Unexpected $310 'one time payment' from Social Security - no explanation on mySocialSecurity account

This is likely a retroactive COLA (Cost-of-Living Adjustment) payment. SSA sometimes issues these as separate payments when they process adjustments after the fact. If you had any changes to your benefit calculation this year or if there was a delay in processing your annual COLA, they might send it as a separate deposit. You can view the payment notice by clicking on \

Thanks for the suggestion! I checked my Message Center already and there's nothing there about this payment. I'll keep checking over the next couple weeks. Would SSA eventually mail me a paper notice about this too? I'm concerned because the amount seems so random.

DONT SPEND IT!! My sister got a random payment last year and when she spent it, they sent her a letter 2 months later saying it was a mistake and she had to pay it ALL back!! The SSA makes errors ALL THE TIME and then expects us to cover for them! Call them immediately and document EVERYTHING!!! This system is SO BROKEN!!

omg yes this happened to my neighbor too! they added an extra zero to her check by accident and then demanded it back with almost no notice. so stressful!

There are several possible explanations for this one-time payment:1. Retroactive COLA adjustment2. Underpayment correction3. Workers' compensation offset adjustment4. Medicare premium adjustment (if your Part B premium decreased)5. Earnings recalculation if you worked after starting benefitsYou should call the SSA directly to get an explanation. The national number is 1-800-772-1213, but you'll likely wait hours. Alternatively, call your local office directly - their direct number should be on any previous correspondence from SSA. Request a detailed explanation of the payment and ask them to send you written documentation.

Thank you for the detailed list of possibilities! I think #4 or #5 might apply to me. I did work part-time last year, and my Medicare premium did change. I'll try calling my local office tomorrow morning.

I got a similar payment in January and it turned out to be back pay for a medicare adjustment. They had been taking too much out for Medicare Part B for a few months and then fixed it with a lump sum. Check if your regular monthly amount changed too.

That's really helpful! I'll check if my regular monthly amount changed - I hadn't thought to look at that. Did they eventually send you any documentation explaining the adjustment?

If you're trying to reach SSA by phone to ask about this payment, I'd recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com). I spent days trying to get through to SSA about a similar unexpected payment situation last month. With Claimyr, they called SSA for me and then connected me once they reached a representative - took about 20 minutes instead of hours on hold. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puUIn my case, the unexpected payment was related to an earnings record correction that increased my monthly benefit, and the lump sum was the retroactive amount I was owed. Definitely worth checking on exactly what yours is for.

does this really work? ive given up calling SSA completely because i can NEVER get through and just drive to the office whenever i need something

It worked for me twice now. Way better than driving to the office and waiting for hours, especially since my closest office is 45 minutes away.

congrats on the free money lol! but seriously sometimes its just a calculation error they caught or maybe a disability backpay? my uncle got random checks sometimes and just cashed them no problems

I wish I could just consider it

Update us when you find out what the payment was for - this happens fairly often and it would be helpful for others to know the outcome. Also, check if you recently turned 65, 66, or FRA (Full Retirement Age) as benefit recalculations often happen at those milestone ages, which can result in one-time adjustment payments.

I will definitely update when I find out! I'm 68 now, started benefits at 65, so it's not an age milestone thing. I'm starting to think it might be related to the earnings test recalculation since I worked part-time last year.

One more thing to check - if you receive both Social Security retirement and SSI benefits, or if you have Medicare Savings Program (MSP) coverage, sometimes changes in those programs can trigger one-time payments from SSA. In any case, definitely get an official explanation before spending the money, as retroactive payments can affect other benefits or even tax obligations.

This is a good point about taxes. I learned this the hard way - got a surprise payment that pushed me into a higher tax bracket that year. Wasn't expecting to owe money come tax time!