Social Security Payments Distributed on Wednesday, Dec. 10: Who Qualifies?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is set to distribute benefits to millions of Americans on Wednesday, December 10. This payment will be part of the agency’s December schedule. Beneficiaries of retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and survivor checks will receive their payments on this day.
Who Qualifies for Social Security Payments on December 10?
Payments on December 10 will be issued to individuals whose birthdays fall between the 1st and 10th of the month. This schedule is determined by the birthdate of the worker whose contributions have supported their benefits. The majority of the over 70.2 million recipients will receive their payments on specific Wednesdays each month according to this schedule.
Payment Schedule for December 2025
- Born on 1st-10th: Wednesday, December 10
- Born on 11th-20th: Wednesday, December 17
- Born on 21st-31st: Wednesday, December 24
Who Does Not Receive Payments on December 10?
Some long-term beneficiaries do not receive payments according to the monthly Wednesday schedule. This group includes those who began receiving benefits prior to May 1997. Their payments are typically issued on the third day of each month. For December, these recipients were paid on Wednesday, December 3.
Additionally, approximately 7.4 million recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are paid on the first day of each month. Therefore, December’s SSI payments were sent out on Monday, December 1. Dual beneficiaries, who receive both SSI and Social Security benefits, received their SSI payments on December 1 and their Social Security payments on December 3.
Payment Dates Not Determined by Birthdays
- SSI recipients: Monday, December 1
- Pre-May 1997 Social Security beneficiaries: Wednesday, December 3
- Dual beneficiaries: SSI on December 1; Social Security on December 3
Average Payments for Different Benefits
According to recent figures from the SSA, the average payments for various benefits are as follows:
- Retirement benefits: $2,012.30 per month
- SSDI benefits: $1,588.44 per month
- Survivor benefits: $1,575.89 per month
- SSI benefits: $717.51 per month
Cost-of-Living Adjustment
This fall, the SSA announced a 2.8% increase for 2026 benefits, resulting in an average rise of $56 for retirement benefit recipients. The first adjusted payments will be distributed to SSI beneficiaries on December 31, a day earlier than usual due to New Year’s Day being a federal holiday.
How Payments Are Processed
The SSA has shifted away from issuing paper checks. Most beneficiaries now receive payments electronically. They can have funds directly deposited into their bank accounts by providing their banking information through the SSA’s online portal. Alternatively, recipients can opt for the Direct Express Card, a debit card for individuals without bank accounts.
For more details on the SSA’s complete payment distribution calendar, individuals can refer to the information available on El-Balad.
