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Two small payments from SSA have appeared in our checking account as paid to my wife. They are two small sums that come to less than a grand, only one of which is logged on her SSA account page. She doesn't fall into WEP/GPO so far as we know. Should we put it in the savings account in case they want it back?
I received a refund of $70 a few weeks ago but I knew why. They had charged me IRMAA on Medicare D plans when I don't have a Medicare D plan. My insurance had, without my permission, signed me up for an AETNA D plan during open season that I had declined that same open season. Medicare recorded the plan and SSA picked up on it before it was straightened out and deducted it from my SS check.
This has happened to me twice in the past. A week later I got a letter in the post from SS saying they had miscalculated my last few months of payments and I should be expecting some payments to appear in my bank account. In other words the money arrived before the letter. That was then. In today's political chaos it's possible that SS sent the money by mistake but I don't think understaffing creates incompetence in the remaining staff so the payments are probably intentionally made.
As far as I can see moving that particular amount of money to a different account will not protect the checking account from SS taking that amount back. They'll just take the same x amount of dollars that got put in there from a different source..... unless... unless they don't have the power to remove money from an account. I don't recall giving them permission to do that; just to add, not subtract.
Thanks @Ben. Not trying to keep the money from SSA if this is a mistake. Just want to make sure we don't blow it on something crazy like a night in the honeymoon suite of the Empress Hotel in Victoria BC.
When I turned 70 a few years back. I transitioned from freeloading off my wife's SSA record to benefits based on my own record. I started receiving two checks a month. Not good. They were deducting Medicare off both, of course. I called, I texted, I e-mailed, I visited the district office. Not interested. "They will catch it eventually." It took months. Then, of course, we differed on what the appropriate adjustment should be. My advice on an SSA issue is to do what it takes to force a resolution ASAP.
@WABAC, I am surprised you want to spend your time to find out if it was a mistake and fix it. I would let them send you a letter and I am guessing if it were their mistake, they will adjust from future payments if they are not able to reverse the payments.
Good luck calling the SSA. I had to call them again last week because My Social Security a/c got locked. There was a 2-hr wait, so I chose the callback option, and it came after 3 hrs, 20 min. I was told it was because of customer request, and I told them that I was the customer and I did nothing like that.
It so happens that I have had to contact SSA several times in the recent weeks Re WEP & GPO problems. Each time, I have to get through 4-5 questions to get verified. But those are the SAME 4-5 questions, and if someone overheard the call, my guess is that person may also get through as me.
This week's Barron's has this on SSA (my summary):
There are proposals for the SSA to discontinue phone services for benefits processing and changing direct-deposit information, shut several field offices and cut the SSA workforce. Cost cutting, efficiency and banking security are cited as reasons. But the SSA confirmed only making immediate changes to modify banking information for direct deposits. The proposed changes would make it more difficult for many seniors and disabled to access their SSA benefits.
Watching the Muskrats at SSA and reading YBB's post above, it almost reassures me that for many, many years I've not planned on SSA being a significant part of my retirement income that I would depend on ... if it's even around then. ;/
@rforno, all Medicare signups and premium determinations (IRMAA included) are through SSA. Once signed up with Medicare, then you deal with them (or Medicare Advantage insurer) for claims, etc.
So, under the current system, ALL people around 65 or over have to deal with SSA - even if they don't need Social Social security (exception is Medicaid that is through the states).
Look at my case. I am not eligible at all for Social Security but I have had to deal with SSA repeatedly - for my wife or for me on a variety of issues.
@rforno, all Medicare signups and premium determinations (IRMAA included) are through SSA. Once signed up with Medicare, then you deal with them (or Medicare Advantage insurer) for claims, etc.
So, under the current system, ALL people around 65 or over have to deal with SSA - even if they don't need Social Social security (exception is Medicaid that is through the states).
Look at my case. I am not eligible at all for Social Security but I have had to deal with SSA repeatedly - for my wife or for me on a variety of issues.
Yogi, fair point...you're right. In keeping w/this thread I was focussing only on the income aspect of SS and dealing w/SSA over that in particular.
I received a letter from SSA yesterday explaining why an unexpected $4K payment landed in my checking account in early March. I apparently qualified for back payments related to a monthly SS payment increase that resulted from the WEP/GPO rule changes. I had suspected my situation didn't fit the WEP/GPO requirements so I was pleasantly surprised. The letter also indicated my monthly SS payment will increase about $300/month. My situation suggests SSA is likely (???) sending explanatory letters to people who are benefiting from the WEP/GPO rule changes.
Turns out my wife got a raise for delaying benefits (past full retirement?), and then for payroll deductions for 2024. I'm having to guess because the letter isn't entirely clear.
As granddad used to say: "Don't marry for money, but don't let it stand in your way."
Comments
We do plan to call on Monday. I hope there is someone there to answer the phone.
As far as I can see moving that particular amount of money to a different account will not protect the checking account from SS taking that amount back. They'll just take the same x amount of dollars that got put in there from a different source..... unless... unless they don't have the power to remove money from an account. I don't recall giving them permission to do that; just to add, not subtract.
My advice on an SSA issue is to do what it takes to force a resolution ASAP.
@yogibearbull ?
It so happens that I have had to contact SSA several times in the recent weeks Re WEP & GPO problems. Each time, I have to get through 4-5 questions to get verified. But those are the SAME 4-5 questions, and if someone overheard the call, my guess is that person may also get through as me.
This week's Barron's has this on SSA (my summary):
There are proposals for the SSA to discontinue phone services for benefits processing and changing direct-deposit information, shut several field offices and cut the SSA workforce. Cost cutting, efficiency and banking security are cited as reasons. But the SSA confirmed only making immediate changes to modify banking information for direct deposits. The proposed changes would make it more difficult for many seniors and disabled to access their SSA benefits.
@BaluBalu. Your suggestion seems appropriate in our circumstances. I'm hoping we don't end up with the sort of problem @WhollyTerriers faced.
Watching the Muskrats at SSA and reading YBB's post above, it almost reassures me that for many, many years I've not planned on SSA being a significant part of my retirement income that I would depend on ... if it's even around then. ;/
So, under the current system, ALL people around 65 or over have to deal with SSA - even if they don't need Social Social security (exception is Medicaid that is through the states).
Look at my case. I am not eligible at all for Social Security but I have had to deal with SSA repeatedly - for my wife or for me on a variety of issues.
As granddad used to say: "Don't marry for money, but don't let it stand in your way."