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SSA Announces December Payments, 2.8% Boost Sparks Debate

12/11/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The Social Security Administration (SSA) will issue the first round of December payments on the 10th, with the 17th and 24th payments based on birth dates.
SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano said the 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment will increase average monthly payments by about $56 beginning January 2026.
Some beneficiaries say the increase is insufficient against inflation.
The SSA has moved to paperless payments.

History

Historical Context

The Social Security Act, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 14, 1935, aimed to combat poverty during the Great Depression by providing benefits to retirees and the disabled. Initially, monthly payments averaged $22, but as inflation rose, a recent 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment increased payments by $56, highlighting the program's ongoing significance in American social policy and economic stability.

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Story summary

The Social Security Administration (SSA) will issue the first round of December payments on the 10th, with the 17th and 24th payments based on birth dates.
SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano said the 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment will increase average monthly payments by about $56 beginning January 2026.
Some beneficiaries say the increase is insufficient against inflation.
The SSA has moved to paperless payments.

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