Social Security first payment only 1/3 of expected amount - February start date issue

This is actually normal! Your first payment is often prorated based on when your application was processed relative to your payment date. Social Security payments are made in the month following the month for which they are due. So your February payment comes in March, but if your application wasn't fully processed until partway through February, you might only get a partial payment for your first month. Your next payment in April (for March benefits) should be the full amount.

Had the exact same thing happen to me when I started getting my benefits last year! First check was way off, thought they messed up my earnings record or something. Don't worry, next month will be normal.

It's probably because of the day of the month your entitlement began. SS calculates benefits on a daily rate, so if your benefit start date wasn't the 1st of February, you're only getting payment for the days you were entitled in February. This is very common with first payments. Also, make sure you're accounting for any Medicare premiums being deducted if you're enrolled. The standard Part B premium is $174.70 in 2025, and that comes out of your SS payment automatically if you're enrolled.

This happened to me too!!! I was PANICKING when I saw how small my first check was. Called and called and couldn't get through to anyone. Ended up going to my local office and waiting 3 hours just to be told it's normal. Why don't they TELL people this will happen?? Could have saved me so much stress!

You should double check if you're getting any deductions like Medicare premiums or tax withholding. Also, if you're still working and under your Full Retirement Age, you might be subject to the earnings test which could reduce your benefit. The 2025 earnings limit is $22,320 if you're under FRA and they can withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above that limit.

U need 2 go to the SSA office in person!!! They do this 2 everyone and hope u dont notice. My brother got shorted $900 and had to FIGHT to get his money. Bring ur award letter and DEMAND ur full payment!!!

Just to clarify for everyone - your Social Security payment cycle is based on: 1. When you became entitled to benefits (often tied to birth date) 2. Whether your application was fully processed before the payment cycle ran SSA pays benefits in the month AFTER they're due. So February benefits come in March. If you became entitled on February 18th, you'd only get a partial payment for your first month. Your April payment (for March benefits) should be the full amount. If it's not, then definitely contact SSA to investigate.

I went through this exact same thing last year! My first payment was about 40% of what I expected and I was convinced they'd made a huge error. Turns out it was just the proration everyone's mentioning - since my benefits started mid-month, I only got paid for the days I was eligible. One tip: create a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov if you haven't already. You can see your payment history and benefit details there, which helped me understand exactly how they calculated that first partial payment. Much easier than trying to get through on the phone! Your next payment should definitely be the full amount (minus any deductions like Medicare). If it's not, then you'll know something's actually wrong and worth investigating.

I had a similar experience when I first started receiving benefits! The partial first payment is definitely confusing when you're not expecting it. One thing that helped me understand the timing better is that Social Security benefits are paid "in arrears" - meaning you get paid for the previous month's benefits. So your March payment was for February benefits, but since you only became entitled partway through February, it was prorated. Also, just wanted to mention that if you do need to contact SSA in the future and can't get through by phone, you can also send secure messages through your my Social Security account online. It's not as fast as a phone call, but you'll get a response within a few business days and it's often more detailed than what you'd get over the phone. Really helped me when I had questions about my Medicare enrollment timing. Hang in there - once you get past this first payment, everything should be much more predictable!

Welcome to the Social Security community! I see you're getting great advice here about prorated first payments - this is actually one of the most common questions new beneficiaries have. The confusion is totally understandable since SSA doesn't always explain this clearly upfront. Just to add to what others have shared: if your birthday is February 18th and you filed to start benefits in February, you'd be entitled starting from your birthday. So your first payment would only cover Feb 18-28 (11 days), which comes out to roughly 39% of your full monthly benefit. Add in the Medicare Part B premium deduction ($174.70 for 2025), and that explains the $749 you received. Your April payment should be your full $2,248 minus Medicare premiums and any other deductions you've elected. If you want to verify everything is correct, definitely set up that my Social Security account - the payment history section breaks down exactly how they calculated each payment, including any deductions. It's really helpful for peace of mind! Don't worry, you're not alone in this experience and everything sounds normal based on what you've described.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who works with Social Security cases - this is absolutely normal and happens to nearly every new beneficiary! The proration system can be really confusing when you're not expecting it. One thing I always tell people is to keep your award letter handy and compare it to your payment stub (which you can access through your my Social Security account). The award letter shows your monthly benefit amount, but your actual payments will show all the deductions and prorations clearly itemized. Also, if you're concerned about future payments, you can set up direct deposit notifications or text alerts through your bank so you know exactly when and how much you're receiving each month. Makes it much easier to spot any actual issues versus normal processing quirks like this first payment situation. You're doing everything right by asking questions and getting informed. Once you get through this first payment cycle, everything becomes much more predictable!