Social Security first payment smaller than subsequent monthly amounts - normal?

This is completely normal! Your first payment is likely prorated based on when you applied and were approved. SSA typically pays benefits for the previous month, so if you became eligible partway through a month, your first check will be smaller to reflect the partial month. All your regular payments after that will be the full monthly amount.

same thing happened with my payments when i started last year. first one was like $600 less than what i get now. its normal

I had EXACTLY this situation in January!!! My first payment was $1,210 but then my regular monthly is $1,892. I called SSA and spent THREE HOURS trying to get through only to be told it was normal. Something about being prorated for my application date. SUCH a waste of time trying to call them!!! 😡

To clarify what others have said, this is standard SSA procedure. The initial payment is often prorated based on your entitlement date. For example, if you became entitled to benefits on the 15th of the month, your first payment would only include benefits for half that month. Also important to know: Social Security benefits are paid in arrears - meaning you receive January's payment in February, February's payment in March, etc. And the payment date is determined by your birth date: - 1st-10th of month: paid on 2nd Wednesday - 11th-20th: paid on 3rd Wednesday (your case) - 21st-31st: paid on 4th Wednesday Nothing to worry about - your full benefit amount will start with your second payment.

When I got my SSDI last yr they said my first check would be $823 but then i got $1455 after that every month. I was so worried they would take back the "extra" money lol. But its just how they do the first month i guess. I was approved in the middle of August so my first payment only covered part of the month.

this is just how they do it dont worry about it. same thing for me

Thanks everyone for the helpful replies! I feel much better knowing this is normal procedure. Saved me hours of frustration trying to call SSA about something that's apparently standard practice. Really appreciate all the explanations!

When I got my first payment it was actually MORE than my regular payments and then they sent me a letter saying I owed them back $433!!! So I think you're lucky yours is just smaller! The SSA systems are so complicated sometimes I wonder if anyone there even understands how it all works lol.

One more thing to consider - check if your Medicare premium is being deducted from your Social Security. Sometimes the first payment doesn't include the Medicare deduction, but subsequent payments do, which would actually make your first payment LARGER. Since yours is smaller, it's almost certainly the prorated amount others have mentioned, but it's good to check your award letter for any Medicare details too.