Social Security Payments on December 3: December marks the commencement of a crucial payment schedule for millions of Social Security claimants across the US. One of the 1st deposit dates of the month will be Wednesday, December 3, 2025. However, not all persons will receive their payouts on that precise day. Therefore, here we are presenting you information on which groups are qualified and how to determine if you are one of the recipients who will have their monies displayed.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) upholds a monthly payment schedule that is determined on the basis the beneficiary’s date of birth. However, there are exceptions to this Social Security rule. Certain groups, depending on the nature of their benefits or the date they begin receiving them, follow a different schedule.
Who Will Get Social Security Payments on December 3?
According to the SSA, payments are normally made at the start of each month to individuals who were receiving benefits prior to May 1997 or who collect through supplemental programs. This positions them among the first groups to receive deposits in December.
Group 1: Social Security claimants who began receiving payments prior to May 1997. The SSA states that persons who started receiving retirement, disability, or survivor benefits before May 1997 are scheduled to receive their payments on the first working day of each month.
Due to the SSA agency’s calendar modifications, the official payment date for this traditional group has been changed to Wednesday, December 3, as December 1, 2025, falls on a Monday. This group comprises Retirees who have been receiving payments for nearly 20 years. Individuals getting disability benefits that were approved before 1997. Beneficiaries of survivor pensions who commenced their benefits prior to this date.
Group 2: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries adjusted according to the calendar. While SSI generally disburses payments on the first of each month, if this date coincides with a weekend or federal holiday, the deposit is either advanced or postponed. The modification allows some SSI beneficiaries, especially those who receive SSI in addition to normal Social Security benefits, to receive their deposits on the same Wednesday, December 3, for December 2025.
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How December Payments Are Scheduled?
Regular Social Security (Benefits for Retirement, Disability, and Survivor). Most Social Security payments are disbursed based on the beneficiary’s birth date not all at once. If you became eligible after May 1997, your payment date each month depends on when in the month you were born Birthdays:
1–10 → payment on the 2nd Wednesday of December (that is, Dec 10)
11–20 → payment on the 3rd Wednesday (that is, Dec 17)
21–31 → payment on the 4th Wednesday (that is, Dec 24)
If you started receiving benefits before May 1997, your payment will arrive on the 3rd of December.
SSI = Supplemental Security Income Payment for SSI recipients arrives on December 1st, unless it occurs on a weekend or holiday, in which case SSA sends it on the day before. In 2025, participants will get their normal SSI payment on Monday, December 1.
Early SSI Payment for January 2026. Because January 1, 2026, is a federal holiday (New Year’s Day), SSA will release the January SSI payment early, on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. As a result, some individuals, especially those receiving both SSI and Social Security benefits, may notice two distinct SSI deposits in December.
What This Means for December 2025?
Many claimants won’t get just one but 2 payments in December (normal December benefit + early January SSI). Expect deposit dates around December 1, December 3, December 10, December 17, December 24, and December 31, depending on your benefit type and birth date. This is a significant boost for people on fixed incomes or on a tight budget. Everyone should double check their bank or direct deposit settings and verify you receive what you anticipate at the proper time.
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What’s Changing in 2026?
The SSA just announced a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2026, which is also noteworthy. That means many beneficiaries will experience a modest rise in monthly payments beginning in January 2026. Because the January SSI payment arrives early (on Dec 31), recipients should check whether that deposit represents the revised amount.
December is a crucial month for Social Security beneficiaries, with various payment dates and the early January SSI deposit requiring unique scheduling. Staying informed about your precise payment date guarantees you may arrange your budget wisely and avoid surprises. Keeping your bank information updated and monitoring deposits will assist make the process seamless and stress-free.