Overview
- Retirement benefits will be paid on Dec. 10 to those born on the 1st–10th, on Dec. 17 for the 11th–20th, and on Dec. 24 for the 21st–31st, following the SSA’s Wednesday schedule.
- SSI recipients receive two deposits in December, on Dec. 1 and Dec. 31, with the Dec. 31 payment reflecting the 2.8% cost‑of‑living increase that begins for 2026.
- Beneficiaries who started receiving Social Security before 1997 were paid on Dec. 3, and those who began before May 1997 are slated for their January 2026 check on Jan. 2.
- The House approved bills to rename claiming ages to emphasize tradeoffs, to create a single point of contact for identity‑theft victims, and to allow replacement Social Security numbers for affected children, sending the measures to the Senate.
- Claiming choices continue to drive outcomes, with benefits reduced by up to about 30% when claimed at 62 versus full retirement age and increased by waiting to 70, while taxes on benefits can apply for many retirees starting at $25,000 in income for single filers.