Free Social Security & SSI Payment Dates for December 2026: Two SSI Deposits & No January Payment

December will look generous if you get SSI — and January will look empty. That is not a mistake. SSI households in San Antonio will see two deposits in December: one on Tuesday, December 1, and a second on Thursday, December 31. The December 31 deposit is actually January 2027’s payment, sent early because January 1 is a federal holiday — and it is the first SSI payment that includes the 3.6% cost-of-living raise for 2027. There will be no SSI deposit dated in January at all. Here is every December 2026 payment date for Social Security and SSI, why the calendar flips this way, and how to make that December 31 deposit last through January. Checking your payment date is always free.

December 2026 Social Security & SSI payment dates

These dates come from the Social Security Administration’s official Schedule of Social Security Benefit Payments for 2026. Find your group and read across:

Your own payment date is also shown in your my Social Security account and on your benefit letter — those are the safest sources for your exact case. If you are still sorting out November, our November 2026 Social Security & SSI payment dates guide explains why SSI arrived on October 30 and why no SSI deposit is dated in November.

Why SSI pays twice in December — and not at all in January

SSI is normally paid on the 1st of the month. When the 1st falls on a weekend or a federal holiday, Social Security pays on the business day before. December 1, 2026 is a Tuesday, so December’s SSI payment arrives on time. January 1, 2027 is New Year’s Day, a federal holiday, so January’s SSI payment moves up to Thursday, December 31.

That second December deposit is not a bonus, a holiday gift, or extra money. It is January’s regular payment, just early. After December 31, the next SSI payment is Monday, February 1, 2027 — a 32-day stretch. Budget the December 31 deposit as January’s money for rent, utilities, and medicine, even though it lands before New Year’s Eve.

The 3.6% COLA raise starts with the December 31 SSI payment

On October 14, 2026, the Social Security Administration announced that Social Security benefits and SSI payments will increase by 3.6 percent in 2027. On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by about $75 a month. SSI recipients see the raise first: increased SSI payments begin with the December 31, 2026 payment. Regular Social Security payments rise starting with the benefits paid in January 2027.

You do not need to apply, register, or pay anything to get the raise — it is automatic. Your personal COLA notice shows your exact new amount. Notices are mailed during December, and people with a my Social Security account who opted into paperless notices can see theirs in the account Message Center. Watch out for scams around this: Social Security will never charge a fee to “activate” your COLA or ask you to change your direct deposit over the phone to receive it. Our Social Security COLA 2027 guide breaks down what the raise means for your check.

Regular Social Security dates in December

Regular Social Security benefits are paid on Wednesdays, based on your birth date, and December has no holiday shift for those groups: Wednesday, December 9 if you were born on the 1st through the 10th; Wednesday, December 16 for birthdays on the 11th through the 20th; and Wednesday, December 23 for birthdays on the 21st through the 31st. People who started benefits before May 1997, and people who receive both Social Security and SSI, are paid on Thursday, December 3.

One timing note: the December 23 payment lands two days before Christmas, and the December 9 and December 16 payments land in the middle of holiday spending. Knowing your exact day now makes it easier to plan groceries and gifts without guessing.

How to make the December 31 SSI payment last all of January

• Treat the December 31 deposit as January’s money. Set aside January’s rent, utilities, and medicine before spending anything extra for New Year’s.
• Know your food dates. Texas SNAP deposits still run January 1–28 on the Lone Star Card schedule, based on the last two digits of your EDG number — see our January 2027 SNAP payment dates guide for your exact day. December’s SNAP dates are in our December 2026 SNAP payment dates guide.
• Fill the gaps free. San Antonio free food pantries and holiday meal programs can stretch a tight January budget — no shame, that is what they are there for.
• Ignore “bonus” texts. Messages promising an extra or surprise SSI payment in December or a fee to unlock your COLA raise are a scam pattern. There is no bonus — December 31 is simply January’s regular payment, paid early.

If your payment does not arrive

Check with your bank or credit union first — deposits sometimes post later in the day. If the payment still has not arrived, Social Security asks you to allow 3 extra mailing days after the scheduled date before calling. Then call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), weekdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time.

Not sure what else you may qualify for? Checking is free

Many San Antonio seniors and disabled adults who get SSI also qualify for help they have never applied for — SNAP food benefits, help paying Medicare premiums, utility help, and more. Our free Apply for Me help walks you through it and matches you with programs you may qualify for. It takes a few minutes, and checking your potential matches is free.

Check What You May Qualify For — Free Apply for Me Help

We do not submit government applications or complete paperwork for you. We help you find your potential matches and walk you through the steps.

Helpful links & phone numbers

• Social Security Administration (ssa.gov) — official payment schedules, SSI information, and your my Social Security account
• SSA Schedule of Benefit Payments 2026 (PDF) — the official calendar these December dates come from
• SSA scam reporting (ssa.gov/scam) — report fake calls and texts about your benefits or the COLA raise
• Social Security by phone: 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) — payment questions and appointments, weekdays 8 a.m.–7 p.m. local time
• 2-1-1 Texas: dial 2-1-1 or call 877-541-7905 — free, confidential help finding food, utility help, and local assistance, 24/7
• Lone Star Card Help Desk: 1-800-777-7328 — Texas EBT card balance and SNAP deposit questions
• YourTexasBenefits.com — apply for SNAP and other Texas benefits, renew, and check your case

Frequently asked questions

Why did I get two SSI payments in December 2026?

Because January 1 is a federal holiday. December’s payment arrived on December 1 as usual, and January 2027’s payment was moved early to Thursday, December 31. The second deposit is January’s money — it is not a bonus or a double payment.

Is there really no SSI payment in January 2027?

There is no SSI deposit dated in January, because January’s payment was already sent on December 31, 2026. Your benefits have not been cut or paused. The next SSI payment after December 31 is Monday, February 1, 2027.

When does the 3.6% COLA raise start?

SSI recipients see it first, in the payment dated December 31, 2026, because January’s SSI is paid early. Regular Social Security payments rise starting with the benefits paid in January 2027. The raise is automatic — you never need to pay a fee or apply for it.

Why is my Social Security payment on December 23?

If you were born on the 21st through the 31st and started benefits in May 1997 or later, your normal payday is the fourth Wednesday of the month. In December 2026 that is Wednesday, December 23 — two days before Christmas.