Unexpected $700 SS survivor benefit deposit at month end - still working with regular benefits

This is likely a retroactive payment adjustment. SSA sometimes does this when they've recalculated your benefit amount or adjusted for previous months. Did you get any notice in the mail about a change to your monthly benefit amount? Check your my Social Security account online - there should be a message explaining the payment. If there's nothing there, you should definitely call SSA to confirm what it's for before spending it.

i got something like this last year. turned out they had been underpaying me for a few months and it was backpay. don't spend it until you know for sure tho!!!

There are several possibilities for this unexpected payment: 1. Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) retroactive payment 2. Recalculation of benefits based on your deceased spouse's earnings record 3. Adjustment related to your work earnings limit 4. Processing of previously unpaid benefits The timing is unusual though - most scheduled payments follow a standard calendar. I'd recommend calling the SSA directly to get clarification. You don't want to spend it only to find out it was deposited in error and have to repay it later.

Have you checked your MySocialSecurity account? Sometimes they post notices there before you get the paper explanation. Just log in and check the message center. Also look under "Benefits & Payments" section - might show you what that payment was for.

THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME!!! Except mine was $840 and came about 3 months after my ex passed away. It turned out they had calculated something wrong with my initial survivor benefit. When I called (after waiting FOREVER) they said it was a one-time correction and not to expect it again. The rep told me they're seriously understaffed right now so notifications are super delayed. Don't be surprised if you get a letter explaining it weeks after the deposit happened.

You need to call them ASAP. I've tried for days to reach someone at my local office about a similar issue and it's impossible. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a live agent in under 10 minutes after I'd been trying for days. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Honestly it saved me so much frustration. The SSA rep told me unexpected payments can happen for various reasons - in my case, they had recalculated my benefit amount based on updated earnings information.

Is it possible you reached Full Retirement Age (FRA) recently? Once you hit your FRA, the earnings limit no longer applies to your survivor benefits, which means you could get higher payments. They might have done a recalculation and sent you some back pay. Just a thought!

After you get this sorted out, I'd strongly recommend setting up direct deposit alerts with your bank if you haven't already. That way you'll get a text or email whenever you receive a deposit from SSA, which makes it easier to track these payments and notice anything unusual right away.

just wondering - did you file taxes recently? sometimes they adjust benefits after getting updated income info from the irs

Update us when you find out what it was for! It will help others who might experience the same thing in the future.