When Your December 2019 SSDI Payment Arrives

Social Security Disability Insurance payments in December 2019 were deposited on three separate dates, depending on your birth date. The payment schedule divides beneficiaries into groups: those born on the 1st through the 10th of any month received their payment on December 3, 2019; those born on the 11th through the 20th received theirs on December 10, 2019; and those born on the 21st through the 31st received theirs on December 17, 2019. A fourth group—people who became beneficiaries before May 1997—received their payment on December 31, 2019.

This three-date system has been in place since 1997 and applies every month. Social Security uses your birth date, not your process date or the date you became disabled, to determine which group you fall into. If you did not receive a deposit on the date you expected, the most common reason is that your birth date falls into a different group than you thought.

Key Takeaways

  • December 2019 SSDI payments were split across four dates: December 3, 10, 17, and 31, based on your birth date.
  • Your payment group is determined by the day of the month you were born, not when you applied for benefits or when your disability began.
  • If you became a beneficiary before May 1997, you received your December payment on December 31 rather than on one of the earlier dates.
  • Deposits go directly to the bank account or prepaid card you have on file with Social Security; you can verify your payment date by logging into your my Social Security account.

How Birth Date Groups Determine Your Payment Date

Social Security assigns you to a payment group based solely on the day of the month you were born. If your birthday falls between the 1st and 10th of any month, you are in Group 1 and receive your payment on the third Wednesday of each month. If you were born between the 11th and 20th, you are in Group 2 and receive your payment on the fourth Wednesday. If you were born between the 21st and 31st, you are in Group 3 and receive your payment on the fifth Wednesday.

In December 2019, these dates fell on December 3, 10, and 17 respectively. The third, fourth, and fifth Wednesdays of each month shift slightly from year to year, so your payment date changes by a few days depending on the calendar. This is why your payment might arrive on the 3rd one month and the 4th the next month, even though you are always in the same group.

The pre-1997 group is the exception. If you received SSDI before May 1997, Social Security still deposits your payment on the 31st of each month, or the last business day before that if the 31st falls on a weekend or holiday. In December 2019, that was December 31. This group was grandfathered into the old system and has kept that schedule ever since.

Why December 2019 Had Four Payment Dates Instead of Three

Most months have only three payment dates because only three groups of beneficiaries receive deposits. December 2019 was different because the pre-1997 group received their payment on December 31, which fell on a Tuesday that year. In months where the 31st is a business day, that fourth group gets a separate deposit date.

If December 31 had fallen on a weekend or holiday, Social Security would have moved that payment to the last business day before it—usually December 30 or 27. The exact date depends on the calendar and federal holidays that year. This only affects people who became beneficiaries before May 1997, a shrinking population now more than two decades later.

How to Find Your Specific Payment Date

The fastest way to confirm which group you are in and when your payment was deposited is to log into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Once you are signed in, go to "Benefit Verification" and look for "Payment History." This shows every deposit Social Security has made to you, including the exact date and amount for December 2019.

If you do not have a my Social Security account, you can create one using your email address, Social Security number, and a few pieces of personal information. Social Security uses this account to verify your identity. Once you are in, the payment history is updated within 24 hours of each deposit, so you can see your December payment there as soon as it hits your bank.

You can also call Social Security's main line at 1-800-772-1213 to ask which group you are in. Have your Social Security number ready. A representative can tell you your birth date group and confirm the deposit date for any month you ask about.

What to Do If Your December 2019 Payment Did Not Arrive

If you did not see a deposit on the date you expected, first check which group you are actually in using my Social Security or by calling 1-800-772-1213. Many people assume they are in one group and discover they are in another. Once you confirm your group, you will know when to expect your next payment.

If you confirmed your group and still did not receive a deposit on the correct date, contact Social Security when ready. Delays can happen for several reasons: your bank account information may be outdated or incorrect, your bank may have rejected the deposit, or there may be a hold on your account due to a debt or overpayment. Social Security can tell you which of these applies and what to do next.

If your bank rejected the deposit, you may need to update your account information with Social Security. You can do this through my Social Security, by calling 1-800-772-1213, or by visiting a local Social Security office. Provide your current bank routing number and account number. Social Security will attempt to redeposit your payment once the information is corrected.

How Payment Dates Work in Other Months

The three-group system applies to every month of the year, not just December. Your birth date group stays the same throughout your life as a beneficiary. In January 2020, for example, Group 1 received their payment on January 15, Group 2 on January 22, and Group 3 on January 29—all different dates from December because the calendar shifted.

If you receive both SSDI and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), your payment schedule may be different. SSI payments are typically deposited on the 1st of each month, while SSDI follows the birth date groups. If you receive both, you will see two separate deposits in your bank account each month on different dates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my SSDI payment date change from month to month?

Your payment group is fixed based on your birth date, but the actual calendar date shifts because Social Security deposits on specific Wednesdays (the third, fourth, or fifth of each month). December 3 and January 15 are both "third Wednesday" payments, but they fall on different dates on the calendar.

I was born on the 10th—which group am I in?

You are in Group 1 (born 1st through 10th) and receive your payment on the third Wednesday of each month. In December 2019, that was December 3.

What if I became disabled after May 1997 but my payment says December 31?

This should not happen. Only people who were receiving SSDI before May 1997 get the December 31 date. If your payment shows December 31, contact Social Security to verify your account, as there may be an error in their records.

Can I change my payment date to a different day of the month?

No. Your payment date is determined by your birth date and cannot be changed. Social Security uses this system to distribute payments evenly throughout the month and prevent processing bottlenecks.

Does my payment date affect my Medicare or Medicaid benefits?

No. Your SSDI payment date does not change when your Medicare coverage begins or how your Medicaid benefits are calculated. Those programs operate on their own schedules and are not tied to your SSDI deposit date.