December begins with a key payment schedule for millions of Social Security beneficiaries in the United States. Wednesday, December 3, 2025, will be one of the first deposit dates of the month, but not everyone receives their payment on that day. That is why we at MARCA are sharing which groups qualify and how to know if you are among the beneficiaries who will see their money reflected.
Social Security payment schedule December 2025
The Social Security Administration maintains a monthly payment schedule organized according to the beneficiary’s date of birth. However, there are exceptions. Some groups, due to their type of benefit or the date they began receiving it, have a different schedule.
According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), those who have been receiving benefits since before May 1997 or who collect through supplementary programs usually receive their payments at the beginning of the month. This puts them among the first groups to receive deposits in December 2025.
Beneficiaries who receive payment on December 3, 2025
Group 1: Social Security beneficiaries receiving payments before May 1997
The SSA details that people who began receiving retirement, disability or survivor benefits before May 1997 receive their payments on the first working day of the month.
Since December 1, 2025 falls on a Monday, the official payment date for the traditional group is moved to Wednesday, December 3, following the agency’s own calendar adjustment.
This group includes:
- Retirees who have been receiving payments for more than two decades.
- People who receive disability benefits approved before 1997.
- Survivor’s pension beneficiaries who started before this date.
Group 2: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries adjusted by calendar
Although SSI usually pays on the first of each month, when that date falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the deposit is brought forward or moved. For December 2025, the adjustment allows some SSI recipients to receive their deposit on the same Wednesday, December 3, especially those who also combine SSI with regular Social Security benefits.
Will I receive both Social Security payments?
Those who receive both SSI and traditional Social Security often manage two different payment dates. However, in some months the system synchronizes deposits depending on the crossover of programs and calendar adjustments. If you are in this combination, you may notice a deposit on December 3.How do you know your exact payment date?
The SSA recommends reviewing:
- Your My Social Security account, where your personalized calendar appears.
- Your annual benefits letter, showing amounts and dates.
- Official notices sent by mail or electronically.
The other beneficiaries, that is, those who receive payments based on their date of birth, will follow the normal schedule:
- Born between the 1st and 10th: second Wednesday of the month.
- Born between the 11th and 20th: third Wednesday.
- Born from the 21st to the 31st: fourth Wednesday.
