Not all months have the same number of Social Security payments. Although some beneficiaries usually receive their check on the same day, others collect it on a different one each time.
That is why it is essential to pay special attention to the December payments. Social Security has announced that there will be 6 payments instead of 5. So, some beneficiaries will receive more money and more checks than others in December.
As a matter of fact, there will be payments for those Americans on Supplemental Security Income, those on retirement, and on Social Security Disability Insurance. So, for SSI recipients, retirees, and SSDI beneficiaries.
When will Social Security send out the December payments?
The days when Social Security pays benefits will be December 1 (2 checks on the same day), December 13, 20, 27, and 29. For more details regarding beneficiaries and eligibility see the full list of Social Security payments in December below.
Remember that to collect any SSA payments you must have filed for benefits first. Therefore, you can only be eligible if the Administration approves your application. The December payment schedule is:
- SSI payments: December 1 and December 29
- Retirement payments for retirees getting benefits before May 1997: December 1
- Retirement or SSDI payment if your birthdate is from the 1-10: December 13
- Retirement or SSDI payment if your birthdate is from the 11-20: December 20
- Retirement or SSDI payment if your birthdate is from the 21-31: December 27
SSI (Supplemental Security Income) recipients will be the first ones to collect a payment. Besides, they will be the last ones to cash another payment. In this case, the last payment is from the month of January. Social Security sends it in advance, on the previous business day, when payments are on a holiday.
Are all Social Security payments worth the same in December?
The amounts of Social Security retirement, SSDI, or SSI payments are different. Even if you are on Supplemental Security Income only, the December 1 and the December 29 payment will not be the same.
This is because the December 1 SSI check does not include the 2024 COLA. So, while you can just get up to $914 in 2023, the maximum amount will be $943 for 2024 and the December 29 SSI check.
SSDI recipients will collect a payment of up to $3,627, but average payments are worth $1,486. Retirees may also have different amounts because they may have had different earnings, different work histories and may not have retire at the same age.
Therefore, retired workers get on average payments worth $1,841. The largest Social Security check is $4,555 in 2023 at the age of 70. If you filed at 62, it can be up to $2,572 or $3,627 at Full Retirement Age.