UPDATE: The MySocialSecurity site is working for me again as of this morning. I just successfully logged in and was able to access my account. They've made some changes to the interface - you now have to verify your identity with a text code every time you log in, not just the first time. Try again today and see if it's working for you now.

I'm having the same issue! Been locked out since Monday and really need to download my 1099 for tax filing. Just tried again after reading Paolo's update but still getting the Bad Request error. Has anyone noticed if certain times of day work better than others? I'm wondering if they're doing a gradual rollout of the fix or if the servers are just overloaded with everyone trying to log back in at once.

I forgot to mention in my previous comment - make SURE you save a copy of your withdrawal confirmation!!! When I filed at 70, the SSA had no record of my withdrawal and tried to tell me I couldn't file again!! Took THREE visits to my local office to sort out. Keep ALL paperwork!!

As someone new to this community, I want to thank everyone for sharing their experiences! This is exactly the kind of detailed information that's hard to find elsewhere. One thing I'd add for Sofia - when you do file at 70, consider scheduling an appointment at your local SSA office rather than doing it online or over the phone. Based on what ElectricDreamer mentioned about record-keeping issues, having an in-person appointment might help ensure everything goes smoothly and you can ask about the retroactive benefit option directly. Also, you might want to request a new Social Security Statement (Form SSA-7005) closer to your 70th birthday to get updated benefit estimates. Your earnings between now and then could affect those projections, and it's good to have the most current numbers when making your lump sum decision. Good luck with your planning!

Don't panic! Code 310 payments are actually quite common and usually legitimate. I got one last year for $340 - turned out to be a retroactive COLA adjustment from when they updated the cost-of-living increase calculations. The timing was weird (middle of the month like yours) but it was totally legit. The key thing is that if SSA made an error, they're required to send you a formal overpayment notice BEFORE they can recover any money. They can't just silently take it back from future payments without proper notification. So you'd definitely know if there was a problem. That said, I'd still recommend not spending it immediately until you get the explanation letter, just to be safe. But based on what you've described (filed 7 months ago, worked last year), this sounds like a standard benefit recalculation payment.

i had this happen too. i used DepositLens for mine — put in the deposit details and the SSA paperwork i already had. it was $19 for the case. the agent lined up the payment history, showed what was still missing and kept everything together while i tracked down the answer. much easier than starting over every time i checked something.

One more tip: Keep a copy of your completed W-4V form and note the date you submitted it. If you don't see the withholding change on your benefit payment within 2-3 months, follow up with SSA. Sometimes these forms get delayed in processing, especially during busy periods like the start of the year. You can check if the withholding change took effect by looking at your monthly benefit statement online through your my Social Security account.

Just wanted to add another helpful tip - if you're still confused about your claim number, you can also find it on your Medicare card if you have one. It's listed there as your "Medicare Beneficiary Identifier" and follows the same SSN+letter format. Also, if you're doing this because you owe taxes like I did last year, consider asking a tax professional about making quarterly estimated payments too. Sometimes withholding alone isn't enough if you have other income sources. Good luck with your form!

One more thing to consider - if you're concerned about exceeding income thresholds, you might want to look into whether contributing to a traditional IRA or 401(k) makes sense for your situation. Those contributions can lower your adjusted gross income, which might help keep you under certain thresholds. It's worth discussing with a tax professional who understands how retirement accounts interact with Social Security taxation.

Just wanted to add that if you're still unsure about anything in your award letter, you can also create a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov. Once you're logged in, you can view all your benefit information, letters, and even get estimates of how different income levels might affect your taxes. It's really helpful for planning purposes and much easier than trying to decipher those confusing letters! Plus you can download copies of everything for your records.