Multiple SSA letters - Has anyone experienced this when starting benefits?

[Carpediem]

I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this 'adventure' with SSA after requesting benefits.

I am currently 66 and 5 months. I turned 65 in Dec 2023 so my Medicare went into effect Nov 2023. I had not filed for SS at that time so I began paying Medicare directly for my premiums and have continued to do so up to today.

- March 2025 I decided to go ahead and file for SS benefits effective May 1, payable June 11.

- April 2025: I received a Notice of Award letter dated 4/28 with the expected benefit amount $3500. (Using that amount as an example - not the actual amount I will receive)

- May 2025: I received an Important Information letter dated Apr 30 stating I will receive $1800 on June 11. (Huh? No reason given for the payment amount discrepancy.)

- May 2025: I received an Important Information letter dated May 5 stating "We cannot pay you your regular monthly benefit at this time. We are withholding all of your monthly benefits beginning May 2025 to recover past due medical insurance premiums." The letter went on to say that I will receive $3100 for June 2025 around July 9.

I went to my local SS office yesterday and waited close to 2 hours before I finally saw an agent. I could tell pretty quickly the agent was not very knowledgeable about this type situation and in the end, she sent me away with a form to appeal the decision.

After I got home, I called Medicare and asked them if I had any past due premiums and of course, they said I do not.

This morning I called SS and finally talked to an agent who said there was probably a mistake made on SSA's end and he would send a message to my local SS office letting them know. He said I will receive a letter within 2 weeks but if I don't, I need to follow up with the local SS office.

So, at this point I'm not sure if I will receive my 1st SS payment of $3500 on June 11 or not.

Anyone else experienced something similar? Any advice for me - other than wait it out?

So incredibly frustrating!

 

[COcheesehead]

I am not sure this will help, but have you gone to ssa.gov? All your correspondence is shown there. It may or may not add some details.

 

[Carpediem]

I am not sure this will help, but have you gone to ssa.gov? All your correspondence is shown there. It may or may not add some details.

Yes, I've logged into my account and I see this message: "

Payments on hold. ​

We cannot pay your regular monthly benefits at this time. You should have received a letter in the mail explaining why we cannot pay you, and when your payments will resume."

But where would I find all correspondence? I don't see a link for it.

 

[COcheesehead]

Yes, I've logged into my account and I see this message: "

Payments on hold. ​

We cannot pay your regular monthly benefits at this time. You should have received a letter in the mail explaining why we cannot pay you, and when your payments will resume."

But where would I find all correspondence? I don't see a link for it.

Try the link titled benefits notification letter

 

[Carpediem]

This is all I see....

 

[Carpediem]

Fyi - the Benefits Verification Letter has the correct benefit amount.

 

[COcheesehead]

Fyi - the Benefits Verification Letter has the correct benefit amount.

Then maybe that’s correct.

 

[Carpediem]

Then maybe that’s correct.

Yeah, maybe. I guess I'll find out on June 11.

 

[Luvtoride]

Stay calm. My wife (at 67 and 7 months) went thru a similar series of correspondence and frustration when starting her SS benefits late last year and earlier this year. They eventually got it right and she began receiving her full entitled correct benefit in February as she had requested and each month since. I’m holding off on applying for mine for probably another year. Hang in there.

 

[Carpediem]

Stay calm. My wife (at 67 and 7 months) went thru a similar series of correspondence and frustration when starting her SS benefits late last year and earlier this year. They eventually got it right and she began receiving her full entitled correct benefit in February as she had requested and each month since. I’m holding off on applying for mine for probably another year. Hang in there.

It helps hearing that someone else experienced similar frustrations so thank you for that.

 

[Koolau]

The good news is IF they start you later than originally planned/promised, you'll get more per month. IOW you won't really lose anything.

Best luck! Keep us posted.

 

[audreyh1]

Ugh, what a mess!

I see a letter from SS in the Informed Delivery scan. DH also starts benefits this month payable next month. This looks like the first letter so hopefully everything is fine and we can see the letter online. We are traveling overseas at the moment.

 

[jebmke]

It is good to check their numbers. When I received my determination letter I checked and found that their number was off. I appealed and they got it fixed before the first payment month.

 

[audreyh1]

DH just pulled up his benefits letter available online. It looks like the Medicare premium deduction is missing the part D IRMAA. Other than that the numbers to compare to are at home, unfortunately.

 

[audreyh1]

DH just pulled up his benefits letter available online. It looks like the Medicare premium deduction is missing the part D IRMAA. Other than that the numbers to compare to are at home, unfortunately.

We were able to check at home and the final benefit number is correct. The Medicare premium on the letter is incorrect, yet they obviously used the correct number in the final calculation.

 

[Carpediem]

OP here with an update.....After 2 visits to the local SS office, 3 phone calls with SSA, and an online submission of a "Reconsideration" form, I *might* have things settled. I guess I'll know for sure on June 11th when I see the 'first deposit*' of my SS benefit.

The reason for the asterisk by 'first deposit' is because SSA made a one-time deposit of $37xx at the end of May. Honestly, I have no clue why and I fully expect them to ask for it back. I mentioned it to the last SS rep I talked to and she didn't really answer my question as to why I received it at all but said something about she has sent a message to Medicare. confused

According to the rep, I am not alone in having this issue where Medicare wants to deduct all past premiums from the time I started Medicare to the start of my SS benefits even though I've been paying my Medicare premiums all along. The rep said Medicare was implementing a new computer system and they're having problems. (As an ex-IT pro with a background in programming, I find this simple logic shocking they couldn't get it right and how in the world did it not get caught in testing before rollout?!?!)

Who knows but looks like my issue may be resolved. [fingers tightly crossed]

 

[FiveDriver]

When my Dear Wife initiated her claim last year, it took a month or so to get all the amounts settled. I don't imagine things have improved in their office over last few months.

Save all of their correspondence. They will get this sorted out and once it gets into a steady state, your Direct Deposit will arrive on the designated Wednesday each month -- some banks even post the deposit as 'Pending' early in the week.

Good Luck going forward.

 

[Buckeye]

Did you get the correct amount deposited?

 

[Carpediem]

Did you get the correct amount deposited?

Yes, in a weird roundabout way. It appears the TOTAL amount I will receive when all is said and done will be correct. But to get there, I've received a one-time payment that was more than my regular SS benefit amount, and a check from the Treasury Dept for $313. I'm supposed to receive my regular SS benefit deposit on 7/9 minus the Medicare premium. At that point, all this should be wrapped up. Fingers crossed.