Social Security December 17 Payment: A new Social Security payment is coming soon and many people are waiting for it because it is the last check before the new year brings higher benefits. The Social Security Administration will send this payment on its normal schedule, so the date depends on when person was born.
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People who have birthdays between the 11th and the 20th of any month will get their money on Wednesday, December 17, while people born after the 20th will need to wait until December 24 for their deposit. This schedule stays the same every month.
The highest payment for this round can reach $4,018, and the exact amount depends on each person’s work history and the type of benefit they receive. This deposit is important because it will be the final one before COLA adjustment starts. The COLA increase will begin in January 2026 and will raise average payments by about $56 every month.
Social Security December 17 Payment: Eligibility
This check is for people who already qualify for Social Security benefits. That includes retirees, people with disabilities, and survivors who meet all the rules set by the SSA.
To get these benefits a person must earn enough work credits and must also meet the age or disability requirements that match their type of benefit.
The payment amount is not the same for everyone. People who worked for many years and earned higher wages often get closer to the maximum amount of $4,018. Others receive less if their work history is shorter or their earnings were lower.
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How to Receive Social Security December 17 Payment?
To receive the December deposit without problems, a person needs to keep an active bank account linked to the SSA. It is also important to keep personal information updated so the agency can contact you easily if something changes. The SSA also tells people to look at the 2025 and 2026 payment schedule on its website so they can plan their money and know the exact day their check will come.
There is also a special note for SSI recipients. People who get SSI should know that the January 2026 payment will not arrive in January. Because New Year’s Day is a holiday, SSI money will be sent early on December 31, 2025.
Once this final round of checks goes out in December, everyone will start seeing higher payments in 2026. The new 2.8% COLA increase will apply to all groups, including retirees, disabled individuals, and survivors. This adjustment is meant to help people keep up with rising living costs in the new year.
