If you are looking for the Social Security Payment Schedule for December 2021, look no further. We can help you. Social Security pays benefits in the month following the month for which they are due. For example, the December benefit is paid in January.
For those on Social Security retirement benefits or disability (SSDI or SSI), knowing when your payments will be deposited each month is crucial.
That’s because, for a majority, the monthly Social Security benefit is the main source of income.
Knowing the payment date helps you plan ahead and ensure that your bills are paid on time.
In addition, if you know when the payment will be deposited and available, you can plan for cash withdrawals from your account.
In the post below, we have explained in detail how the Social Security Payment Schedule works and provide you with the specific dates on which your December benefit payments will be deposited into your account.
Alert: See the 5 ways Social Security will be changing in 2022
This Post will Cover:
- No More Paper Checks for Social Security Benefits
- How Social Security Payment Calendar Works
- Social Security Payment Schedule for December 2021
- Complete 2021 Social Security Payments Schedule
- What To Do If You Don’t Recieve Your Benefits
- Social Security Benefits Questions and Answers
No More Paper Checks for Social Security Benefits
Since 1935, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has mailed paper checks to Social Security beneficiaries.
However, that ended in May 2011.
That’s because Congress passed a law that required all recipients of payments from federal benefits programs to sign up for electronic payments.
Since then, all new recipients of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability have been required to sign up for electronic payments.
In addition, existing recipients of Social Security and SSI had to comply with the new requirements by March 1, 2013.
As a result, the SSA no longer mail paper checks for Social Security benefits, including disability payments.
How Social Security Payment Schedule Works
If you are receiving Social Security Retirement or Social Security Disability Insurance benefits (SSDI), your payment date depends on your birth date.
In addition, If you are receiving payments on the record of a retired, disabled, or deceased worker (for example, spousal or survivor benefits), that person’s birthday sets the schedule.
Here’s how the Social Security Payment schedule works for those who receive Social Security retirement benefits or SSDI:
- If your birthday is in the first 10 days of the month, then you’ll receive your benefits payments on the second Wednesday of each month.
- For those with birthdays between the 11th and the 20th, benefit payments are deposited on the third Wednesday of the month.
- Payments are made on the fourth Wednesday of the month for those with birthdays on the 21st or later.
Here is a table that better displays how the payment schedule works:
| BIRTHDAY | PAYMENT DATE |
|---|---|
| 1st – 10th | Second Wednesday |
| 11th – 20th | Third Wednesday |
| 21st – 31st | Fourth Wednesday |
Now that you understand how the payment schedule works, it’s time to review the 2021 payment calendar as released by the SSA.
Exception
If you’ve been receiving Social Security benefits prior to May 1997 or you get both Social Security and SSI payments, here’s what you need to know:
Your payments will be made on the 3rd of each month. If the 3rd falls on a weekend or holiday, payment will be made on the preceding Friday.
Here is the complete SSI payment schedule for 2021.
We have first listed dates for those only receiving SSI benefits.
Next, we have provided dates for those receiving both Social Security retirement benefits and SSI.
Social Security Payment Schedule December 2021
Here is when to expect your Social Security payment for December 2021:
Social Security and Social Security Disability Insurance (SS and SSDI)
For those receiving Social Security Retirement Benefit or Disability Benefits, here is your payment schedule for December:
- If your birth date falls on the 1st – 10th day of the month, benefits are paid on December 8th.
- Also, if your birth date falls on the 11th – 20th day of the month, benefits are paid on December 15th.
- If your birth date falls on the 21st – 31st day of the month, benefits are paid on December 22nd.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Payment Schedule
If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you will receive your payments on the 1st of each month.
The exception is when the 1st falls on a weekend or holiday.
If the first falls on a holiday, then you will receive your payment the business day before.
However, if the first falls on a weekend, you’ll receive your payment on the preceding Friday.
December 2021 SSI Payment Schedule
Since December 1st, 2021 falls on a Wednesday, SSI payments for the month will be deposited on Wednesday, December 1st, 2021.
If you receive your payment via a bank account or a prepaid debit card like the Direct Express Debit card, you should see your benefits in your account on or before Wednesday, December 1st, 2021.
Both SS and SSI Recipients
Since December 3, 2021, is on a Friday, you will receive your benefits on Friday, December 3rd, 2021.
The Complete 2021 Social Security Payment Schedule
Here is a simplified version of the 2021 Social Security Payment Calendar for Social Security retirement benefits and SSDI beneficiaries.
If your birthday falls between the 1st and 10th:
- January 13
- February 10
- March 10
- April 14
- May 12
- June 9
- July 14
- August 11
- September 8
- October 13
- November 10
- December 8
If your birthday falls between the 11th and 20th:
- January 20
- February 17
- March 17
- April 21
- May 19
- June 16
- July 21
- August 18
- September 15
- October 20
- November 17
- December 15
If your birthday falls between the 21st and 31st:
- January 27
- February 24
- March 24
- April 28
- May 26
- June 23
- July 28
- August 25
- September 22
- October 27
- November 24
- December 22
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Payment Schedule for 2021
For SSI recipients, benefits will arrive on the first of the month. If the 1st of the month falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or a federal holiday, you will be paid on the business day before then.
For example, if the 1st of the month falls on a Saturday, you’ll receive your benefits the Friday before.
| 2021 | SSI Only | Both SS & SSI |
| January | 31-Dec-2020 | 31-Dec-2020 |
| February | 1 | 3 |
| March | 1 | 3 |
| April | 1 | 2 |
| May | 30-Apr-2021 | 3 |
| June | 1 | 3 |
| July | 1 | 2 |
| August | 30-Jul-2021 | 3 |
| September | 1 | 3 |
| October | 1 | 1 |
| November | 1 | 3 |
| December | 1 | 3 |
What To Do If You Don’t Recieve Your Benefits
If you do not receive your payment on your specified day or date, the Social Security Administration asks that you wait three mailing days before contacting them.
You can contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.
See the January 2022 Social Security Payment Schedule.
Social Security Benefits Questions and Answers
Here is the summary of the most frequently asked Social Security Benefits Questions and Answers.
Are my Social Security Retirement Benefits Taxable?
The answer depends on your income from other sources.
Generally, your Social Security benefits are not taxable if half of your benefits, plus all your other income, is less than $25,000 if you are single or $32,000 if you are married and file taxes jointly.
However, If half of your benefits, plus all of your other income, is more than $34,000 (for singles) or $44,000 (married filing jointly), then up to 85% of your benefits are subject to federal income tax.
Therefore, your income is above the threshold, then the percentage of taxable benefits varies between 0% and 85%.
Also, regardless of your income, you will never pay federal income tax on more than 85 percent of your Social Security benefits.
What is the Social Security Full Retirement Age?
The Social Security full retirement age is the age at which individuals become eligible for full, un-reduced Social Security benefits.
Your full retirement age is based on the year when you were born.
However, for people born in 1960 and later, the full retirement age is 67.
Also, the earliest age at which you can claim Social Security retirement benefit is at age 62.
However, claiming benefits prior to your full retirement age means you will get a reduced amount.
Also, starting benefits prior to full retirement age means you receive benefits over a longer period of time, but the amount you get will be reduced, perhaps significantly.
In addition, if you claim Social Security before your retirement age, your reduced amount will stay the same during the entire time you collect benefits.
Delaying the start of your benefits until after your full retirement age of 67, or until age 70 means a bigger check but paid out over a shorter period of time.
The chart below illustrates the impact on how much you will receive in benefits depending on when you start claiming Social Security benefits.
Full Retirement Age and Age 62 Benefit by Year of Birth
| Year of birth | Full retirement age | Months between age 62 and full retirement age | At age 62 a $1,000 retirement benefit would be reduced to | Your Retirement benefit is reduced by: |
| 1943-1954 | 66 | 48 | $750 | 25.00% |
| 1955 | 66 and 2 months | 50 | $741 | 25.83% |
| 1956 | 66 and 4 months | 52 | $733 | 26.67% |
| 1957 | 66 and 6 months | 54 | $725 | 27.50% |
| 1958 | 66 and 8 months | 56 | $716 | 28.33% |
| 1959 | 66 and 10 months | 58 | $708 | 29.17% |
| 1960 and later | 67 | 60 | $700 | 30.00% |
Are Social Security Benefits Adjusted For Inflation?
Yes. Cost-Of-Living Adjustments (COLAs) are made based on the Consumer Price Index, which is calculated by the Department of Commerce to evaluate price changes of goods and services.
Here’s the Social Security Cost-Of-Living Adjustments over the last few years:
2021: 1.3%
2020: 1.6%
2019: 2.8%
2018: 2%
2017: 0.3%
2016: No increase.
2015: 1.7%
2014: 1.5%
2013: 1.7%
2012: 1.7%
2011: 3.6%
Social Security Payment Dates 2021 Summary
Here’s the bottom line:
If you receive Social Security retirement benefits or SSDI, then your benefits will be paid based on your birthdate.
SSI (Supplemental Security Income) payments are issued on the first of every month.
For December 2021:
Social Security and SSDI payments will be made using the schedule below:
- on December 8th if your birth date falls on the 1st – 10th day of the month.
- If your birth date falls on the 11th – 20th day of the month, you will get your deposit on December 15th.
- Finally, if your birth date falls on the 21st – 31st day of the month, your benefits will be paid on December 22nd.
For SSI recipients:
December 1st, 2021 falls on a Wednesday, SSI payments for the month will be deposited on Wednesday, December 1st, 2021.
Both SS and SSI Recipients
Also, Since December 3, 2021, is on a Friday, you will receive your benefits on Friday, December 3rd, 2021.
Questions?
If you still have questions, you should leave a comment below.
However, what may be an even greater help is to join our FREE Facebook members group about Making Sense of Social Security Benefits.
It’s a very active group with some really smart people who love to answer any questions you may have about Social Security Benefits.
Also, from time to time, our team of editors drop in to contribute and answer questions.
Finally, you may like these popular articles, including How to Change Your Address with Social Security, the Top 5 Changes to Social Security in 2021, and 2021 Social Security Payment Calendar.
