Unexpected Social Security deposits in my account - SSA error or retroactive payment?
Has anyone else gotten unexpected Social Security deposits in their bank account in the past week? I just checked my account this morning and found an extra $1,875 deposit from 'US TREASURY' with 'SOC SEC' in the description. This is completely separate from my regular monthly SS retirement benefit that I already received on the 3rd. I'm worried this might be some kind of error and they'll want it back if I spend it. I haven't received any letters or notices about retroactive payments or COLA adjustments. Should I call SSA about this or just wait to see if they send something in the mail?
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Dylan Baskin
Same here! Got a random $1240 deposit yesterday marked SOC SEC. No idea what it's for but I'm not complaining lol
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Hunter Brighton
•Did you try calling them yet? I've been trying all morning but can't get through. I'd rather know what it's for before I touch it.
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Lauren Wood
YOU BETTER NOT SPEND IT!!!! My cousin had this happen last year and they took it ALL back 3 months later with NO WARNING. He had already spent it on a new TV and fixing his car and ended up OVERDRAWN by nearly $2000!!! The SSA doesn't make random 'gifts' - it's ALWAYS either a mistake or something you're entitled to but they WILL want documentation.
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Hunter Brighton
•Oh no, that's exactly what I'm afraid of! I definitely won't touch it until I know what's going on.
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Ellie Lopez
This could be a few different things: 1. A retroactive payment if you recently started benefits and were owed money from previous months 2. An underpayment correction if they calculated your benefits incorrectly 3. A one-time adjustment related to your earnings record being updated 4. Possibly the new COLA adjustment being applied retroactively The most important thing is to contact SSA directly to verify what the payment is for before spending it. You should be able to see some explanation in your my Social Security account online under the 'Message Center' tab as well.
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Hunter Brighton
•Thank you for explaining the possibilities! I didn't even think to check my online account. I'll look there right now and see if there's any message about it.
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Chad Winthrope
Had something like this last november... turned out to be back pay for the months they were processing my application. check your my social security account it might have an explanation there
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Paige Cantoni
This just happened to my mother in law too! She got an extra payment last Thursday and was totally confused. Turns out it was related to her Medicare Part B premiums being adjusted or something. Definitely call them to find out before you spend anything.
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Hunter Brighton
•Thanks for sharing that. Did she have to call to find out or did they eventually send her something in the mail explaining it?
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Kylo Ren
I've been trying to reach SSA about a similar issue for three days but keep getting busy signals or disconnected after waiting on hold forever. I finally tried using Claimyr (claimyr.com) yesterday and got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - saved me hours of frustration. The agent explained that mine was a retroactive payment from an earnings recalculation they did last month.
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Hunter Brighton
•Thank you for the tip! I'll check out that service because I've been trying all day without getting through. Did they tell you why they didn't notify you before sending the payment?
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Kylo Ren
•They said they did mail a notice about 10 days before the deposit, but I never received it. The agent I spoke with said they've been having issues with their notices going out late. Once I got through to someone, they were able to explain everything and email me a confirmation of what the payment was for.
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Nina Fitzgerald
My own theory is that someone at SSA is finally getting around to processing a backlog of adjustments. I've noticed several people in my retirement group mentioning unexpected deposits in the last week or so. Most turned out to be legitimate payments - either underpayments being corrected or adjustments based on earnings records being updated. But DEFINITELY call to confirm what yours is for.
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Dylan Baskin
•Makes sense, i bet ur right. The govt always has these random backlogs they process all at once
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Lauren Wood
UPDATE: I FINALLY got through to SS after 2.5 HOURS on hold!!! They said many people are getting deposits because of an ERROR in the COLAs calculated for 2024!!! They under-calculated many people's increases and are now fixing it with back payments to January. CHECK YOUR AMOUNTS carefully!! The agent said if you got more than you should have they WILL take it back eventually!!!
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Hunter Brighton
•Thank you so much for updating us! That actually makes a lot of sense. I'm going to double-check the amount against what my COLA should have been. Really appreciate you sharing this after waiting so long to get through to them.
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