Christmas Eve will arrive this year with an expected deposit for millions of people in the United States who depend on Social Security. On Wednesday, December 24, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will make one of the last payments of its 2025 schedule, allowing many beneficiaries to receive their money just before the holiday season, a crucial time for family budgets. This payment is for retirement beneficiaries, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries, and survivor benefits. In many cases, the monthly amount approaches or exceeds $2,000, especially for retired workers, who make up the majority of the program's recipients. According to the most recent SSA figures, the average monthly payment for retirees is $2,013.32, an amount that explains why so many beneficiaries eagerly await this deposit. The date of December 24 was not chosen at random. Social Security schedules most of its monthly payments based on the birthdate of the worker whose taxes generated the benefit. Since Christmas Eve falls on the fourth Wednesday of December this year, those born between the 21st and 31st of any month will receive their payment that day. Those born between the 1st and 10th received their payment on December 10th, while those born between the 11th and 20th received their money on the 17th. Not all beneficiaries follow this schedule. People who began receiving Social Security payments before May 1997 have a different system. In their case, the deposit is always made on the 3rd of each month, regardless of their birthdate. For them, the December payment was sent on Wednesday the 3rd. There are also important differences for those who receive Supplemental Security Income, known as SSI. This benefit is for low-income individuals who are 65 years of age or older, or who live with a disability. SSI payments are issued on the first day of each month, so the December money was sent on Monday the 1st. However, this group will receive another payment before the end of the year. Because January 1st is a federal holiday, the SSI payment for January 2026 will be advanced to Wednesday, December 31st. This means that some beneficiaries will see two deposits in December, although this is not an extra payment,but rather an advance on the following month's payment. People who receive both SSI and a regular Social Security benefit, known as dual beneficiaries, experienced a particularly busy month in terms of deposits. They received SSI on December 1st, their regular benefit on December 3rd, and will receive the January advance payment again on December 31st, totaling three deposits within the same calendar month. As for other amounts, disabled workers receive an average of $1,588.52 per month, while survivors receive approximately $1,576.20. The average SSI payment is $717.90.

In addition, the SSA confirmed that all beneficiaries will receive a 2.8% increase in 2026 as part of the cost-of-living adjustment. For withdrawals, this translates to an average increase of $56 per month.

Currently, the SSA sends payments almost electronically, either via direct deposit into a bank account or through the Direct Express card. So if you're expecting a paper check, you'd better check your payment settings, because many stopped receiving them in October. We don't want you to have a bitter Christmas.

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