The Social Security Administration (SSA) is preparing to make a massive shipment of benefits on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, marking the fourth round of payments in its December distribution schedule.
This payment is aimed at millions of beneficiaries who receive retirement, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or survivor benefits. This payment system, which covers the majority of the nearly 70.4 million Americans who receive these benefits, is governed by a strict schedule that assigns distribution dates to the second, third or fourth Wednesday of each month.
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How much are Social Security payments in December?
The amount of Social Security payment varies significantly depending on each person’s work history and income:
- Average benefit: According to the latest SSA figures, the average retired worker receives a monthly deposit of $2,013.32.
- The maximum monthly retirement benefit that the SSA currently pays is $5,108.
Who receives Social Security payments on Wednesday, December 17?
The SSA uses a fixed schedule to distribute most payments to the nearly 70.4 million beneficiaries. Payments are issued on the second, third or fourth Wednesday of each month. The assigned payment date is determined by the worker’s date of birth:
The distribution on Wednesday, December 17 corresponds to the third Wednesday of the month and is aimed at:
- Beneficiaries born between the 11th and 20th of each month.
What is the full Social Security payment schedule?
This is the schedule of payments determined by the day of birth in December:
- Born from the 1st to the 10th of each month: Wednesday, December 10
- Born from the 11th to the 20th of each month: Wednesday, December 17
- Born from the 21st to the 31st of each month: Wednesday, December 24