Culture Office

Up to $4,000 in Social Security Christmas payments? Check who is entitled to receive it

Social Security sends payments monthly to beneficiaries, and for some retirees, the check will arrive in time to do some last-minute shopping.

Almost 73 million people receive payments from the Social Security Administration every month. Most of them are retired workers, while the rest are spouses of retired workers, family members of deceased workers, and family members of disabled workers, among others.

The Social Security Administration has already given out a series of payments for December and will send the last 2024 check for retirees in a few days.

Up to $4,000 in Social Security Christmas payments? Check who is entitled to receive it

Christmas is already taking place next week, and for some Social Security beneficiaries, this month’s check will arrive just in time to do some last-minute Christmas shopping.

Recipients whose birthday falls between the 21st and 31st usually receive their payments on the fourth Wednesday of each month. For December 2024, this day will fall on Christmas Day, Wednesday, Dec. 25.

According to Social Security guidelines, if your payment date falls on a federal holiday or a weekend, the money is sent on the preceding business day. Since Dec. 25 is a federal holiday, retirees scheduled for a check will instead receive the amount on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 24.

Those who retire at age 70 this year will be entitled to the maximum benefit of $4,873. Those who retire at full retirement age in 2024 will be receiving $3,822, If you retire at age 62 in 2024, your maximum benefit would be considerably smaller at $2,710. Regardless of the amount, getting your check during this time will be a big help in defraying costs brought about by the holiday.

If you’re one of these people for whom Christmas will be coming (one day) early, this gives you just a little more breathing room to buy and wrap up those gifts and put them under the tree in time for opening presents on Christmas morning.