As of Monday, December 1, 2025, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has kicked off its final payment cycle of the year — and millions of Americans are seeing a crucial SSI deposit hit their accounts today, worth up to $967 for individuals and $1,450 for couples. [1]
On top of that, December brings a rare second SSI payment on December 31, which will include the new 2.8% cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) for 2026. [2]
Below is a complete, Google News–ready rundown of who gets paid when in December 2025, how to qualify for the $967 SSI payment, and what the double SSI deposits mean for your budget heading into 2026.
Quick overview: December 2025 Social Security & SSI payment dates
According to the SSA’s official 2025 payment calendar and recent media reports (including USA TODAY Network, Hindustan Times, Economic Times, and other outlets), the key dates for December 2025 are: [3]
- Monday, December 1, 2025
- SSI payment for December – up to $967 (individual) / $1,450 (couple) in federal benefits, with possible state supplements. [4]
- Wednesday, December 3, 2025
- Social Security retirement, survivor, or SSDI benefits for people who:
- started receiving benefits before May 1997, or
- receive both Social Security and SSI. [5]
- Social Security retirement, survivor, or SSDI benefits for people who:
- Wednesday, December 10, 2025
- Social Security benefits for people whose birthday is on the 1st–10th of the month. [6]
- Wednesday, December 17, 2025
- Social Security benefits for people whose birthday is on the 11th–20th. [7]
- Wednesday, December 24, 2025
- Social Security benefits for people whose birthday is on the 21st–31st. [8]
- Wednesday, December 31, 2025
- Second SSI payment – this is the January 2026 SSI benefit paid early because January 1 is a federal holiday, and it already reflects the 2.8% COLA increase. [9]
Because of this unusual calendar, many people will see two SSI payments in December, and some who also receive Social Security could see three deposits this month (Dec. 1 SSI, Dec. 3 Social Security, and Dec. 31 SSI). [10]
What’s happening today, December 1, 2025? The $967 SSI payment
December opens with an SSI payout
Today’s deposit — Monday, December 1, 2025 — is the regular monthly SSI payment for December. The SSA confirms that: [11]
- The maximum federal SSI benefit in 2025 is:
- $967 per month for an eligible individual
- $1,450 per month for an eligible couple
- The average SSI payment is about $717.84 per month, meaning many people receive less than the maximum because of other income or resources. [12]
Several outlets — including Hindustan Times and Washington Examiner — highlight that millions of low‑income seniors and disabled Americans are seeing checks worth up to $967 land today. [13]
Who qualifies for this $967 SSI payment?
SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is needs‑based, meaning eligibility depends on age or disability, plus income and resources. According to SSA guidance and recent explainer pieces: [14]
To qualify for SSI in 2025, you generally must:
- Be age 65 or older, blind, or have a qualifying disability.
- Have limited income, including wages, Social Security, pensions, or other cash support.
- Have limited resources (such as savings and property), typically no more than $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple in countable assets. [15]
- Live in one of the 50 states, D.C., or the Northern Mariana Islands, and be a U.S. citizen or in an eligible immigration category. [16]
Some states add a small additional payment on top of the federal SSI benefit, so your actual deposit could be higher than the federal maximum. [17]
Full December 2025 Social Security payment schedule (retirement, survivor, SSDI)
If you receive Social Security retirement, survivors, or disability (SSDI) benefits, your December 2025 payments follow the SSA’s standard “birth date” schedule: [18]
- December 3 (Wednesday)
- You’re paid on this date if:
- you started receiving benefits before May 1997, or
- you receive both Social Security and SSI.
- You’re paid on this date if:
- December 10 (Wednesday)
- Your birthday is on the 1st–10th of any month.
- December 17 (Wednesday)
- Your birthday is on the 11th–20th.
- December 24 (Wednesday)
- Your birthday is on the 21st–31st.
These December checks are the last Social Security payments before the 2026 COLA increase takes effect in January 2026, when benefits will rise by 2.8%, adding about $56 per month on average for retired workers. [19]
Why you’ll see two SSI payments in December 2025
Here’s the calendar quirk driving all the headlines:
- December 1, 2025 – normal SSI payment for December.
- December 31, 2025 – January 2026 SSI payment paid early because January 1 is a federal holiday. [20]
Several outlets, including the Economic Times, Hindustan Times and other U.S. media, stress that this is not a bonus or extra benefit — it’s simply the January check arriving one day early. [21]
Because of this shift:
- There will be no SSI payment in January 2026.
- The next SSI deposit after December 31 will be on Friday, January 30, 2026, counted as the February 2026 benefit (since February 1, 2026, falls on a Sunday). [22]
Advocacy groups and financial writers are warning recipients not to treat the December 31 check as “extra” money, as overspending it could leave a gap in January when no SSI funds arrive. [23]
How much can you get? SSI and Social Security amounts
SSI amounts in 2025
SSA’s 2025 federal benefit rate (FBR) for SSI is: [24]
- $967 per month – eligible individual
- $1,450 per month – eligible couple
- Average payment actually received is about $717.84 per month, because other income reduces SSI. [25]
Some states add a state supplement, so your actual deposit (federal + state) may be higher. [26]
What changes with the 2026 COLA?
Starting with benefits payable in January 2026, Social Security and SSI checks will get a 2.8% COLA increase. [27]
For SSI, that means: [28]
- The maximum federal SSI payment will rise from:
- $967 → $994 per month for individuals
- $1,450 → $1,491 per month for couples
- The December 31, 2025 SSI deposit is the first payment at these higher 2026 rates.
For Social Security retirement benefits, SSA estimates the average monthly benefit will rise from about $2,015 to $2,071 starting in January 2026, while some high earners at full retirement age could see monthly checks over $4,150. [29]
Who gets three payments in December 2025?
Because of the overlapping schedules, some people will see three deposits this month: [30]
- SSI only
- Payments on December 1 and December 31 (two deposits).
- Social Security only (no SSI)
- One payment on December 3, 10, 17, or 24, depending on when you started benefits and your birthday.
- Both SSI and Social Security
- December 1 – SSI payment
- December 3 – Social Security retirement/survivor/SSDI payment
- December 31 – January 2026 SSI payment with COLA
If you’re in group 3, it may feel like an end‑of‑year windfall — but remember, there is no SSI deposit in January, so plan your budget accordingly. [31]
How to check your exact payment date and amount
You can confirm your specific payment dates and benefit amount in a few ways:
- my Social Security online account
- Log in (or create an account) at SSA’s official website.
- You can:
- View your upcoming benefit amounts
- See your 2026 COLA notice several weeks before the mailed letter
- Update your direct‑deposit details securely. [32]
- Bank or prepaid card account
- Check your transaction history to confirm deposits on the dates listed above.
- SSA by phone or in person
- Call 1‑800‑772‑1213 (TTY 1‑800‑325‑0778) on weekdays, or visit a local Social Security office for help with missing or mis‑directed payments. [33]
What if your December 2025 Social Security payment is late?
SSA’s payment calendar recommends waiting three additional mailing days before reporting a payment as missing. [34]
If your December 2025 payment doesn’t arrive on the expected date:
- Check with your bank or card issuer first.
- Sometimes deposits are posted later in the day or held briefly.
- Confirm your payment date in your my Social Security account.
- If it’s still missing after three business days, contact SSA at 1‑800‑772‑1213 or visit a local office. [35]
Reporting issues quickly is especially important this month, since many people are juggling holiday expenses, year‑end bills, and changes in benefit amounts as COLA notices go out. [36]
Frequently asked questions about December 2025 Social Security payments
1. Why are there two SSI payments in December 2025?
Because January 1, 2026 is a federal holiday, the SSA must send the January SSI payment early, on December 31, 2025. That’s in addition to the regular December SSI payment on December 1. [37]
2. Is the December 31 SSI payment a bonus?
No. The December 31 deposit is your January 2026 SSI benefit, just arriving early. There will be no SSI payment in January, and the next one comes on January 30, 2026, counting as the February 2026 benefit. [38]
3. How much will SSI benefits be after the 2.8% COLA?
Starting with the January 2026 benefit (paid December 31, 2025), the federal SSI maximums will be: [39]
- $994 per month for individuals
- $1,491 per month for couples
State supplements can push those totals higher depending on where you live. [40]
4. Do December 2025 Social Security checks include the COLA?
No. December 2025 Social Security retirement, survivor, and SSDI checks are the last payments before the 2026 COLA kicks in. The 2.8% increase applies to benefits payable in January 2026, which most retirees will receive on January 14, 21, or 28, depending on their birth date. [41]
5. How do I know if I qualify for SSI rather than just Social Security?
You may be eligible for SSI if you: [42]
- Are 65 or older, blind, or disabled
- Have very limited income and resources
- Live in the U.S. (or certain territories) and are a citizen or eligible noncitizen
Even if you already receive Social Security, you might qualify for SSI “top‑up” payments if your benefit is low enough and you meet the financial limits.
6. Where can I see the official 2025 and 2026 payment calendars?
SSA publishes annual payment calendars for Social Security and SSI on its website, including the full schedule for 2025 and 2026. [43]
Staying on top of these December 2025 payment dates — especially the double SSI deposits on December 1 and December 31 — can help you budget through the holidays and into the new year without surprises. If you rely on these benefits, consider setting reminders around each key date and checking your my Social Security account so you can see exactly how the 2.8% COLA will change your check in 2026. [44]
References
1. www.ssa.gov, 2. m.economictimes.com, 3. www.ssa.gov, 4. www.ssa.gov, 5. www.ssa.gov, 6. www.usdailyalert.com, 7. www.usdailyalert.com, 8. www.usdailyalert.com, 9. m.economictimes.com, 10. www.the-sun.com, 11. www.ssa.gov, 12. www.ssa.gov, 13. www.hindustantimes.com, 14. www.ssa.gov, 15. www.ssa.gov, 16. www.ssa.gov, 17. www.ssa.gov, 18. www.ssa.gov, 19. www.usdailyalert.com, 20. m.economictimes.com, 21. m.economictimes.com, 22. m.economictimes.com, 23. www.hindustantimes.com, 24. www.ssa.gov, 25. www.ssa.gov, 26. www.ssa.gov, 27. www.ssa.gov, 28. www.ssa.gov, 29. www.ssa.gov, 30. www.the-sun.com, 31. m.economictimes.com, 32. blog.ssa.gov, 33. m.economictimes.com, 34. www.ssa.gov, 35. www.ssa.gov, 36. www.the-sun.com, 37. m.economictimes.com, 38. m.economictimes.com, 39. www.ssa.gov, 40. opwdd.ny.gov, 41. www.ssa.gov, 42. www.ssa.gov, 43. www.ssa.gov, 44. blog.ssa.gov
