Mysterious one-time $512 Social Security payment appeared - no explanation from SSA

could be a COLA adjustment or backpay for something they miscalculated. i got a wierd payment last year of like $438 and when i finally got thru to SSA they said it was because they had used wrong earnings record for one quarter back in 2015 and i was owed more. just enjoy the $$!

This is most likely one of five things: 1. A retroactive COLA adjustment 2. A correction after an earnings record update 3. A one-time payment due to an underpayment discovery 4. An adjustment after recalculation of your PIA 5. A payment related to the earnings test if you're under FRA I highly recommend calling the SSA directly to get clarity. Their automated system won't tell you this information - you need to speak with a representative. Make sure you have your most recent Social Security statement available when you call, along with any notices you've received in the past 12 months.

DON'T SPEND IT YET!!! I had this happen to me in March. Got a $629 random payment with no explanation. I called SSA (took 3 DAYS of trying) and found out it was actually an error. Two months later they sent me a notice that I needed to pay it back! The SSA systems are COMPLETELY BROKEN and they make these mistakes all the time. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING and call them ASAP!!

I've been working with Social Security issues for over 15 years, and unexpected payments like this typically have legitimate explanations. The most common reason is a retroactive adjustment following an earnings record update. Another possibility is that it's related to a recalculation of your benefits - perhaps they found quarters of coverage they initially missed. What you should do is contact SSA directly. Unfortunately, their phone lines are notoriously difficult to get through. I'd recommend trying first thing in the morning (right when they open at 8am your local time) on Tuesday through Thursday (their least busy days).

I had something like this happen when they adjusted the COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) retroactively. It was actually money I was entitled to! But definitely check.

I'd recommend using Claimyr to get through to SSA quickly. I was in a similar situation with an unexplained payment and spent days trying to get through the regular SSA phone lines. Used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they got me connected to an agent in under 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU The agent explained that my payment was due to an earnings record adjustment that affected my benefit calculation. Definitely worth knowing rather than wondering if they'll ask for it back later!

did u turn 66 or 67 recently? sometimes theres a bump when u hit ur FRA

If you worked part-time while collecting benefits before FRA, this could very well be an adjustment related to the earnings test. When SSA initially withholds benefits based on estimated earnings, they later recalculate based on your actual earnings reported to the IRS. If you earned less than their estimate, they issue a one-time payment for the difference. This happens frequently and is actually good news - it's money you're legitimately entitled to receive. However, I still recommend confirming this with SSA directly for your peace of mind.

my neighbor got a weird payment turned out it was backpay for her disabled son who just got approved. do u have any other claims or dependents on ur record?

Based on all the information you've shared, I strongly suspect this is related to the earnings test recalculation. Since you mentioned working part-time in 2023 but earning less than you initially estimated, this is almost certainly an adjustment payment. Here's what happens: When you work while receiving benefits before FRA, SSA withholds $1 in benefits for every $2 earned above the annual limit (which was $21,240 in 2023). They initially use your earnings estimate, but once your actual earnings are reported via W-2 forms, they recalculate. If you earned less than estimated, you get back some of the withheld benefits as a lump sum. Still worth confirming with SSA, but this is very likely what happened in your case.