Social Security retirement benefits starting next month - no confirmation or payment details showing in my account
I'm supposed to start receiving my Social Security retirement benefits next month (January 2025), but I haven't received any confirmation and I'm getting anxious. I submitted my application online about 3 months ago and also mailed in Form W-4V requesting tax withholding. When I log into my MySocialSecurity account, there's absolutely nothing showing about my payment schedule or amount. I was really hoping to know my exact payment after Medicare premiums and tax withholdings are deducted. Does anyone know if this is normal? Do they just suddenly start depositing money without telling you the amount beforehand? I've tried calling but keep getting disconnected after waiting for over an hour.
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Aliyah Debovski
Yes, unfortunately this is pretty normal. SSA doesn't always update the MySocialSecurity portal in a timely manner. You should receive an award letter in the mail about 2-3 weeks before your first payment that shows the exact amount after deductions. If you're starting benefits in January, your first payment would come on the Wednesday corresponding to your birth date in February (since SS pays a month behind).
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Ally Tailer
•Thank you! I didn't realize they're a month behind on payments. So even though my benefits technically start in January, I won't get paid until February? And the payment date depends on my birth date? I wish they'd explained this better when I applied.
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Miranda Singer
I had the exct same problem last year!!!! The online system is completely useless. My payments just showed up one day with NO warning and was $243 less than i thought it would be bcause of Medicare and the tax witholding. The whole process is TERRIBLE and nobody tells you ANYTHING.
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Ally Tailer
•Oh no, that's exactly what I'm worried about! Did you ever get an explanation for why it was so much less than you expected? Did you eventually get an award letter?
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Miranda Singer
•They sent the award letter TWO WEEKS AFTER the first payment!! Makes no sense at all. And yes Medicare Part B was more than I thought and they took out 15% for taxes even tho I requested 10%. Had to call and fix it and wait on hold for 3 HOURS!!!
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Cass Green
This is exactly how the system works, though it can be frustrating. When you start Social Security retirement, you'll be paid the month after benefits begin (so February payment for January benefit start). Payment dates depend on birth date: - 1st-10th: Second Wednesday - 11th-20th: Third Wednesday - 21st-31st: Fourth Wednesday Regarding the amount, you should receive an award letter detailing your PIA (Primary Insurance Amount), Medicare premium deduction (currently $174.70/month for most people in 2025), and your tax withholding percentage. If you need clarity before your first payment, you'll need to speak with a representative. The best times to call are Tuesday-Thursday early morning or late afternoon to avoid peak call volumes.
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Ally Tailer
•This is really helpful information, thank you! My birthday is on the 17th so looks like I'll get paid on the third Wednesday of February. I've been trying to call but keep getting the dreaded "all representatives are busy" message after waiting forever.
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Finley Garrett
my wife had this happen and we panicked for nothing. check just showed up. SS is really old school and their online stuff barely works.
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Madison Tipne
I went through this same frustrating process about 6 months ago. The online system never updated until AFTER I received my first payment. If you need to know your payment amount before it arrives, you absolutely need to speak with a real person at SSA. After wasting days trying to get through on the phone, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual SSA agent in about 20 minutes instead of waiting for hours or getting disconnected. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Once I got through, the agent was able to tell me exactly what my payment would be after Medicare and tax withholding. Saved me weeks of anxiety wondering if I could cover my bills.
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Ally Tailer
•Thank you for suggesting this! I've been trying to call for days with no luck. I'll check out that service - at this point I'd try anything to get some answers before my bills are due.
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Holly Lascelles
•is that service legit? seems sketchy to me. why would you need a service to call social security?
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Madison Tipne
•It's legitimate - they basically navigate the phone tree and wait on hold for you, then call you when they have an agent on the line. With how impossible it is to reach SSA by phone lately (3+ hour waits, random disconnects), it was worth it for me to get answers quickly about my retirement amount.
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Malia Ponder
I think everyone is missing something important here - have you set up direct deposit in your MySocialSecurity account? If not, they'll mail a paper check which takes even longer and can get lost. Make sure your banking info is in the system ASAP! Also check that your correct address is on file for that award letter everyone mentioned.
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Ally Tailer
•Yes, I did set up direct deposit when I applied. That part of my account shows my bank info is there, but there's just nothing about payment schedule or amounts anywhere. I double-checked my address too and it's correct.
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Finley Garrett
dont worry about it man. government moves slow. money will show up eventually lol
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Aliyah Debovski
One other thing to consider - if you're still working and will earn over the earnings limit ($22,320 for 2025 if you're under FRA), your benefit could be reduced. This might explain a difference between what you're expecting and what you'll actually receive. The earnings limit no longer applies once you reach your Full Retirement Age.
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Ally Tailer
•That's a good point! I'm fully retired now so shouldn't be affected by the earnings limit. I just really need to know the actual payment amount for budgeting purposes since I have some big bills coming up in February.
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Holly Lascelles
My sister had this exact problem!!! She applied in November for January benefits and randomly got a letter in mid-December with all the details. Have you checked your actual mailbox? Sometimes they send paper mail and don't update the online system at all. So annoying how they can't get their systems working together in 2025!
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Ally Tailer
•I check my mail every day and haven't received anything yet. Maybe it will come soon? It's just stressful not knowing how much I'll actually receive.
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Cass Green
Just to wrap this up with clear action items: 1. Your first payment will come in February for January benefits 2. With a birth date on the 17th, you'll be paid on the third Wednesday of February 3. The award letter should arrive 2-3 weeks before your first payment 4. If you need to know your exact amount before then, you'll need to speak with an SSA representative 5. Your benefit will be your PIA minus Medicare premium ($174.70 standard for 2025) minus tax withholding (percentage you selected on W-4V) If you don't receive an award letter by mid-January, I'd definitely recommend making more attempts to contact SSA directly.
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Ally Tailer
•Thank you so much for breaking it down clearly! I'll keep watching for the award letter and try again to get through to a representative. Appreciate everyone's help with this - at least now I know what to expect.
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