I just wanted to add another possibility that I don't think anyone has mentioned yet - sometimes these adjustment payments can be related to changes in your filing status or family situation that SSA processes with a delay. For example, if you got married, divorced, or had changes in your dependent status earlier this year, SSA might take several months to process those changes and then issue an adjustment payment to correct any underpayment. The same thing can happen if there were changes to a spouse's benefits that affect your own. Also, if you've had any changes to other government benefits you receive (like veterans benefits, railroad retirement, or state disability), sometimes those can trigger SSA to recalculate your Social Security benefits and issue corrections. The $150 amount and timing (day before your regular payment) really does suggest this is an automated system correction rather than an error. I'd recommend calling SSA if you don't see an explanation in your mySSA account within the next week or so, but try to be patient with the phone wait times - they've been really long lately! Keep us posted on what you find out - these threads are so helpful for people going through the same thing.

I work in a Social Security field office and see these types of questions frequently. Based on the amount ($150) and timing (day before regular payment), this is almost certainly a legitimate automated adjustment payment. The most common causes I see are: 1. Medicare premium corrections (Parts B, C, or D) 2. COLA catch-up payments for processing delays 3. Work earnings recalculations 4. Income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA) corrections The fact that it posted the day before your regular payment is actually a good sign - error payments typically don't follow this pattern. Our computer systems are designed to issue these adjustments automatically when they detect underpayments. You should receive a "Notice of Change in Benefits" or similar explanation letter within 2-3 weeks. In the meantime, I'd strongly recommend checking your mySSA account message center every few days - explanations often appear there 7-10 days before the physical letter arrives. Don't worry too much about this being an error that you'll need to repay. The vast majority of these automated adjustment payments are legitimate corrections in the beneficiary's favor. Just keep it in a separate account until you get the official explanation to be safe.

Welcome to the community, Jessica and Sebastián! It's wonderful to see newcomers finding value in this discussion. As someone who's been navigating SSDI work rules for a couple years now, I can definitely relate to that initial feeling of being overwhelmed by all the regulations and potential complications. What I've learned is that while the system is frustrating and unnecessarily complex, knowledge really is power in this situation. This thread is a perfect example of how sharing real experiences can help people avoid the pitfalls that many of us discovered the hard way. For both of you as you move forward with work plans, I'd also recommend checking if your state has any Work Incentive Planning and Assistance (WIPA) programs. These are free services that help SSDI recipients understand how work affects benefits. They can be incredibly helpful for mapping out scenarios like the 3-paycheck month issue before you even start working. The documentation habits everyone has discussed here - work logs, employer letters, proactive SSA communication - might seem like overkill at first, but they're honestly what make the difference between smooth sailing and months of stressful appeals. Better to have the records and not need them than to be scrambling to recreate everything after the fact. Keep asking questions and don't hesitate to share your own experiences as you go through the process. This community thrives on people helping each other navigate these challenges!

Welcome to the community! As someone who recently went through a very similar situation, I can definitely relate to your concerns about those 3-paycheck months. The advice everyone has shared here is spot-on - being proactive is absolutely the way to go. I work part-time earning about $280 weekly and faced the exact same worry about exceeding SGA limits during months with 3 paychecks. What really helped me was creating a simple tracking system right from the start: I keep a small calendar where I mark my work hours each day and note my pay dates. This way, I have clear documentation showing that my work pattern is consistent even when the pay timing creates those higher monthly totals. One thing I learned is that when you call SSA proactively (which I highly recommend), be very specific about your situation. Explain that you work consistent hours but get paid bi-weekly, resulting in 26 pay periods per year. Most representatives understand this issue once it's explained clearly, but having your numbers ready helps - like your weekly earnings, total annual projected income, and the specific months when 3-paycheck situations will occur. The peace of mind from getting ahead of this is totally worth the effort. Good luck with your new job, and don't hesitate to update us on how your proactive call with SSA goes!

I'm turning 70 in August and this entire discussion has been a goldmine of practical information! Like many of you, I've been putting off dealing with the application process because it felt overwhelming, but reading everyone's real experiences has made it feel so much more manageable. One thing that really helped me was seeing how many people mentioned the online application only taking 20-30 minutes - I had built it up in my mind to be this massive, complicated process. I also appreciate all the tips about preparing documents beforehand and checking your earnings record first. I'm planning to apply in May (3 months before my August birthday) and will definitely create my Social Security account early to get familiar with the system. The advice about applying early in the morning to avoid technical issues is great too - I'm definitely an early bird so that works perfectly for me. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and making this feel less intimidating. It's wonderful to have a community where people actually help each other navigate these important life transitions!

I'm also approaching 70 and found this discussion incredibly reassuring! One thing I wanted to add from my recent experience with SSA - if you're worried about the online application, you can actually call the national number and ask them to walk you through it over the phone while you're on their website. I did this last month and the representative was very patient, staying on the line while I filled out each section. It gave me the confidence of doing it online (which they prefer) but with live support when I had questions about specific fields. The whole process took about 45 minutes with their guidance, and I felt much more confident knowing someone was there to help if I got confused. This might be a good middle ground for those who are tech-savvy enough for online applications but want that extra reassurance from speaking with an actual person!

This thread is giving me anxiety. I'm turning 62 next month and STILL don't know when to file!!! Everyone has a different opinion and the SSA website is so confusing! I need the money but don't want to make a mistake I'll regret for the rest of my life!!!!!

I went through this exact same dilemma last year! I'm a retired federal employee and spent months researching this. Here's what I learned from speaking directly with SSA: The monthly benefit calculations ARE done to the exact month, but many online calculators only display estimates at certain intervals (like January of each year) which makes it confusing. When I called SSA (took forever to get through), they confirmed that if you're past your FRA, you get 2/3 of 1% more for EACH month you delay up to age 70. So waiting from June to December would give you 4% more monthly benefit for life. One tip: SSA benefits are paid in the month AFTER you earn them. So if you want your first payment in September, you'd need to have your birthday and file so that August is your first month of entitlement. Also, don't forget to sign up for Medicare Part B at 65 even if you delay Social Security - that's a separate decision with its own penalties if you wait (assuming you don't have other qualifying coverage). Hope this helps with your decision! The monthly increases are real, even if the calculators don't show them clearly.

I just went through this exact situation last month with an old Ernst & Young letter! Same story - worked there 2000-2003, got the SSA letter about a "potential benefit" worth about $41k, and was pretty sure it was just my old 401k that I'd rolled into my current Schwab IRA. The tax return trick that @Sofia Price mentioned is absolutely the way to go! Found my 2016 1099-R in about 10 minutes and it showed the exact rollover amount from E&Y that matched the SSA letter perfectly. Saved me what probably would have been hours of phone tag with their benefits department. What's wild is how systematic this seems to be - SSA is clearly just working through old Form 8955-SSA filings and auto-generating these letters without any cross-check against whether we've already claimed the benefits. It's like getting a "you might have money!" letter about your own checking account. For anyone still on the fence about investigating: if you're confident you did a complete rollover and the amount roughly matches what you remember, the tax return confirmation is probably all the peace of mind you need.

I'm a federal employee and see these PPPBI letters come through our office fairly regularly. What you're describing is incredibly common - the SSA is essentially working through decades of backlogged employer reporting data and sending out automated notifications without any ability to cross-reference whether benefits have already been claimed. A few things that might help put your mind at ease: 1. The timing makes perfect sense - employers were required to submit Form 8955-SSA data for participants with deferred vested benefits, and SSA is now processing reports that are 20+ years old 2. Code A designation for a lump sum benefit from PwC in 2001 is almost certainly your 401(k). That was right around when most consulting firms were transitioning away from defined benefit pensions to 401(k) plans 3. The $32,606 amount sounds very reasonable for a 401(k) balance from that era, especially if you were there 3+ years My recommendation: Check your 2017 tax records for the 1099-R from your rollover. If the amount matches (or is close accounting for market growth), you can file this letter away with confidence. The SSA agent hotline will just confirm what you already know after making you wait on hold for hours. These letters cause a lot of unnecessary anxiety, but in 90%+ of cases it's money people have already properly rolled over or withdrawn years ago.