Just wanted to share my experience as someone who's been receiving Social Security for over 10 years - the early payment system for holidays works like clockwork. I've never had a single instance where my payment was delayed because of a holiday. December 24th is definitely when you'll see your money! One thing I've learned is to set up text or email alerts with your bank so you get notified the moment the deposit hits your account. Takes away all the anxiety of checking and rechecking. Most banks offer this service for free and it's been a lifesaver for me during holiday periods when I'm worried about timing.

I'm new to receiving Social Security and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was panicking about the same thing since my first payment is scheduled for December 25th. Reading everyone's experiences about getting paid early on the 24th instead of late has put my mind at ease. It's reassuring to know that SSA has a consistent policy for this and that so many people have had positive experiences with holiday payment timing. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating these situations!

I'm glad to see you got such helpful answers here! As someone who went through a similar situation with my late husband's benefits, I can confirm that land contract payments won't affect your survivor benefits. One small tip I learned the hard way - when you do get that lump sum, consider setting aside a portion for taxes if there's any gain involved. Even though it won't affect your SSA benefits, depending on how the original sale was structured, there might be capital gains implications when the contract pays off early. Your tax preparer will know for sure, but it's good to be prepared so you're not surprised come tax time. Also, congratulations on having that financial cushion coming your way. Losing a spouse is hard enough without worrying about money constantly. This should give you some peace of mind.

I'm so sorry for the loss of your husband. Dealing with financial uncertainties while grieving is incredibly stressful. The community here has given you excellent advice - your land contract payoff won't affect your survivor benefits since it's unearned income, not wages from employment. I wanted to add one more consideration that might be helpful: if you're not already working with one, this might be a good time to establish a relationship with a fee-only financial planner who has experience with widows and Social Security planning. With $125,000 coming in, you'll want to think strategically about how to make that money work for you long-term while preserving your current benefits. They can help you understand the optimal timing for potentially switching from survivor benefits to your own retirement benefits down the road, and help you invest this lump sum in a way that provides additional income security. Keep all the documentation from this land contract transaction in a safe place. While you shouldn't need to report it to SSA, having clear records will be helpful for taxes and any future financial planning decisions.

I'm going through something similar right now! My situation is a bit different though - I estimated $20,000 for 2024 but ended up earning closer to $17,500 because I had to reduce my hours for health reasons. They've been withholding about $200 per month from my benefits. From what I'm reading here, it sounds like the automatic adjustment should happen, but there might be delays or issues. I'm definitely going to check my online SSA account regularly starting this summer to see if there's any indication of an adjustment coming. @StarStrider - I hope you get your $360 back soon! It's frustrating when you're already dealing with reduced income and then have to worry about whether the government systems are working properly. Keep us posted on how it goes!

I just went through this process last year and wanted to share my experience to maybe help ease some worries. The SSA did automatically process my refund, but it took longer than expected - about 7 months after I filed my taxes. Like you, I had estimated higher earnings than what I actually made (estimated $22k, earned $18.5k), and they had withheld about $500 too much. The refund came as a separate lump sum payment in October with a letter explaining it was an "earnings test adjustment." One tip: when you check your my Social Security account online, look for any notices or messages about "annual earnings test" - that's usually where they'll post updates about pending adjustments. If you don't see anything by September, I'd definitely recommend calling or visiting an office. The wait was stressful, but the money did eventually come through!

I'm really glad I found this discussion! I'm also new to receiving SS benefits and experienced the exact same thing - got an early deposit last week that was labeled strangely in my bank account. I was so worried I'd have to pay it back or that my regular payment wouldn't come! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. It sounds like this is just standard procedure for holiday adjustments, which makes sense but I wish they'd communicate it better to new beneficiaries. I'm definitely going to set up that MySocialSecurity account and the text alerts that people mentioned. Thanks to everyone for sharing their knowledge - this community is a lifesaver for those of us still learning how the system works!

I'm experiencing the exact same thing! Just received my third SS payment ever and it came early with that confusing "one-time payment" label. As a new beneficiary, this was really nerve-wracking until I read through everyone's explanations here. It's such a relief to know this is normal for holiday schedule adjustments! I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and tips about the MySocialSecurity account - I had no idea about the text alert feature. It's frustrating that SSA doesn't proactively explain these routine changes to new recipients, but this community discussion has been incredibly helpful. Now I know not to panic when this happens again and I'll be setting up those notifications right away. Thanks to everyone for making this less stressful for those of us still learning the ropes!

Logan, congratulations on finding love again! This is such wonderful news. I'm a Social Security beneficiary myself and want to reassure you that you're absolutely safe to remarry. The age 60 rule is key here - since you're 65, your survivor benefits will continue unchanged after marriage. I went through something similar when my neighbor was considering remarriage at 63. We spent hours researching this together, and everything we found confirmed that remarriage after 60 protects your survivor benefits. She did get married and has been happily collecting her benefits for two years now. One small tip from her experience: when you do notify SSA about your marriage, try to do it sooner rather than later, especially if you're changing your name. It makes things smoother for tax season and any future correspondence with them. Don't let financial worries hold you back from happiness - you've earned both your benefits and this new relationship! Wishing you and your partner all the best.

Logan, what wonderful news about finding love again! As someone who's navigated Social Security benefits for years, I can definitely confirm what others have shared - you're completely safe to remarry at 65 without losing your survivor benefits. The key rule is that remarriage after age 60 protects your benefits, and since you're already 65, you're well within that safe zone. I've seen so many people in similar situations worry unnecessarily about this. The fact that you're already receiving the benefits makes this even more straightforward - Social Security won't take them away just because you remarry at this stage of life. When you do get married, just remember to notify SSA within a reasonable timeframe, especially if you're planning to change your name. You can usually do this online through your my Social Security account, which is often easier than trying to get through on the phone. Don't let financial concerns overshadow this beautiful opportunity for companionship and happiness. You've clearly done your due diligence by asking here, and now you can move forward with confidence. Congratulations and best wishes for your future together!