In the United States, December will be a very important month for people who get Social Security. That is when the last payments of the year will be sent out, along with an extra Supplemental Security Income (SSI) check because of a mistake in the calendar.
This month marks the end of the yearly payment cycle and is notable for giving extra help that, for many, makes a difference in their budget.
The Social Security administration will send regular payments to retirees and beneficiaries on the dates set by their specific group. Also, people who get SSI will benefit the most because they will get two payments in December because of a scheduling error.
This does not happen every year, but when it does, it is a surprise chance to make the economy more stable at the start of the year.
The normal calendar bases payment dates on birthdays and other events, but the January 2025 SSI payment will be made earlier.
There is a problem that makes the normal delivery date fall on a day when people are not working, so it has to be moved back to the previous month.
With these details in mind, December is not only an important month for people who depend on these cash benefits, but it also makes you think about how to best use and manage this extra money.
Social Security payments in December 2024
The calendar for December shows that retirees will get three main payments, plus an extra check for people who get SSI. These dates are very important for planning the month’s costs, especially with the holidays coming up at the end of the year.
- December 3: Special payment for retirees who began receiving benefits before May 1997.
- December 11, 18 and 24: Payments for retirees whose birthday determines their payment group:
- Group 2: Birthdays from the 1st to the 10th of the month, payment on December 11.
- Group 3: Birthdays from the 11th to the 20th of the month, payment on December 18.
- Group 4: Birthday from the 21st to the 31st of the month, payment on December 24 (the 25th is a holiday).
The extra SSI check for January 2025, on the other hand, will be sent on December 29. This means that beneficiaries will get two checks in one month.
This early payment is made so that the due date (January 1) does not fall on a holiday. It is this extra bonus that people can get even with the 2025 COLA.
Why is there an extra Social Security payment in December?
SSI has its own set of rules that makes sure payments are made on the first of every month. Whenever this date falls on a holiday or non-business day, the check is sent on the business day before.
The payment is moved up this year because January 1, 2025, is a holiday. It will now be made on December 29, 2024, the last business day of the year.
This change to the calendar does not affect how much SSI recipients get each year, but it does give them a chance to better manage their income during the holidays and their first-of-the-year costs.
Also, this extra payment in December can be very helpful for covering any extra costs that come up during this time of year.
Many people look forward to getting two checks in the same month, but it can be hard to keep track of them both. Please keep in mind that the second payment is not an extra “bonus,” but rather an advance of the January check for the following year.
This shows that Social Security is committed to making sure that people who get benefits get their money without any problems, even on holidays or days when people are not working.
This oddity in the calendar can be a great way for people who depend on SSI to start the new year with more financial peace of mind.
