UPDATE: A new round of Social Security payments, providing benefits of up to $5,108, will be issued this week, just in time for the holiday season. The Social Security Administration (SSA) is set to deliver these essential payments on December 24, 2025, ensuring that millions of Americans receive their much-needed support ahead of Christmas.
This development matters NOW as approximately 70 million Americans, including retirees and individuals with disabilities, rely on these monthly payments for their financial stability. The SSA issues benefits in stages each month, which helps manage the large number of recipients effectively.
Beneficiaries typically receive their payments based on their birth date. However, specific groups, such as those who began collecting retirement, spousal, or survivor benefits before May 1997, as well as individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), follow a different schedule. SSI offers monthly assistance to low-income seniors, individuals who are blind, and those with disabilities.
On Christmas Eve, payments will be sent to beneficiaries born between the 21st and 31st of any month. If you do not receive your payment by the expected date, the SSA advises allowing up to three working days before reaching out to them for assistance.
As this marks one of the final payments of 2025, beneficiaries can also look forward to a 2.8 percent increase in their benefits in 2026 due to the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). This adjustment is projected to add around $56 more per month for the average retiree.
The SSA calculates the COLA using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which measures inflation based on the spending habits of younger, urban workers. Since 1975, this annual adjustment has been crucial in helping benefits keep pace with rising costs of living, including housing, food, and healthcare.
In 2026, the average monthly benefit for retired workers is expected to rise from $2,015 to $2,071. Couples, where both spouses receive benefits, are projected to see their combined payments increase from $3,120 to $3,208. Additionally, disabled workers are expected to see their monthly benefits rise from $1,586 to $1,630.
For those qualifying for the maximum benefit, the highest possible Social Security payment will increase from $5,108 to $5,251 in 2026, marking an annual increase of nearly $2,000. The COLA will apply across all SSA programs, including retirement, spousal, survivor, and SSI, with these enhanced payments set to take effect in January 2026.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops, and ensure you and your loved ones are prepared for these important financial changes as the year comes to a close.
