Social Security to send out payments today - Monday, Dec. 1: here’s who’s getting a check
More than seven million beneficiaries are to receive a payment from the Social Security Administration today, the opening day of December 2025.
Million of Americans are getting a benefits check today, as the Social Security Administration (SAA) begins its schedule of payments for December.
Who’s getting a payment today, Dec. 1?
Beneficiaries of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program are to receive their latest monthly check.
This is the first of two SSI payments scheduled to be sent out in December. On Wednesday, Dec. 31, beneficiaries of the scheme are to receive their money for January 2026, 24 hours earlier than they normally would.
Why is January’s SSI check going out early?
SSI checks are typically distributed on the first of each month. However, New Year’s Day is a federal holiday, so January’s payment has been brought forward to the nearest working day.
Who receives SSI benefits?
A program that has just over 7.4 million beneficiaries, according to the most recent figures shared by the SSA, SSI is aimed at people who have little to no income or resources, and are over-65 or have a disability.
Unlike Social Security programs such as retirement benefits, survivor pay and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), eligibility for SSI does not depend on recipients’ payment of Social Security taxes. It is a needs-based, rather than contribution-based, program.
You can find more information about eligibility for the SSI scheme on the SSA website.
How much do SSI beneficiaries receive per month?
Individual SSI beneficiaries are paid $717.84 a month on average, the SSA says. The maximum SSI amount available to an individual claimant is $967 per month. Eligible couples can get a joint payment of up to $1,450 a month.
Some SSI recipients are eligible for a supplementary payment from their state. For more information on the states that offer this additional money, check out this SSA page.
SSI payments to get COLA increase in 2026
Along with beneficiaries of the SSA’s retirement, SSDI and survivor programs, SSI recipients are to see a 2.8% increase in their monthly amounts next year.
This confirmed in October, when the SSA announced its latest cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).
SSI recipients will benefit from the 2026 COLA starting with their payment for January. As noted above, this check is scheduled to be distributed on New Year’s Eve.
When are other Social Security checks going out in Dec.?
Most recipients of retirement, survivor and SSDI benefits will be paid their December money on the month’s second, third or fourth Wednesday, depending on their date of birth:
- 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
This three-Wednesdays schedule does not apply to Social Security beneficiaries who started claiming retirement, survivor or SSDI benefits before May 1997.
These long-term beneficiaries are to be paid on Wednesday, Dec. 3, regardless of their date of birth.
What if you claim both SSI and regular Social Security?
If you receive both SSI and any of the SSA’s retirement, SSDI or survivor benefits, you are scheduled to get the former today and the latter on Dec. 3.
You can take a look at the SSA’s full benefits-payment schedule for 2025 in this calendar. The agency has also shared its 2026 distribution schedule on this page.
How does Social Security make benefits payments?
Since the end of September, the SSA says it has “in most cases” no longer been giving recipients the option of being mailed a paper check.
The agency provides its recipients with two ways of receiving electronic payments:
- Direct deposit
Beneficiaries can be paid by direct deposit, by supplying the SSA with their bank details. You can provide this information on the “my Social Security” online portal.
- Direct Express
Recipients can also have their benefits loaded onto the Direct Express Card, a special debit card for federal payments made to people who do not have a bank account.
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