Tens of millions of people across the country who have filed for Social Security will get more payments in December. These payments are made every month. Checks are sent to 72.5 million Americans every month.
When they arrive depends on the beneficiary’s date of birth and the type of benefit they receive. Not only does the Social Security Administration (SSA) pay out retirement benefits, but it also gives out disability and death benefits.
Social Security makes new payment schedule official
Retirement payments are made at different times of the month based on the claimant’s birth date and the length of their benefits. SSI helps elderly, blind, and disabled people with low incomes and assets by giving them money at the beginning of every month.
This time, though, some claimants will get their January benefits early. Read on to find out when you can expect your monthly paycheck.
December 1st
All Social Security and SSI payments made before July 1997 are payable that day. On December 3, your retirement check will be paid separately from your Social Security benefits if you receive both.
December 13th
On December 13, those whose birthdays fall between the first and tenth of any given month will get their monthly payment.
December 20th
On December 20, claimants whose birthdays fall between the eleventh and twentieth of any given month are paid.
December 24th
Benefits will be paid on December 24 to anyone born between the 21st and the 31st of any given month.
December 29th
Since January 1st is a holiday, persons who have been receiving Social Security and SSI benefits since before July 1997 will receive their January payments on December 29.
It is important to note that this extra payment is due on December 29th, since January 1st is a holiday. So, whenever this happens, the Social Security Administration moves the payment to the business day before.
If you need more information, you can always check the official Social Security payment schedule or log in to your My Social Security Account. There, you can ask for information about your monthly payments, financial statements, or even a new Social Security card.
Social Security has confirmed 3 changes that will impact beneficiaries in the country
Officially, the new COLA for 2025 was set at 2.5 percent
The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that seniors got at the start of 2024 was 3.2%, which is a lot more than the 2.5% COLA that Social Security announced for 2025.
But it is important to talk about this COLA’s history. Because inflation slowed down a lot in 2024, the 2025 COLA is lower. Costs are not going up as quickly as they have in the past few years, which may already make seniors who get Social Security feel better.
For certain beneficiaries, the earnings test limit will rise
It is possible to work and get Social Security benefits at the same time. However, if you work before your full retirement age, you should be aware of the program’s earnings-test limits.
The earnings-test limit, which was set at $23,400 in 2025, tells you how much money a worker can make before their Social Security benefits are taken away. This limit goes up from $22,320 in 2024 to $23,400 in 2025.
This means that for every $2 increase in wages, $1 is taken away.
Keep in mind that your earnings test limit will go up if you want to reach full retirement age in 2025. In this case, it will go up from $59,520 to $62,160 in 2024. After that, when you earn $3, you run the risk of having $1 taken out of your pay.
But remember that you do not need to worry about these numbers if you are still working after reaching your full retirement age. They will not change how much the SSA gives you.
Those who receive benefits will have to pay more for each working credit
People must pay into the program and earn 40 work credits over the course of their lifetime in order to get monthly benefits when they retire. In 2025, the value of one credit will rise from $1,730 to $1,810.
This fact should be known by people who work part-time and want to get Social Security. You should be able to get your four credits for the year even if you only make the minimum wage.
