Thanks for everything you do. I received SS survivor benefits on my late husband's account for four years. His birthday was 7/4 and the payment date was the second Wednesday of each month. Last year, at age 70, I started getting SS on my own account and my birthday is 6/21. The payment date never changed. I really don't care either way. Do I have to do anything?

Hi. No, I don't think you do. Social Security would normally pay you your own retirement benefits on the 4th Wednesday of the month based on your birthday, but Social Security may have a policy of not moving a person's payment date if they started out collecting auxiliary or survivor benefits prior to claiming their own benefits. The date that survivor and auxiliary beneficiaries are paid is normally determined based on the birthday of the worker on whose record the benefits are paid.

Unfortunately, Social Security does not make public the systems manual portion of their operations manual (POMS) like they do with the other sections of the manual. Detailed information about policies for determining payment dates is contained in the systems manual of POMS, so I'm unable to do the research I'd need to be able to give you a definite answer. I don't think you need to be concerned, though.

Best, Jerry