I successfully changed my direct deposit online just two weeks ago! Like many of you, I was escaping those awful bank fees to join a credit union. The MySocialSecurity website was straightforward - took about 10 minutes total. I went to Benefits & Payments, then Direct Deposit Information, entered my new routing and account numbers twice for verification, and got immediate confirmation. The system even sent me a confirmation email within minutes. My first payment to the new account is coming up next week, so fingers crossed! I followed everyone's advice here about keeping my old account open until I see a successful deposit. One thing I'd add - I called my credit union beforehand to verify I had the correct routing number, and they were super helpful. They even noted in my account that I'd be receiving Social Security deposits so they'd be expecting them. The online process was so much easier than I expected after reading some of the phone horror stories here. Good luck to everyone making the switch!

I'm going through the exact same situation right now! Just opened an account at a local credit union to escape those ridiculous monthly fees my current bank is charging. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. It sounds like the MySocialSecurity online system is working really well for most people lately, which is great to hear. I was dreading having to call and wait on hold forever. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm planning to: 1) Call my credit union first to verify my routing and account numbers, 2) Log into MySocialSecurity and go to Benefits & Payments, 3) Take screenshots of everything for my records, 4) Keep my old account open until I see at least one successful deposit in the new account. The timing advice is really helpful too - I'll make sure to do this well before my next payment date. Thanks to everyone who shared their recent experiences, especially those who just went through this process in the last few weeks. It's given me the confidence to try the online method first!

Based on what you've shared, your friend needs to take three specific actions: 1. Report his blindness to SSA immediately - this is considered a change in medical condition 2. Request an evaluation for SSDI benefits based on his work history as a janitor for 20+ years 3. Ask specifically about concurrent benefits (receiving both SSI and SSDI) which may apply in his case Arizona does not offer a state supplement to SSI (unlike California mentioned above), so maximizing his federal benefits is especially important. When he speaks with SSA, he should specifically ask about the Blind Work Expense (BWE) exclusions if he has any income, and request information about any additional programs for which his blindness might qualify him. The difference between the standard SSI payment ($943/month) and potential SSDI benefits based on his work history could be substantial, potentially doubling his monthly income if he qualifies for SSDI at a decent rate.

Just wanted to add that when your friend contacts SSA, he should bring ALL his medical documentation about his macular degeneration and legal blindness diagnosis. The SSA has very specific criteria for legal blindness (20/200 vision or worse in the better eye, or visual field of 20 degrees or less), so having the official documentation from his eye doctor will be crucial. Also, since he worked as a janitor for 20+ years, there's a good chance he has enough work credits for SSDI. SSDI benefits are calculated based on his lifetime earnings, so even modest-paying jobs can result in meaningful benefits if he worked consistently. The combination of SSDI plus potentially a small SSI supplement could definitely get him closer to that $1,900 range you mentioned. One more tip - if he has trouble getting through to SSA by phone, he can also submit a written report of his medical condition change by mailing it to his local field office. Sometimes that's actually faster than trying to get through on the phone!

Thanks everyone for the explanations! I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who was confused by this random deposit. Just as an update - I called my local SSA office this morning (got lucky and got through), and they confirmed it was indeed the COLA backpay. They also said they're still processing these for many people, so don't worry if you haven't received yours yet.

Just wanted to add my experience - I'm a newcomer here but this post was super helpful! I got a similar deposit last week and had no idea what it was. After reading this I checked my benefit verification letter and sure enough, it was COLA backpay for 6 months. Mine went from $1,890 to $1,948 (about 3.1% like someone mentioned). Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - makes navigating all this SSA stuff less confusing when you're new to it all!

This is a great question about how Difficulty of Care payments interact with Social Security early retirement benefits. From what I understand, Difficulty of Care payments are generally excluded from the Social Security earnings test because they're considered "in-kind support and maintenance" rather than wages for services. However, there are some important nuances here: 1. The fact that Michigan issues W-2s for these payments is interesting - typically DOC payments aren't subject to FICA taxes, which aligns with what you mentioned. 2. The 45-hour monthly limit you referenced might be related to specific state program guidelines rather than Social Security rules, but it's worth clarifying this directly with SSA. 3. Your small side business income of $2-3K annually is likely well under the 2024 earnings limit ($22,320 for those under full retirement age), so that shouldn't be an issue. I'd strongly recommend calling Social Security directly at 1-800-772-1213 to get official guidance on how your specific DOC arrangement will be treated. You might also want to contact your local Area Agency on Aging or Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services for clarification on the state-specific rules. It's always better to get these clarifications upfront rather than deal with potential overpayment issues later. Have you considered reaching out to SSA yet?

You should check your Medicare paperwork very carefully. When you first signed up for Medicare, you had choices to make about Part D coverage. If you didn't specifically decline Part D, you might have been automatically enrolled in a plan. My advice is to call the number on your Medicare card and ask for clarification about what plans you're currently enrolled in before making any changes.

I went through this exact same situation last year! Here's what I learned: First, you need to determine if your Blue Cross Blue Shield plan is actually a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy or a Medicare Advantage plan. True Medigap policies don't include prescription coverage, but some Medicare Advantage plans do. Call BCBS and ask specifically if your plan provides "creditable prescription drug coverage" that meets Medicare standards. If it does, they should be able to send you a letter confirming this. Then you can use that letter to disenroll from Part D by calling SSA or submitting the CMS-1763 form. But be absolutely certain your coverage is creditable first - the late enrollment penalties for Part D are permanent and can add up to hundreds of dollars per year if you ever need to re-enroll later!