Social Security checks to be sent Dec. 24. See full payment schedule. -

Dec. 22, 2025, 5:04 a.m. ET

The third and final wave of Social Security payments for December is scheduled to be distributed this week, less than a month until the upcoming cost-of-living adjustment takes effect.

Following the December payments, recipients will receive larger checks thanks to a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). Payments will rise by about $56 per month, on average, when the COLA takes effect in January 2026, the Social Security Administration said.

Apart from the payment adjustments, Social Security beneficiaries have seen other changes, including the transition from paper checks to direct deposit to bank accounts or a Direct Express card.

Here’s what you need to know about this week’s Social Security payments.

Who gets their Social Security payment this week?

Beneficiaries who were born between the 21st and 31st day of their birth month are set to receive their monthly Social Security benefit on Wednesday, Dec. 24, according to the SSA’s payment calendar.

When are Social Security payments sent?

Social Security benefits – mainly paid to recipients who are older or retired – are typically paid on Wednesdays.

If a recipient’s birthdate is between the first and 10th of the month, they are usually issued payments on the second Wednesday of the payment month, according to the SSA’s calendar. Recipients born between the 11th and 20th are paid on the third Wednesday, and those born after the 20th are paid on the fourth Wednesday.

For those who received Social Security before May 1997, you can expect your payment on the third day of the month, unless it falls on a weekend or holiday.

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