Social Security splitting direct deposit between multiple bank accounts - is this possible?

Unfortunately, SSA only allows one direct deposit account per beneficiary. I went through this same thing last year - it's one of those outdated things about their system. You'll need to set up automatic transfers with your bank after the deposit hits. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news!

Have you tried asking about this when you call them? Sometimes the website doesn't show all options but they can do it if you ask directly.

this is why i just get a paper check and deposit it myself at the bank, no waiting for computers and government to mess up my money lol

The previous responses are correct - Social Security only permits one direct deposit account per payment type. This is specified in their Direct Deposit policies and is a limitation of their payment system infrastructure. One workaround I've used with clients: if you have both retirement benefits and another type of benefit (like survivor's benefits), you can potentially direct each benefit type to a different account. But for a single benefit type, it's only one account. Your best options are: 1. Set up automatic transfers through your bank 2. Use a bank that offers virtual account segregation (like Ally or SoFi) 3. Use budgeting apps like Mint that can automatically categorize incoming funds Unfortunately, their payment system infrastructure hasn't been updated to accommodate split deposits despite being standard elsewhere.

If you're having trouble reaching someone at Social Security to discuss this or any other direct deposit questions, I found Claimyr really helpful when I was setting up my benefits. I was getting disconnected after hours on hold just like you, but Claimyr got me connected to a live agent in about 25 minutes. Their site is claimyr.com and you can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Even though they can't change the one-account limitation, at least you can get a definitive answer without wasting an entire day on hold. The agent I spoke with also explained some nuances about how the deposits work that weren't on the website.

THE SSA NEEDS TO UPDATE THERE SYSTEMS!!!! My son works for a bank and says this split deposit technology has existed for DECADES!!! But no, the government is still using computers from the stone age. What a joke our tax dollars pay for this garbage service.

While you can't split your Social Security payment between different accounts, you might consider opening an account at a bank that offers "sub-accounts" or "envelopes" as they're sometimes called. I use Ally Bank, which lets me create multiple savings buckets within the same account. My SS goes into the main account, and I have automatic rules that distribute portions to my different savings goals. No transfer fees, and it accomplishes basically the same thing you're looking for. Digital banks like SoFi, One Finance, and Capital One 360 offer similar features. Might be worth looking into!

my sister said she gets her disabilty in 2 accounts but idk maybe thats different from retirement

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I'm going to: 1) Try using Claimyr to reach SSA and confirm this policy directly, 2) Look into Ally Bank or SoFi for their virtual account features, and 3) Adjust my budget planning to work with this limitation. Not ideal but at least I have a path forward now. I appreciate all the advice!