Social Security beneficiaries are heading into a December that will not follow the usual payment rhythm, and the shift is significant enough that it could disrupt carefully planned household budgets.

If you receive Social Security benefits in 2026, there are several changes to the program that will impact your payments.

In December 2025, some Social Security recipients will notice an unexpected change in their payment schedule. This is primarily due to the advance distribution of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) ...

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients will receive two payments in December 2025 due to holiday scheduling. The January 2026 SSI payment will be sent early on December 31, 2025, because ...

The second round of payments will go out on Dec. 17 for retirees born between the 11th and 20th, and the third round will follow on Dec. 24 for retirees born on or after the 21st. Social Security ...

Of the over 71 million Americans who receive regular Social Security payments, the last group will receive their December benefits this week. Afterwards, there will be only one more SSI check ...

The first round of payments went out on Dec. 10 to recipients born on or before the 10th of a month, and the third round will follow on Dec. 24 for retirees born on or after the 21st. Social Security ...