December always sneaks up with a little financial whiplash — holiday spending creeping higher, travel plans, family gatherings — all hitting just as many seniors are coasting through the final weeks before the new COLA increase arrives in January.
And while most retirees will only see their usual single Social Security check this month, a small slice of beneficiaries will actually end up with three deposits in their accounts during December 2025.
It’s not a windfall and it’s not a bonus, but it is a quirk of the federal payment calendar that can be a real lifeline during the most expensive month of the year. Here’s who qualifies and how the timing works.
How Social Security Assigns Monthly Payment Dates
The Social Security Administration sorts retirement, spousal, survivor, and disability benefit payments by birthdate, a system that’s been in place for decades.
Standard Social Security Payment Schedule
| Birthday Range | Payment Date Each Month |
|---|---|
| 1st–10th | Second Wednesday |
| 11th–20th | Third Wednesday |
| 21st–31st | Fourth Wednesday |
If you’re in one of these groups, your December 2025 checks arrive as usual on:
- Dec. 10 (2nd Wednesday)
- Dec. 17 (3rd Wednesday)
- Dec. 24 (4th Wednesday)
A couple of exceptions apply:
- Anyone receiving Social Security before May 1997: Paid on the 3rd of each month
- Anyone who receives both Social Security and SSI: Pays SSI first, then Social Security on the 3rd
And because the SSA no longer uses paper checks, payments land either through direct deposit or a Direct Express debit card. Even so, banks can take 1–3 business days to process deposits, so your “payment date” may differ slightly from the date you actually see the funds.
When SSI Payments Shake Up the Calendar
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) follows a different rule: payments are issued on the first day of each month, unless that day is:
- A weekend
- A federal holiday
When that happens, the payment moves to the nearest business day before the first.
That calendar shuffle is what triggers the unusual double-payment months — including this December.
So Who Gets Three Checks in December 2025?
Here’s the precise breakdown:
- Your regular December Social Security check (Dec. 3, Dec. 10, Dec. 17, or Dec. 24)
- Your regular December SSI payment (Dec. 1)
- Your early January 2026 SSI payment (Dec. 31)
To get all three, you must be:
1. An SSI beneficiary
AND
2. A Social Security beneficiary
AND
3. Someone who receives two different types of payments (SSI + Social Security retirement/disability)
This includes:
- Low-income seniors receiving both SSI and Social Security
- Disabled individuals receiving SSI and SSDI
- Certain survivor/auxiliary beneficiaries with SSI eligibility
If you only receive Social Security, you get one payment in December.
If you only receive SSI, you get two payments — Dec. 1 and Dec. 31 — but it’s still not a “bonus.”
The early January deposit is simply the system adjusting for New Year’s Day, a federal holiday when banks are closed.
Why SSI Hits Early at Year-End (Again)
January 1 falls on a holiday, so the January 2026 SSI payment shifts backward to:
- Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025
The SSA has done this for years. A similar shift happened:
- Oct. 31 (for November’s SSI)
- July 31, 2026 (for August’s SSI)
And it will happen again anytime the first lands on a weekend or holiday.
December’s SSI Payment Won’t Show the COLA Increase
Another detail often missed:
- The Dec. 1 SSI payment is at the 2025 rate
- The Dec. 31 payment — for January 2026 — includes the 2.8% COLA
This is the first deposit with the updated benefit amount. If you collect SSI, check:
- Your COLA notice mailed by SSA
- Your MySocialSecurity online account
- The direct deposit amount on Dec. 31
If the number doesn’t reflect a 2.8% increase from your 2025 SSI amount, contact SSA at 1-800-772-1213.
Fact Check: Is the “Third Check” Extra Money?
No — and SSA makes that clear in its official payment calendars at ssa.gov/pubs/calendar.htm.
The early January SSI check counts as January’s income. It doesn’t affect:
- Taxes
- Eligibility
- Monthly benefit formulas
- Resource limits
December is traditionally tight for seniors — and even though these payment quirks aren’t bonuses, they can give breathing room at the exact moment many households need it.
If you’re among the group receiving SSI + Social Security, this month may bring three deposits that cover December and January benefits. Just pace your spending carefully: after that Dec. 31 payment, the next SSI deposit doesn’t land until Jan. 30 — a longer-than-usual gap.
FAQs
1. Why am I getting an SSI check on Dec. 31?
Because Jan. 1 is a federal holiday. SSI is paid the business day before.
2. Is the Dec. 31 payment my December or January check?
It’s your January 2026 SSI payment, paid early.
3. Will everyone receive three checks in December?
No. Only people who receive both Social Security and SSI.
4. When will the 2026 COLA show up?
In SSI payments: Dec. 31.
In Social Security payments: mid-January 2026 (based on your birthdate).
5. Do early payments affect my eligibility or taxes?
No — SSA treats early-issued checks as belonging to the following month.
