This is such a helpful thread! I'm bookmarking it for future reference. It's really reassuring to see how common these Medicare premium adjustment payments are when transitioning to Social Security. The lack of immediate explanation from SSA definitely causes unnecessary anxiety, but seeing everyone's experiences here shows it's just part of their standard process. For anyone else dealing with mysterious payments - it seems like the pattern is: if you're transitioning from direct Medicare payments to SS deductions, expect some kind of adjustment payment that might not be immediately explained in your online account. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and especially to those with professional knowledge who provided the detailed explanations!

This thread is incredibly helpful for anyone dealing with unexpected SSA payments! I just went through something similar when I started my disability benefits - got a random $67 payment about three weeks before my regular benefits began, with zero explanation. Like others mentioned, it turned out to be related to Medicare premium adjustments since I had been paying Part B premiums directly. The frustrating part is that SSA's customer service seems to assume everyone understands their complex payment systems, but for those of us new to the process, these mystery deposits can be really stressful. It's great to see the community filling in these knowledge gaps where official communication fails. For future readers: if you're transitioning any type of Medicare premium payment method when starting SS benefits, expect some kind of adjustment payment that may not be immediately explained!

One more important point: You mentioned your husband plans to work into his 70s, which is great. Just be aware that once he files for benefits (even at 70), if you then apply for spousal benefits, your income will be subject to the earnings test if you're still working and under your FRA. In 2025, you can earn up to $22,300 without affecting benefits, but above that, $1 in benefits is withheld for every $2 you earn above the limit. This doesn't apply once you reach your FRA. Also, don't forget to consider the taxation of Social Security benefits. If your combined income (adjusted gross income + nontaxable interest + half of Social Security benefits) exceeds certain thresholds, up to 85% of your benefits could be taxable. This might affect the calculations of when to file.

I'm facing a similar decision at 63 and this thread has been incredibly helpful! One thing I'd add is that you might want to consider getting a personalized benefit statement from SSA that shows your projected benefits at different claiming ages. You can create an account at ssa.gov/myaccount and run the numbers yourself. Also, since you mentioned your husband will get the maximum benefit, that suggests his PIA will be around $4,000-$4,400 (the 2025 maximum). So your spousal benefit at YOUR FRA would be roughly $2,000-$2,200 (50% of his PIA). If your own benefit at FRA is $2,500, you'd stick with your own benefit since it's higher than the spousal amount. But here's the key point others have made: if you file early now, you'd get $2,200 permanently, AND if you later became eligible for spousal benefits, those would ALSO be reduced because you filed early. So you could end up with less than $2,200 total even when he files. Given that your husband is healthy and plans to work into his 70s, waiting until your FRA seems like the clear winner financially. Those extra few hundred dollars per month really add up over 20+ years of retirement!

This is really helpful information everyone! I'm in a similar situation - got an unexpected $892 deposit yesterday with "SOC SEC" in the description. Based on what Lauren found out about the COLA calculation errors, that amount actually lines up with what I think I might have been underpaid since January. I'm going to try calling tomorrow morning (hopefully the wait times are better early in the day) to confirm this is legitimate before I even think about touching it. Thanks for all the warnings about not spending it until we know for sure - definitely don't want to end up overdrawn if they take it back!

This thread has been so helpful! I just experienced something similar - got an unexpected $743 deposit two days ago marked "SOC SEC" and have been nervous about what it could be. After reading Lauren's update about the COLA calculation errors, I went back and did some rough math on what my increase should have been since January, and $743 is pretty close to what I think I was underpaid. I also checked my online Social Security account like several people suggested, and there actually WAS a message in my Message Center from last week that I had missed - it mentioned a "benefit adjustment" but wasn't very detailed. I'm still planning to call them tomorrow to get the full explanation, but I feel much more confident now that this is legitimate back pay rather than an error. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and especially for the warnings about not spending it until confirmed!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who's been dealing with this for a couple years now. The Schedule SE net earnings calculation is definitely what SSA uses, but here's something that might help with your planning: You mentioned expecting around $26,000 in income but having deductions that would lower your AGI. Just remember that business expenses (like equipment, supplies, mileage, etc.) reduce your Schedule C profit, which then flows to Schedule SE. Personal deductions like the standard deduction don't affect your self-employment earnings calculation at all. Also, if you're worried about going over the limit, you can always adjust your work schedule later in the year. I've found it helpful to track my net earnings quarterly so I don't get surprised at tax time. Good luck with your benefits application!

I went through this exact same situation when I started collecting at 62. The confusion is totally understandable because the SSA website really doesn't explain it clearly for self-employed folks! Everyone who said it's your net earnings from Schedule SE is absolutely correct. But here's a practical tip that helped me: when you're calculating your business expenses throughout the year, make sure you're only counting legitimate business expenses that would be deductible on Schedule C. Things like office supplies, equipment, business mileage, etc. Personal expenses or the standard deduction won't help you here. Also, since you're planning to start benefits next month, don't forget about that first-year proration rule someone mentioned. If you start in April, you'll only be able to earn about $16,740 for the rest of 2025 without penalty (9 months worth of the $22,320 annual limit). One last thing - keep really good records of everything! The SSA will want documentation if they ever audit your earnings, and having organized records makes tax time so much easier too.

This is such valuable information, and I really appreciate how thorough everyone has been in explaining the rules. As someone who's been helping folks navigate Social Security for years, I can confirm what others have said - your husband's early filing absolutely will NOT reduce his survivor benefits. One thing I'd add that might be helpful: if your husband does become a survivor, he'll want to understand his timing options. Since his own benefit will be permanently reduced due to early filing, but your survivor benefit would be based on your full amount, he might benefit from what's called a "restricted application" strategy where he could potentially switch between benefits at different times to maximize his total lifetime benefits. Also, just a heads up - when the time comes (hopefully many years from now), make sure to apply for survivor benefits promptly. Unlike retirement benefits, survivor benefits can't be paid retroactively for more than 6 months, so timing matters for maximizing the total amount received. You're doing great by planning ahead and getting the facts straight!

As someone who went through this exact scenario with my parents, I can confirm what everyone else is saying - your husband's early filing won't affect his survivor benefits at all. My dad filed at 62 and my mom waited until her FRA of 66. When mom passed away two years ago, dad was able to switch to her full benefit amount without any reduction due to his early filing. One thing that really helped us was creating a simple one-page summary of all the key facts - both of their Social Security numbers, their projected benefit amounts, and the key rules about survivor benefits. We kept copies in multiple places so it would be easy to find when needed. The SSA office actually commented on how organized we were and it made the whole process much smoother during an already difficult time. Your planning ahead like this will really pay off if your husband ever needs to navigate this situation. The peace of mind alone is worth it!