Some Social Security recipients are to get their latest monthly benefits next Wednesday, as the U.S.’s Social Security Administration (SSA) makes the second batch of payments on its distribution schedule for December.
Who gets a check from Social Security on Wednesday, Dec. 3?
- Certain long-term beneficiaries
The SSA is due to issue checks to a particular group of long-term recipients of Social Security: specifically, those who began claiming retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or survivor pay before May 1997.
[embedded content]
- Beneficiaries who also receive SSI
Dec. 3 is also your payment date for retirement, SSDI or survivor pay if you combine any of these benefits with Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – a program for low-income Americans who are over 65 or have a disability.
SSI money, meanwhile, is due to go out on Monday, Dec. 1, in the SSA’s first round of payments for next month.
[embedded content]
How do retirement, disability and survivor beneficiaries get?
Retired workers – who account for most of the U.S.’s Social Security recipients – are paid an average of $2,008.31 a month, the SSA said in the most recent figures on its website. (The agency has not updated its monthly Social Security fact sheet since September, apparently because of the disruption caused by the 43-day government shutdown, which lasted from the start of October to mid-November.)
Per the SSA, disabled workers get an average of $1,582.95 a month, while survivor benefits are worth a monthly average of $1,575.30.
How much is paid to recipients of SSI benefits?
According to the SSA, SSI beneficiaries get an average of $717.87 a month. The highest possible SSI figure available to an individual claimant is $967 per month. Eligible couples can claim up to $1,450 a month.
Some SSI recipients are eligible for a supplementary payment from their state. You can find out which states offer this additional money on the SSA website.
Benefits to increase in 2026
In late October, the SSA announced that its benefits recipients will see a 2.8% rise in their monthly checks from January 2026, as part of the agency’s annual cost-of-living adjustment. For Americans on retirement benefits, this will translate into an average increase of $56 per month, the SSA says.
When are other Social Security checks paid for December 2025?
Most recipients of retirement, SSDI and survivor benefits will be sent their latest monthly benefits on one of three Wednesdays in December.
Their designated Wednesday depends on the date of birth of the worker whose Social Security taxes have accumulated the benefits entitlement:
- 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
You can check out the SSA’s full schedule of payments for 2025 in this online calendar. The agency has also shared its distribution schedule for 2026.
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.