In the United States, December is a key month for those who depend on Social Security, especially those who get Disability benefits , since in most cases they have no other source of income. However, if you are expecting the next payment to include the 2025 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), it is important to clarify that this will not be the case. The Dec. 24 check will be the last one for the 2024 payment cycle and, therefore, will not yet reflect the 2.5% increase that will take effect in January.
The reason is simple: the COLA applies only to next year’s payments, and even if the December check coincides with holidays, it is still part of the current payment schedule. Thus, Disability beneficiaries will get their usual deposit with no change in the amount.
Everything You Need to Know About the December 24 Payment
Monday, December 24 is scheduled as the date for the last Social Security check of 2024. This payment is intended for group 4, that is, beneficiaries who began getting their benefits after May 1997 and whose birthday is between the 21st and 31st of the month. Because of the approaching Christmas season, the payment will be brought forward to ensure that everyone gets it on time.
Although the 2025 COLA adjustment will not yet be part of this check, the amount will reflect all 2024 calculations, based on each beneficiary’s work history and earnings. It is important to note that these early payment dates are standard Social Security practice when holidays interfere with the regular calendar.
When will the 2025 COLA begin to be reflected?
The cost-of-living increase will begin with the January 2025 payments. This means that the first check with the 2.5% adjustment will be deposited during that month, depending on which group you belong to. Until then, beneficiaries of Disability and other Social Security programs will get December payments with the amounts set for 2024.
Therefore, the Dec. 24 check will not include the 2025 COLA, but it will ensure that beneficiaries have access to their resources before the holidays. Beginning in January, the new adjustment will bring an increase that will benefit millions of people in the United States, ushering in a new year with increased benefits.
But that will only be in the case of retirement payments. However, if we take into account SSI payments we can indeed get this increase in 2024, since the first of the January 2025 payments will be sent on the 31st of December due to a calendar irregularity.
