Unexpected $150 Social Security deposit the day before regular payment - what is this mystery payment?

probably a cola adjustment or backpay for something. i got a random $212 last year and found out it was a adjustment for underpayment earlier in the year. just wait a week and check ur myssa account online, it'll probably show up there with an explanation.

There are several potential reasons for this type of unexpected payment: 1. Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) catch-up payment 2. Recalculation of benefits based on updated earnings information 3. Restoration of wrongly withheld benefits 4. Underpayment correction from previous months The SSA typically sends a letter explaining any adjustments, but it often arrives after the payment posts to your account. I'd recommend checking your mySSA account as the previous commenter suggested, but also calling SSA directly if no explanation appears within a week. This is almost certainly legitimate - the SSA computer systems automatically issue these adjustment payments when their calculations determine you're owed money.

i got several small payments like that after my husband passed away. they were different adjustments and back payments related to survivor benefits. took almost 2 months to get all the paperwork explaining everything!!! SSA is VERY slow with the paperwork but pretty quick with sending money lol

DONT SPEND IT!!! Happened to me last year and it was a MISTAKE and they made me pay it back 3 months later!! Called it an "administrative error" and took it from my regular payment without even asking me first!!! Now I put any extra amounts in a separate account until I know for SURE it's really mine!!

This is most likely what's called a "one-time payment" in SSA terminology. It could be for several reasons: - If you recently had a birthday that changed your benefit category - If there was a workers' compensation offset that ended - If there was an earnings record correction - If there was an underpayment from a previous month The $150 amount suggests it's probably a partial month adjustment or a small underpayment correction. You should receive a notice in the mail titled "Notice of Change in Benefits" that will explain exactly what this payment represents. These notices typically arrive 7-10 days after the deposit. If you need immediate clarification, you can call the SSA directly at 1-800-772-1213, but be prepared for very long wait times.

Did you apply for Medicare recently? Sometimes they do adjustments related to Medicare Part B premium changes. Or did you have any changes in your health insurance situation? I'm just guessing because $150 seems like it might be related to a monthly premium amount.

whatever u do DONT call and ask about it, if its a mistake they might not notice! free money lol

just wanted to add that my neighbor got a small payment like yours and it turned out to be back pay for the months when they were calculating her benefits after she applied. she applied in november but didn't get approved until february, so they owed her for december and january. did you start getting benefits recently?

Just a follow-up thought - since your regular payment came on the 23rd, which is right on schedule, this likely isn't a payment date adjustment. When SSA changes your payment date (which happens sometimes due to various administrative reasons), they would move your entire payment to a different day, not split it across two days. Are you receiving both Social Security retirement/disability AND SSI benefits? Sometimes people who qualify for both get payments on different days of the month, and occasionally one program might have an adjustment payment.

Has anyone here ever noticed that the SSA website sometimes updates with info about these kinds of payments BEFORE you actually get a letter in the mail? I always check there first when anything weird happens with my payments. Sometimes they have an explanation posted in my message center before the letter arrives.