I'm so sorry for your loss. What you're experiencing is unfortunately a common source of confusion with SSA, but based on your description, they appear to be making an error. You're absolutely correct in your understanding - Social Security benefits are paid in arrears, which means that December 3rd payment was for November's benefits. Since your mom was alive for the entire month of November, she was fully entitled to those benefits and that money should rightfully remain with your family. The "no benefits in month of death" rule applies to December benefits, which would have been paid in January (and correctly weren't issued). It should NOT apply to November benefits that were already earned and paid in December. When you call back, I'd suggest being very specific with these questions: 1. "Which specific BENEFIT MONTH are you claiming was overpaid - November or December?" 2. "Can you confirm the December 3rd payment was for November benefits?" 3. "What SSA regulation number are you citing for this overpayment?" 4. "If you're claiming December benefits were overpaid, why would we owe money when no December payment was ever issued?" Don't accept vague explanations. If the representative can't give you clear, specific answers, immediately ask for a supervisor. This sounds like either a system error or confusion about payment timing on their end. Your mom paid into this system her entire working life and earned every penny of those November benefits. Many families have successfully resolved identical situations once they reach someone who actually understands the benefit payment schedule. Stay persistent and document everything!

I'm so sorry for your loss. This is exactly the kind of bureaucratic nightmare that makes an already difficult time even harder. From what you've described, SSA is definitely making an error here. You're absolutely right about the payment timing - Social Security benefits are paid in arrears, so that December 3rd payment was for November's benefits. Since your mom was alive for the entire month of November, she earned those benefits and you should NOT have to return that money. The "no benefits in month of death" rule applies to December benefits, which would have been paid in January (and correctly weren't). But November's benefits, paid in December, are rightfully yours. When you call back, be very specific with these questions: 1. "Which exact BENEFIT MONTH are you claiming was overpaid - November or December?" 2. "The December 3rd deposit was for November benefits, correct?" 3. "What specific SSA regulation are you citing for this overpayment claim?" 4. If they claim December benefits were overpaid, ask "How can December benefits be overpaid when no December payment was ever issued?" Don't let them give you vague answers about "month of death" without specifying which benefit month. If the first person can't clearly explain their reasoning with regulation numbers, ask for a supervisor immediately. Your mom worked her whole life and earned every penny of those November benefits. This sounds like either a clerical error or confusion about payment timing. Stay firm - many families have resolved identical situations once they reach someone who actually understands how the payment schedule works.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and can totally relate to your frustration! They took $2,850 from my elderly mother's benefits for an alleged overpayment about 6 weeks ago, and I submitted the SSA-1724 form right away but haven't heard a single word back from them. What really gets me is how they can instantly deduct thousands of dollars but then leave us hanging for months just trying to get basic acknowledgment that they even received our appeals. My mom is 76 and depends on that money for her heart medications - the stress of not knowing what's happening is honestly affecting her health. Reading through all the advice here has been incredibly helpful. I had no idea about strategies like calling at 7:45 AM or asking specifically if the form has been "scanned into their system" rather than just asking if they received it. It's ridiculous that we have to become experts at gaming their phone system just to get information about our own cases! I'm definitely going to start keeping a detailed call log and try the early morning calling strategy this week. The system really does seem designed to wear people down and make them give up, but seeing so many success stories here gives me hope that persistence will eventually pay off. Thank you for posting this - it helps so much to know we're not fighting this broken bureaucracy alone. I'll update everyone on what strategies actually work for me!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare! I went through something very similar with my dad's benefits last year - they took back $2,400 claiming an overpayment and the whole process was absolutely maddening. From my experience, Form SSA-1724 processing times are all over the map - anywhere from 6 weeks to 4+ months depending on your local office. The one-month mark is frustrating but unfortunately still within their "normal" window, though I know that doesn't help when your mom needs that money for medications. Here's what finally worked for me: Call 1-800-772-1213 at exactly 8:00 AM when they open (much better chance of getting through), and ask specifically if your form has been "scanned into their system" - not just if they received it. There's apparently a difference between mail sitting in their office and actually being entered into their computers. Also, immediately mention your mom's medication needs and financial hardship when you do get someone on the phone. I was told this can sometimes flag cases for expedited review, though "expedited" with SSA still means weeks unfortunately. Keep a detailed log of every call - date, time, who you spoke with, what they told you. The good news is we eventually got most of the money back after about 12 weeks, but it required constant follow-up calls. Don't give up! The system is designed to wear you down, but persistence usually pays off. Your mom shouldn't have to choose between medications and other necessities because of their bureaucratic delays.

I just wanted to add that you can also call the SSA National 800 number at 1-800-772-1213 if you want to verify the payment before the letter arrives, though as others mentioned, wait times can be really long. The best times to call are usually Tuesday-Thursday between 10am-2pm to avoid peak hours. When you do get through, have your Social Security number ready and they can usually tell you exactly what the $32 payment was for. But honestly, based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like a routine Medicare premium adjustment and nothing to worry about. The fact that you're still receiving your regular monthly benefits normally is a good sign that everything is working as it should!

I work at a local SSA field office and can confirm what others are saying - these small retroactive payments are very routine! The $32 amount is classic for a Medicare Part B premium adjustment. What likely happened is that your income information was updated in our system (possibly triggered by your tax withholding change), which caused a recalculation of your IRMAA tier. If you were moved to a lower premium bracket retroactively, you'd get a refund for the difference. The explanation letter is automatically generated after the payment is processed, so expect it within 7-10 business days. You can also check your mySocialSecurity account - sometimes the notice appears there first. Don't worry about this being an error that you'll have to pay back - the system has multiple verification steps for these adjustments before any payment is released.

I'm 65 and have been dealing with this exact situation for the past two years since I started collecting Social Security early. I can absolutely confirm what everyone else has said - 401k withdrawals do NOT count toward the earnings test at all! I've withdrawn over $40,000 from my 401k across multiple withdrawals for home repairs, medical expenses, and helping my daughter with college costs. My monthly Social Security check has remained exactly the same every single month. The only impact has been on the taxation side - more of my benefits became taxable, but that's completely separate from the earnings test. The key thing to remember is that the earnings test ONLY looks at: - W-2 wages from employment - Net earnings if you're self-employed Everything else (401k, IRA, pensions, investment income, etc.) is considered "unearned income" and doesn't count toward that $22,320 limit. Your $15,000 withdrawal for home repairs is 100% safe. Just make sure to have 20% withheld for taxes - I learned that lesson the expensive way on my first withdrawal! Your financial advisor is absolutely correct and your brother-in-law is likely confusing the earnings test with benefit taxation. Go ahead with confidence - your monthly SS benefits won't be affected at all!

I'm 62 and just went through this exact same situation last month! Your financial advisor is absolutely correct - 401k withdrawals do NOT count toward the Social Security earnings test. I was so worried about this that I actually called SSA three times to make sure, and each representative confirmed that only wages from employment and self-employment income count toward that $22,320 limit. I ended up withdrawing $14,000 from my 401k for some urgent roof repairs and my monthly SS check stayed exactly the same. The key is understanding that retirement account withdrawals are considered "unearned income" - completely separate from the earnings test rules. However, I definitely learned about the tax implications! Even though my withdrawal didn't affect my monthly benefits, it did push more of my SS benefits into taxable territory. I had 18% withheld for taxes and it worked out perfectly - actually got a small refund. Your brother-in-law is probably confusing the earnings test with benefit taxation, which are two totally different things. Your $15,000 withdrawal for home repairs is completely safe from affecting your monthly benefits. Just make sure to have some taxes withheld when you make the withdrawal - it'll save you headaches at tax time!

As a newcomer to this community, I've been absolutely amazed by the depth of knowledge and real-world experience shared in this thread! I'm 61 and still trying to figure out my optimal Social Security strategy, and reading through everyone's explanations of the AERO process has been incredibly enlightening. What really strikes me is how the system makes perfect sense once you understand the data flow dependencies - SSA can't use earnings they don't have access to yet, and the IRS processing timeline drives everything. The one-year delay isn't bureaucratic inefficiency, it's just the reality of how tax data gets processed and shared between agencies. I'm particularly encouraged by the stories of people seeing meaningful benefit increases when high-earning years replace lower ones from their calculation. As someone who had some challenging financial years in my 30s and 40s, it's reassuring to know that strong recent earnings can help offset those earlier low-income periods. The tip about using the online benefit calculators to estimate potential impacts is something I'm definitely going to try. Having some sense of whether future good years might make a meaningful difference would really help with my retirement planning decisions. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and knowledge here - this is exactly the kind of practical, peer-to-peer guidance that makes these complex government programs more understandable!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm 59 and still working, planning to delay collecting until 70 for the delayed retirement credits. Reading everyone's experiences with the AERO process really helps me understand what to expect when I do start collecting. One thing I'm curious about - since the recalculation happens every October for people already collecting, does this mean that if I start collecting at 70, my initial benefit calculation will already include earnings from the year before I start? Or do I need to wait until the following October to see any impact from my final working years? I'm trying to decide whether it makes sense to have one final high-earning year right before I start collecting, or if the timing of when I start relative to the AERO cycle affects how quickly those earnings get factored in. The delayed retirement credits combined with high final earning years could make a significant difference in my monthly benefit. Thanks again to everyone who has shared their knowledge here - this community is such a valuable resource for understanding these complex timing issues!