Mysterious $32 deposit after starting Survivor Benefits - what is this small SS payment?

That $32 is probably what's called a 'partial month benefit'. If your husband passed away mid-month, sometimes they calculate benefits from that date until the end of the month and send it as a separate payment. I went through the same when I started survivor benefits in 2023. The full monthly amount should start coming in February like they told you.

When I got my survivors benefit I ALSO got a weird small payment first!!! It was $58 in my case. I freaked out thinking they calculated my benefit ALL WRONG!!! Called SSA like 20 times and couldn't get through. Finally went to the office and the lady said it was some kind of adjustment or prorated amount for partial month or something. Don't worry, your REAL amount will come next month!!!!

This is a standard procedure with survivor benefits. The small payment ($32) represents a partial month benefit calculation. SSA typically pays benefits in arrears, meaning January benefits come in February. However, there are specific situations with survivors where they calculate from the date of death for a few days at the end of a month. Some key points about survivor benefits: 1. Full survivor benefits are paid to widows/widowers at their FRA (Full Retirement Age) 2. Reduced benefits are available starting at age 60 3. If you're working and under your FRA, earnings limits may apply 4. In 2025, the earnings limit is $22,750 for those under FRA Your full payment should arrive as scheduled in February. If you have any concerns about the calculation or need to verify details, you might want to get through to an agent directly.

my mom got something similar last year when she started her survivor benefits. small payment first then normal after that. never got a explanation really but everything worked out fine

When my wife died in 2024, I had a similar experience starting survivor benefits. Got a tiny payment and freaked out! But then my regular payment came the next month. The SSA is terrible at explaining these things to people. I think they assume we all understand their complicated system already. If anything seems off with your February payment, definitely follow up.

Have you checked your mySSA account online? Sometimes it shows a breakdown of payments there with explanations. My sister-in-law got a small payment like that too when starting survivors benefits and it turned out to be prorated for the last few days of her husband's death month.

I work at a financial services company and see this all the time with our clients starting survivor benefits. It's definitely a partial month payment. If your husband passed in late December 2024, that small amount would cover just the few remaining days of that month. The SSA calculates benefits daily in these situations. For anyone struggling to reach the SSA by phone to confirm these kinds of questions, I recently discovered a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to an actual SSA agent without the endless waiting. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU showing how it works. A client of mine used it last week to resolve a similar question about survivor benefits calculations.

my aunt got wrong payment amounts for like 3 months after starting survivor benefits. check everything carefully when u get the feb payment!

Just to add some additional info since you're new to survivor benefits - make sure you understand how the earnings test works if you're still working and under your FRA. In 2025, if you're under FRA for the full year, SSA deducts $1 from benefits for each $2 earned above $22,750. If you reach FRA during 2025, they deduct $1 for every $3 earned above $60,120 until the month you reach FRA. After FRA, there's no earnings limit.

Your February payment should arrive on a specific schedule based on either your birth date or your late husband's birth date (whichever the claim is based on). The payment schedule for 2025 is: - Birth dates 1st-10th: Second Wednesday of month - Birth dates 11th-20th: Third Wednesday of month - Birth dates 21st-31st: Fourth Wednesday of month If benefits started before May 1997, payment comes on the 3rd of the month. Mark your calendar for the appropriate Wednesday in February to expect your full survivor benefit payment.

One more thing about survivor benefits nobody told me - they're taxable if your combined income exceeds certain thresholds. For 2025, if you file as an individual and your combined income is between $25,000 and $34,000, up to 50% of your benefits may be taxable. Above $34,000, up to 85% may be taxable. Caught me by surprise at tax time!