Social Security benefits are to go out today – Wednesday, Dec. 10: here’s who gets a payment
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is today due to send out benefits to millions of recipients across the U.S., in what is the third payment run on the agency’s distribution schedule for December.
Who’s getting a Social Security payment today, Dec. 10?
Payments are to be issued to certain recipients of retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or survivor checks.
Of the nearly 70.3 million Americans who receive retirement, SSDI or survivor benefits, most get their money 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.
Today’s payments cover birthdays between the 1st and 10th of each month. The next two Wednesdays – Dec. 17 and 24 – will then account for birthdays between the 11th and 31st of each month.
At a glance – Dec. schedule for 2nd, 3rd & 4th Wednesday payments:
- Born on 1st to 10th of each month: Weds., Dec. 10
- Born on 11th to 20th of each month: Weds., Dec. 17
- Born on 21st to 31st of each month: Weds., Dec. 24
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Who doesn’t get their benefits on the 2nd, 3rd or 4th Weds. in Dec.?
- Certain 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 scheduled to be paid for December on Wednesday, Dec. 3.
- SSI beneficiaries
The nearly 7.4 million beneficiaries 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 due to be distributed on Monday, Dec. 1.
- Dual beneficiaries (SSI + regular Social Security)
Around 2.5 million people in the U.S. receive both SSI and one of the SSA’s retirement, SSDI or survivor benefits.
These recipients 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 recipients: Mon., Dec. 1
- Pre-May ’97 Social Sec. beneficiaries: Weds., Dec. 3
- Dual recipients: SSI on Mon., Dec. 1; Social Sec. on Weds., Dec. 3
You can take a look at the SSA’s complete benefits-distribution schedule for 2025 in this online calendar. The agency has also shared its schedule for 2026.
How much is paid to Social Security retirement beneficiaries?
Retired workers – who represent the majority of the U.S.’s Social Security recipients – are paid an average of $2,012.30 a month, according to the SSA’s most recent figures.
Published in recent days, the agency’s latest Social Security fact sheet provides data for October, rather than the past month. This appears to be because of the disruption caused by this fall’s 43-day government shutdown.
How much do disability, survivor and SSI beneficiaries get?
Per the SSA, disabled workers receive $1,588.44 a month on average, and recipients of survivor benefits get a monthly average of $1,575.89. Beneficiaries of the SSI program are paid $717.51 per month on average.
COLA rise in 2026 benefits
In October, the SSA confirmed that its benefits recipients 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 recipients of retirement benefits, this will translate into an average rise of $56 per month, the SSA says.
The first recipients of the new monthly payments will be beneficiaries of the SSI scheme: their January money is to be sent out on December 31 – 24 hours earlier than normal, as New Year’s Day is a federal holiday.
How does Social Security send out benefits?
The SSA says it is “in most cases” no longer offering benefits recipients the option of being paid by paper check. Instead, the agency gives beneficiaries 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.
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- 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 who do not have a bank account.
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