I am turning 70 on 8/8/2017. To get the max benefits should I select the start date to be Aug 2017 or Sept 2017?

Hi,

You'd select August 2017 as your month of election, which is the payment that arrives in September 2017.

Best, Jerry

My mom passed away on the 14th of the month, will her SS benefits for that month have to be paid back

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

The check that your mother received in the month of her death was for the prior month, and that check would not have to be paid back. However, she would not be due a check for the month of her death, which is the payment that would normally have been paid in the month after she died.

Best, Jerry

Know that if I want to start receiving Social Security benefits on my 66th birthday on Nov 29, 2017, the first check would be deposited on the 4th Wed of the month which would be Dec 27, 2017; however, if I didn't want to start receiving my benefits until Jan 1, 2018, when would the first check be deposited, Jan 24, 2018 or Feb 21, 2018?

Thanks

Hi,

If your month of entitlement to benefits is January 2018, your first payment would be due on the 4th Wednesday of February 2018.

Best, Jerry

I just applied for SS Benefits. My Birthday is April 25. Will my first month of eligibility be April and I will get my first check in May, or is my first month of eligibility be May and I will get my first check in June?

Hi,

My husband and I both receive our social security checks via direct deposit. I noticed an additional separate direct deposit for $20.00 from social security, a day after my normal direct deposit. The "XXSOC SEC / ID" number is different than the normal number for me or my husband. Do you know what this could be?

Hi,

No, I have no idea. You may want to check with Social Security if you don't receive an explanation in the mail within a couple of weeks.

Best, Jerry

My mother received a sizable deposit into her bank account from SSA. On her My Social Security website account it is only referenced as a One Time Payment.

Any thoughts of what this might be?

Hi,

I have no idea why your mother would be due such a payment, but Social Security often makes adjustments of one sort or another that can result in a one-time payment of retroactive benefits due. The cause could be from additional earnings or some other type of recalculation that wasn't processed timely.

I applied for SSN in Sep 16. My birthday is Dec 16. My first SSN check is FEB 17. Will I get Jan/FEB or just Feb?

Hi,

Social Security monthly benefits are paid in the month after the month for which they are due. So, the payment you receive in February is for January. Your check for February will be paid in March, and so on.

Best, Jerry

Was the social security check I recited on Jan 18 for Jan or dec

Hi,

Assuming that it was your regular monthly check, it was for December (https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.01/handbook-0121.html).

Best, Jerry

I signed up for SS at the social security office and was told benefits start in April 2017. ( I'll be 66 in March) Now I have received a letter from SSA telling me that my benefit is due through March. When do they start? My filing date was Dec.5, 2016. Thanks , Denise

Hi Denise,

Social Security benefits are normally paid in the month after the month for which they are due. If you elected to start benefits effective at full retirement age, which would be March 2017 in your case, then you should receive your first payment in April 2017.

Why does my benefit statement say that I was paid 9,450 in 2016 for 2014 and paid 5,250 in 2016 for 2013? Where did those amounts come from?

Hi,

I don't know, but sometimes Social Security pays retroactive benefits that date back for a number of years. This can happen for a number of reasons, such as a successful appeal, or a refund of benefits previously withheld due to the earnings test, etc. You would need to check with Social Security for an explanation.

Best, Jerry