Social Security beneficiaries who started receiving retirement, disability, or survivor benefits before May 1997, as well as people who get both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), are the main groups whose checks arrive on December 3, 2025. Everyone else will receive their December Social Security payment later in the month, based on their birth date.​

Why December 3 Payments Matter

December is a high‑pressure month for many retirees and disabled workers who rely heavily on Social Security to cover rent, utilities, food, and holiday expenses. Knowing that a payment is arriving on December 3 helps those early‑cycle recipients plan their cash flow before the rest of the month’s bills come due.​

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This year’s December payments also close out the final month before the new cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) for 2026 takes effect, so many households are watching these deposits closely. For SSI recipients, December is especially important because the calendar quirk brings two payments in the month, which can change how they budget for January.​

Who Gets Paid On December 3?

The December 3 payment date does not apply to everyone, but it is crucial for a specific group of long‑time beneficiaries. You are in the December 3 batch if:​

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• You started receiving Social Security retirement, survivor, or disability benefits before May 1997.​

• You receive both SSI and Social Security; in that case, SSI comes on December 1 and your Social Security benefit arrives on December 3.​

  

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If you fit either of these categories, December 3 is your regular monthly payment date for Social Security benefits, regardless of your birthday. People who started benefits after May 1997 move to the newer, birthday‑based Wednesday schedule, so they will not usually be paid on December 3.​

Who Gets Paid Later In December?

Most Social Security retirement, disability (SSDI), and survivor beneficiaries who began receiving checks after May 1997 are paid on one of three Wednesdays in December. The date is determined solely by the day of the month you were born:​

• Birthdays from 1st–10th: paid Wednesday, December 10, 2025

• Birthdays from 11th–20th: paid Wednesday, December 17, 2025

• Birthdays from 21st–31st: paid Wednesday, December 24, 2025​

These Wednesday payments are separate from SSI, which follows its own schedule and can add an extra deposit for eligible individuals at the beginning and end of the month.​

SSI Payments And The Two‑Check Month

Supplemental Security Income plays a big role in the first and last week of December. For December 2025, SSI payments are scheduled for December 1 (for the December benefit) and December 31 (advanced payment for January 2026, because January 1 is a federal holiday).​

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People who receive both SSI and Social Security will therefore see an SSI payment on December 1, their regular Social Security benefit on December 3, and another SSI payment on December 31 for the upcoming month. This makes December a three‑deposit month for some low‑income beneficiaries, although the second SSI payment is technically for January’s needs.​

December 2025 Payment Dates At A Glance

The following table summarizes the main Social Security and SSI payment dates and who qualifies for each during December 2025.​

Although the general rules are consistent nationwide, the safest way to verify your exact date is by checking your personal record. You can log into your my Social Security account online, where your upcoming payments and benefit history are listed, or review award letters or past deposits to see your pattern.​

Your bank or credit union may also show pending deposits a day in advance, which can reassure you that your money is on the way. If your normal payment date passes and your funds still have not arrived, the Social Security Administration recommends waiting three mailing days before contacting them to report a missing payment.​

What If Your Payment Is Delayed?

Occasionally, technical issues at financial institutions or federal processing delays can slow down payments, even when the official date does not change. If your check or direct deposit is late, first confirm with your bank that there is no hold or internal delay, then reach out to Social Security if more than three mailing days have passed since the scheduled date.​

Keeping your address, direct deposit details, and contact information updated with Social Security helps reduce the risk of missed or misdirected payments. Signing up for direct deposit instead of paper checks also generally leads to faster and more reliable access to your monthly benefits.​

Simple Steps To Stay Prepared

A few habits can make December’s complex schedule easier to manage. Mark your payment date on a calendar or in a budgeting app, and plan major expenses—such as rent, loan payments, or holiday purchases—around when your money will actually arrive.​

It is also helpful to remember that the extra SSI payment at the end of December is intended for January’s bills, not as a bonus, so careful budgeting can prevent running short early in the new year. Reviewing your benefit notices for upcoming COLA increases can further help you adjust your 2026 budget in advance.​

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FAQs

Q1: Who receives Social Security on December 3, 2025?
A: People who started receiving Social Security before May 1997 and those who get both SSI and Social Security are scheduled for the December 3 payment.​

Q2: Does everyone on Social Security get a payment on December 3?
A: No, most beneficiaries are paid on December 10, 17, or 24, depending on their birth date and when they started receiving benefits.​

Q3: Why are there two SSI payments in December 2025?
A: Because January 1, 2026 is a federal holiday, the SSI payment for January is moved up to December 31, creating two SSI deposits in December.​