Social Security Payments on December 10, 2025 – Who Gets Paid and How Much?

Published On: December 6, 2025

The Social Security Administration has set a structured calendar for December 2025 to manage the payment distribution for millions of Americans. If you’re a beneficiary, especially someone receiving retirement, disability (SSDI), or survivor benefits, you might want to know if December 10 is your payday.

Let’s break down who gets paid on that date, how much the average and maximum benefits are, and what to expect in your bank account.

Table of Contents

Schedule

The SSA doesn’t just send payments all at once. Instead, it uses a staggered system based on your birth date. This helps reduce processing congestion and ensures smoother operations.

Here’s how the December 2025 Social Security payments are scheduled:

Date of Birth	Payment Date
1st–10th	December 10
11th–20th	December 17
21st–31st	December 24

So, if your birthday falls between the 1st and 10th of any month, your Social Security payment—whether it’s for retirement, SSDI, or survivor benefits—will land on Wednesday, December 10.

However, if you started receiving benefits before May 1997, or if you’re an SSI recipient, your payment follows a different timeline entirely and usually arrives at the start of the month.

Eligibility

Not everyone gets paid on the same day. The SSA has made it clear that the December 10 deposit will go to:

Retirement beneficiaries born between the 1st and 10th of any month
SSDI recipients with birthdates between the 1st and 10th
Survivors who receive benefits and match the same birthdate criteria

This system allows the SSA to process millions of payments in a manageable, predictable way. Just remember, it’s all about your date of birth, not the date you applied or started collecting benefits (unless you started before 1997, in which case you follow the early payment schedule).

Amounts

Now let’s talk numbers. How much can you expect on December 10 if you’re due a payment?

Here are the average monthly Social Security payments for 2025:

Benefit Type	Average Payment
Retirement	$2,009.50
SSDI	$1,584.46
Survivor Benefits	$717.20

These averages can fluctuate slightly from month to month, but they’re a solid estimate for what you’ll receive in December.

Maximums

Want to know what the highest possible monthly payment is? That depends entirely on the age at which you start collecting Social Security.

Here are the max benefit amounts for 2025 based on your claiming age:

Claiming Age	Max Monthly Benefit
Age 62	$2,831
Full Retirement Age (66–67)	$4,018
Age 70	$5,108

So, if you waited until 70 to claim, you could see over five grand a month in your bank account. That’s a serious bump compared to taking benefits at 62. It’s like ordering the deluxe meal instead of the standard combo—more value, but only if you’re willing to wait.

Planning

If you’re counting on your December deposit to cover bills, holiday expenses, or travel plans, knowing exactly when and how much you’ll get can help you plan better. While the SSA doesn’t usually miss its scheduled payments, it’s still smart to keep an eye on your account just in case there’s a delay, especially around the holidays.

If your payment doesn’t arrive on time, give it a day or two, then check with your bank. If it’s still missing, contact the SSA directly. Sometimes issues like changes in bank accounts, addresses, or even processing glitches can hold things up.

Remember, your Social Security payment is consistent unless there’s been a change in your eligibility or you’ve reached a new age bracket that affects your benefit.

When you boil it down, December 10 is payday for millions of Americans who rely on Social Security to keep their finances in check. Whether you’re living off retirement funds, coping with a disability, or managing life after losing a loved one, this payment brings vital support just in time for the holidays.