Social Security disability beneficiaries in the United States are getting ready to get their final 2024 payouts, which will be higher than last year’s sum. This annual adjustment, which has helped millions of people cope with growing living costs, will be applied to each monthly payment until the end of the year. As the holiday season and the end of the year approaches in December, beneficiaries must understand the exact dates of payments and the reason for any increases.
The Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), which was adopted at the beginning of 2024, allows disability recipients to receive larger compensation than they did in 2023. However, it is important to note that this increase is not limited to December and has been implemented throughout the year. Nonetheless, for many people, this additional assistance becomes more important in December due to the increased expenses that typically emerge at this time.
That is why it is critical to grasp the details of the December payment dates and the reasons for this increase, which, while not a new rise, constitutes the year’s final payment under the 2024 COLA adjustment. This information will assist beneficiaries in understanding how their December disability check works and how to appropriately handle their resources.
December disability payments
Social Security arranges disability payments on different dates of the month based on the beneficiary’s group. These categories are decided by when they began receiving the benefit and the date of their birth. December payout dates are distributed as follows:
Group 1: You’ll receive your payment on December 3. This category comprises beneficiaries who began receiving the benefit before 1997. They receive their disability check in the first week of the month.
Group 2: They receive their payout on December 11. This category comprises recipients whose birthdays fall between the first and tenth of the month. The payments are made in the second week. It is also important to have payment after May 1997.
Group 3: Receives their cash on December 18. This category includes those whose birthdays fall between the 11th and 20th of the month and receive payment in the third week. It is also important to have payment after May 1997.
Group 4: Receives money on December 24. This group, which includes recipients born between the 21st and 31st of the month, receives their checks in the final week. Because the 25th being a Christmas holiday, the payment is moved to Tuesday, December 24. It is also important to have payment after May 1997.
These dates enable disability beneficiaries to plan their spending for the month, particularly in December, when holidays often disrupt banking schedules and timelines.
Why is there an increase in the December Disability Payment?
Recipients may notice that the December check is greater than the previous year’s December check, but it is important to note that this rise is due to the 2024 COLA adjustment, not just December. In response to the rising cost of living in the United States, this adjustment was introduced at the beginning of the year to all monthly payments and will remain the same for all checks issued through 2024.
The COLA, or cost-of-living adjustment, is a measure that determines how much Social Security payments should be modified each year based on inflation and other economic considerations. In this example, the 2024 rise was made to counteract the impact of inflation on beneficiaries’ daily living expenses. As a result, checks issued this year were higher than those issued in 2023, allowing beneficiaries to better manage their spending in the face of rising prices.
It is crucial to note that the COLA rise does not vary every month; the payout in December is the same as it has been for the rest of the year, but this will be the final adjustment in 2024. A 2.5% COLA adjustment for next year has been confirmed, which would increase payments in 2025 compared to the current year.
This final December check completes the 2024 COLA-adjusted payment cycle, providing disability claimants with consistent assistance throughout the year to cover the cost of living. With the coming of 2025, beneficiaries will get the revised adjustment, allowing them to continue coverage for their needs.
