December continues to be well underway, and while the new year is approaching fast, there are still a number of Social Security payments to be distributed before the end of the year. This is good news to all recipients and beneficiaries as Christmas is a time of high spending, and every cent will count to make ends meet.
This is why, during this time of the year, it is very important to be aware of when your payment dates for your benefits are in order to strategize how you will be spending your money and not run out before the holidays are even over.
When Will You Get Your Social Security Payments In December
There are several payment days in every single month. The first date is always the one for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is the first of every month.
In the months when the first day falls on a weekend or a National Holiday, this payment is sent out earlier in order to avoid delays for beneficiaries. This ensures that they have enough money to pay their bills regardless of when the payment is due.
The SSI payment for the month of December has already been distributed and followed this pattern, as December 1 fell on a Sunday, and so the payment was distributed on November 29, better known as Black Friday this year.
But there will still be an SSI payment in December; it will just be the January payment (which will include all the adjustments for the new year).Â
This is because January 1 is New Year and thus a National Holiday, so the payment is sent out on the earlier day when banks are open and the US Postal Service runs, which is December 31.
As for the rest of the Social Security payments that need to be distributed, they fall into two categories: those who started claiming benefits before May 1997 and those who started claiming benefits after May 1997.
For those who started claiming before May 1997, the payment date falls on the third of every month, with the same rules for weekends and National Holidays applied to the distribution calendar.
But, for those who started claiming after May 1997 the rules are a bit more complex as the payment date is dependent on your birth date.
As a general rule, recipients whose birthdays fall on 1st-10th of the month will receive their benefits on the second Wednesday of any given month, those born on 11th-20th will receive payouts on the third Wednesday, and those with birthdays on 21st-31st will see their payments on the fourth Wednesday. The change in the National Holiday date still applies to these benefits.
With all these considerations, when are payments to be expected during the month of December specifically, considering the calendar quirks that come with each different month?
- December 3: Social Security payment for those who began receiving payments before May 1997.
- December 11: Social Security payment for those born between the 1st and 10th of any month and started after May 1997. This round of payments will hit beneficiaries’ accounts later this week, so be on the lookout.
- December 18: Social Security payment for those with a birthday between the 11th and 20th of any month and are beneficiaries after May 1997. This payment will be distributed next week, so there is still a bit of time to go
- December 24: Social Security payment for those born between the 21st and 31st of any month, beneficiaries after May 1997. The payment should go out on the 25th, but that is Christmas Day and thus a National Holiday. This means that the payment is delivered in advance to ensure that beneficiaries are not negatively affected by any potential delays.
- December 31: SSI Payment for January.
