Social Security benefits are going out today – Wednesday, Dec. 17: here’s who’s getting a payment
Today, the U.S.’s Social Security Administration (SSA) is to issue benefits to millions of recipients across the country, in the latest payment run on the agency’s distribution schedule for December 2025.
Who’s getting a Social Security payment today, Dec. 17?
Payments are to be sent out to certain recipients of retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or survivor checks.
Of the more than 70 million Americans who claim retirement, SSDI or survivor benefits, most are paid on the second, third or fourth Wednesday in each month.
A beneficiary’s designated Wednesday is determined by the date of birth of the worker whose Social Security taxes have accumulated the benefits entitlement.
As it falls on the third Wednesday in December, today’s payment run will cover birthdays between the 11th and 20th of each month.
At a glance – Dec. schedule for 2nd, 3rd & 4th Wednesday payments:
- Born on 1st-10th of each month: Weds., Dec. 10
- Born on 11th-20th of each month: Weds., Dec. 17
- Born on 21st-31st of each month: Weds., Dec. 24
Who isn’t paid their benefits on the 2nd, 3rd or 4th Wednesday in Dec.?
- Some long-term Social Security recipients
If you started claiming retirement, SSDI or survivor benefits before May 1997, your check typically goes out on the third day of each month, irrespective of your date of birth.
These long-term beneficiaries were therefore due to be paid on December on Wednesday, Dec. 3.
- SSI beneficiaries
The roughly 7.4 million recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – a separate SSA benefit for low-income individuals who are over 65 or have a disability – are normally paid on the first day of each month.
Consequently, December’s SSI payments were scheduled to be disbursed on Monday, Dec. 1.
- Dual beneficiaries (SSI + regular Social Security)
Just over 2.5 million people receive both SSI and one of the SSA’s retirement, SSDI or survivor benefits.
These dual beneficiaries were scheduled to get the former on Dec. 1, followed by the latter on Dec. 3.
At a glance – Dec. payment dates not determined by birthday:
- SSI beneficiaries: Mon., Dec. 1
- Pre-May ’97 Social Sec. recipients: Weds., Dec. 3
- Dual beneficiaries: SSI on Dec. 1; Social Sec. on Dec. 3
You can check out the SSA’s complete benefits-distribution schedule for 2025 in this online calendar. The agency has also shared its schedule for 2026.
How much do recipients of Social Security retirement get?
Retired workers – who account for the majority of the U.S.’s Social Security recipients – get an average of $2,013.32 a month, per the SSA’s latest figures. The maximum monthly retirement benefit stands at $5,108 in 2025, the SSA says.
[embedded content]
How much money is paid to disability, survivor and SSI beneficiaries?
According to the SSA, disabled workers are paid an average of $1,588.52 a month, and recipients of survivor benefits get a monthly average of $1,576.20. Beneficiaries of the SSI scheme get $717.90 per month on average.
[embedded content]
COLA increase coming in 2026
This fall, the SSA announced that its beneficiaries are to get a 2.8% increase in their payments in 2026. This comes as part of the agency’s annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). For Americans on retirement benefits, this will mean an an average monthly rise of $56, the SSA says.
The first recipients of the new monthly payments will be beneficiaries of the SSI program: their January money is to be sent out on December 31 – a day earlier than normal, as New Year’s Day is a federal holiday.
How does the Social Security Administration make payments?
The SSA says it is “in most cases” no longer offering benefits recipients the option of being paid by paper check. Instead, the agency provides beneficiaries with two ways of receiving their payments electronically:
- Direct deposit
By supplying the SSA with their bank details, recipients can get their benefits by direct deposit. You can update your bank-account information on the agency’s “my Social Security” online portal.
- Debit Express Card
Recipients can also have their benefits paid onto the Direct Express Card, a special debit card for federal disbursements made to people without a bank account.
Related stories
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.