![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/86222589007.jpg\"\/)
![\"play\"](\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/appservices\/universal-web\/universal\/icons\/icon-play-alt-white.svg\"){kind=icon}
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
US to phase out most paper checks for federal benefits<\/p>\n
The federal government will begin phasing out paper checks for Social Security and other federal payments by September 30.<\/p>\n
Cheddar<\/p>\n
Most people who receive\u00a0Social Security retirement benefits<\/a>\u00a0will see their monthly payments in December 2025 as usual \u2014 with checks and direct deposits distributed according to the Social Security Administration\u2019s standard schedule.<\/p>\n However, some confusion has surfaced as\u00a0Supplemental Security Income (SSI)\u00a0recipients will receive two payments during the month of December. While SSI and Social Security are separate programs, about half of SSI recipients also receive Social Security, which is why the distinction matters.<\/p>\n Social Security retirement payment dates for December 2025<\/p>\n If you receive\u00a0regular Social Security benefits\u00a0(not SSI), your payment will arrive on one of the following dates, based on your\u00a0birthdate\u00a0and when you first began collecting benefits:<\/p>\n Wednesday, Dec. 3: For those who started receiving Social Security\u00a0before May 1997Wednesday, Dec. 10: For birthdates between the\u00a01st and 10thWednesday, Dec. 17: For birthdates between the\u00a011th and 20thWednesday, Dec. 24: For birthdates between the\u00a021st and 31st<\/p>\n You can also view the\u00a0SSA’s full 2025 payment calendar\u00a0on its\u00a0official website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Why some people will receive two payments in December<\/p>\n People who receive only\u00a0SSI benefits\u00a0will\u00a0receive two payments in December. The first deposit date \u2014\u00a0Monday, Dec. 1\u00a0\u2014 is the December monthly payment. The second payment will be issued roughly four weeks later \u2014 on\u00a0Wednesday, Dec. 31\u00a0\u2014 and is the January 2026 monthly payment. The second payment will be made within December because the usual deposit date \u2014 the first of the month \u2014 lands on a holiday – New Year’s Day. This is standard\u00a0SSA policy<\/a>: when the first falls on a weekend or federal holiday, SSI payments are made on the\u00a0preceding business day.<\/p>\n Need help with a missing Social Security payment?<\/p>\n If your scheduled payment date has passed and you\u00a0haven\u2019t received your payment,\u00a0the\u00a0SSA<\/a>\u00a0recommends waiting\u00a0three additional mailing days\u00a0before contacting them, as the majority of payments are issued\u00a0electronically\u00a0and arrive on time.<\/p>\n To speak with someone at the SSA, call\u00a01-800-772-1213\u00a0(TTY: 1-800-325-0778) weekdays between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. local time.<\/p>\n Find a Social Security office near you<\/p>\n