To be eligible for this December 17 payment, you must already be an approved Social Security beneficiary — meaning you’ve filed for benefits and met the SSA’s qualifying requirements. This includes people receiving retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) due to a qualifying disability, or survivor benefits based on a deceased worker’s earnings record. There’s no special application needed just for this date; if you receive Social Security benefits and your scheduled payment date matches this group, the SSA will deposit the funds automatically into your account.

The often-quoted figure of “up to $4,018” refers to the 2025 maximum monthly Social Security benefit for someone who claims retirement benefits at full retirement age (FRA) — typically around 66 or 67, depending on the year of birth — and who had a long career with high lifetime earnings. That $4,018 figure is not a bonus or extra holiday payment; it simply reflects the upper end of what the SSA’s benefit formula can yield in 2025 for high earners claiming at FRA. Most beneficiaries receive significantly less than the maximum because benefit amounts are based on your lifetime earnings record and the age at which you first claim benefits.

It’s also worth noting that if someone delays claiming Social Security benefits past full retirement age — up to age 70 — they can receive even larger monthly checks due to delayed retirement credits, with maximum amounts that can exceed $5,000 in some cases. But for the December 17 run, the $4,018 number serves as a reference to the upper limit under the standard benefit formula in 2025 for those claiming at FRA. Most beneficiaries’ checks will fall below that maximum, varying based on personal work history, earnings, and claiming age.
The Economic Times