The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced an unusual occurrence for December, wherein approximately 7.5 million individuals will receive two benefit checks due to a scheduling exception. This adjustment is necessary because January 1, 2026, falls on a federal holiday, prompting an early payment distribution.
Beneficiaries of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program will receive their first check on December 1. This marks the beginning of the two payments for the month, with the second payment scheduled for December 31, which will cover the benefits for January 2026. Typically, SSI checks are issued on the first day of each month; however, the forthcoming holiday necessitated this alteration.
SSI benefits are designed to assist individuals who have limited income or resources, particularly those over 65 years old or those living with disabilities, regardless of previous contributions to Social Security. The average monthly payment for SSI recipients stands at $717.84, with a maximum of $967 available to individual applicants, and couples potentially receiving up to $1,450 per month. Additionally, recipients may qualify for supplemental payments from their respective states.
Retirement, survivor, and SSDI beneficiaries will see their payments distributed on designated Wednesdays throughout December based on the beneficiaries’ birth dates. Those born from the 1st to the 10th will receive their checks on December 10, those born from the 11th to the 20th will receive theirs on December 17, and the final group, born from the 21st to the 31st, will receive their payments on December 24.
If individuals are recipients of both SSI as well as regular Social Security benefits, they will receive the SSI payment on December 1, followed by the Social Security payment on December 3.
The SSA is making strides towards a fully digital payment process and has transitioned nearly all transactions to electronic formats, ceasing the option for paper checks since September 30.
This timely adjustment reflects the SSA’s commitment to ensuring that beneficiaries receive their funds without disruption, particularly during the holiday season. As they continue to modernize their services, beneficiaries can find detailed payment schedules, including those for 2025 and 2026, on the SSA’s official website.