
These are the final maximums under the 2025 COLA.
How Social Security Calculates the Maximum Benefit
The Social Security benefit formula follows federal law and is based on lifetime earnings.
Step 1: Indexing Earnings
Each year of earnings is adjusted using the Average Wage Index, ensuring older wages reflect today’s earning power.
Step 2: Selecting the Top 35 Years
Only the 35 highest-earning years are counted. If you worked fewer than 35 years, zeros are included.
The total indexed earnings are divided by 420 months, producing the Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME).
Step 3: Applying the Benefit Formula
The Primary Insurance Amount formula applies three percentages:
90 percent of income below the first bend point
32 percent between the first and second bend points
15 percent above the second bend point
The final amount is then adjusted by annual COLAs until benefits begin.
Why This December Matters for Beneficiaries
This December is notable for three reasons:
A Christmas Eve Social Security payment
An early SSI payment with the new COLA
The final checks under the 2025 adjustment
For many households, this timing may affect budgeting, holiday planning, and early January expenses.
Beneficiaries are encouraged to verify their deposit dates and amounts through their my Social Security account on the official SSA website.
