Social Security survivor benefit deposit came early and $700 short - what's happening?

Sounds like they might have withheld taxes that they weren't withholding before. Did you recently change your tax withholding preferences? Or it could be that you went over the earnings limit if you're working. Those are the two most common reasons for sudden changes.

this happend to me last year!!! The early deposit is usually BACK PAY for something, not your regular monthly payment. So dont panic, you'll probably still get your regular payment on the 15th. The smaller amount is probably an adjustment for something else.

The timing of this deposit strongly suggests it's not your regular monthly benefit. There are several possibilities here: 1. If you're working while receiving survivor benefits before your Full Retirement Age (FRA), and you're exceeding the annual earnings limit ($22,320 in 2025), SSA will withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above that limit. They sometimes make these adjustments retroactively. 2. This could be a retroactive payment for a benefit calculation adjustment, but with a partial withholding applied. 3. Sometimes Social Security makes mid-year adjustments based on updated information they've received. Do you have access to your most recent Social Security statement? That might show projected earnings that triggered this adjustment.

THEY ALWAYS DO THIS KIND OF STUFF WITHOUT WARNING!! It's SO frustrating. My mom had a similar issue with her survivor benefits and we couldn't get through to anyone to explain it. Took WEEKS to sort out and it turned out they made an error in her earnings record. You need to talk to someone at SSA ASAP before they mess up your next payment too!

This is almost certainly related to the earnings test if you're working part-time. At 62, you're subject to the earnings limit which is $22,320 for 2025. Even though your annual income is $18,000, if you had other income earlier in the year before your husband passed, or if they've received updated quarterly earnings that project you'll exceed the limit, they'll make adjustments. The early timing of the payment suggests this is either: 1. A processing adjustment (not your regular payment) 2. An overpayment recovery 3. A retroactive adjustment to account for earnings You should still receive your regular payment (potentially adjusted) on your normal payment date, which for survivor benefits is typically the 3rd of the month or on the same schedule as your deceased spouse's birthday.

I had something similar happen last year. Have you checked if they started deducting Medicare premiums? Mine changed when I signed up for Part B and they didn't notify me about the deduction starting.

Have you tried calling the SSA to ask what's going on? They're the only ones who can tell you for sure.

You should try Claimyr if youre having trouble getting through on the phone. My sister told me about it and it worked great - they get you a callback from SSA without the crazy wait times. I was skeptical but it actually worked! Check out their demo video at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU or go to claimyr.com. Seriously, it saved me hours of hold time when I had an issue with my widow's benefits.

Based on your additional information, here's what I believe is happening: 1. The deposit on the 3rd is NOT your regular payment. Survivor benefits are paid either on the 3rd of the month or according to your deceased spouse's birth date schedule (2nd Wednesday, 3rd Wednesday, etc. based on birth date). Since your husband was born on the 15th, your regular payment would typically come on the third Wednesday of the month. 2. This early payment is almost certainly an adjustment payment, possibly related to your part-time work or a benefit recalculation. 3. You should still receive your regular monthly payment on your usual schedule, though it may be adjusted going forward if you're exceeding the annual earnings limit. I would suggest waiting until your regular payment date passes before becoming too concerned. If you don't receive your regular payment on the expected date, then it would be time to contact SSA directly for clarification.

Just want to share a little support - dealing with unexpected benefit changes is super stressful! When my mom passed and I started managing my dad's survivor benefits, similar stuff happened and it about gave me a heart attack each time. Hope it all works out to be nothing serious!

I work for a local senior services organization and see this type of confusion frequently. A few additional points that might help: 1. The $700 reduction could also be related to an overpayment recovery if SSA determined you received too much in previous months due to unreported earnings or other factors. 2. Since you mentioned checking your MySocialSecurity account, look for any notices under the "Message Center" - sometimes explanations appear there before paper notices arrive. 3. If this is earnings-related, remember that the earnings test is annual, not monthly. So even if some months you earn less, if your projected annual earnings exceed $22,320, they'll adjust accordingly. 4. Keep detailed records of all payments received and any communications. This will be helpful when you do get through to speak with someone. The good news is that most of these situations are temporary adjustments rather than permanent reductions. Hang in there!