I'm going through something similar right now! My situation is a bit different though - I estimated $20,000 for 2024 but ended up earning closer to $17,500 because I had to reduce my hours for health reasons. They've been withholding about $200 per month from my benefits. From what I'm reading here, it sounds like the automatic adjustment should happen, but there might be delays or issues. I'm definitely going to check my online SSA account regularly starting this summer to see if there's any indication of an adjustment coming. @StarStrider - I hope you get your $360 back soon! It's frustrating when you're already dealing with reduced income and then have to worry about whether the government systems are working properly. Keep us posted on how it goes!

I just went through this process last year and wanted to share my experience to maybe help ease some worries. The SSA did automatically process my refund, but it took longer than expected - about 7 months after I filed my taxes. Like you, I had estimated higher earnings than what I actually made (estimated $22k, earned $18.5k), and they had withheld about $500 too much. The refund came as a separate lump sum payment in October with a letter explaining it was an "earnings test adjustment." One tip: when you check your my Social Security account online, look for any notices or messages about "annual earnings test" - that's usually where they'll post updates about pending adjustments. If you don't see anything by September, I'd definitely recommend calling or visiting an office. The wait was stressful, but the money did eventually come through!

I'm really glad I found this discussion! I'm also new to receiving SS benefits and experienced the exact same thing - got an early deposit last week that was labeled strangely in my bank account. I was so worried I'd have to pay it back or that my regular payment wouldn't come! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. It sounds like this is just standard procedure for holiday adjustments, which makes sense but I wish they'd communicate it better to new beneficiaries. I'm definitely going to set up that MySocialSecurity account and the text alerts that people mentioned. Thanks to everyone for sharing their knowledge - this community is a lifesaver for those of us still learning how the system works!

I'm experiencing the exact same thing! Just received my third SS payment ever and it came early with that confusing "one-time payment" label. As a new beneficiary, this was really nerve-wracking until I read through everyone's explanations here. It's such a relief to know this is normal for holiday schedule adjustments! I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and tips about the MySocialSecurity account - I had no idea about the text alert feature. It's frustrating that SSA doesn't proactively explain these routine changes to new recipients, but this community discussion has been incredibly helpful. Now I know not to panic when this happens again and I'll be setting up those notifications right away. Thanks to everyone for making this less stressful for those of us still learning the ropes!

Logan, congratulations on finding love again! This is such wonderful news. I'm a Social Security beneficiary myself and want to reassure you that you're absolutely safe to remarry. The age 60 rule is key here - since you're 65, your survivor benefits will continue unchanged after marriage. I went through something similar when my neighbor was considering remarriage at 63. We spent hours researching this together, and everything we found confirmed that remarriage after 60 protects your survivor benefits. She did get married and has been happily collecting her benefits for two years now. One small tip from her experience: when you do notify SSA about your marriage, try to do it sooner rather than later, especially if you're changing your name. It makes things smoother for tax season and any future correspondence with them. Don't let financial worries hold you back from happiness - you've earned both your benefits and this new relationship! Wishing you and your partner all the best.

Logan, what wonderful news about finding love again! As someone who's navigated Social Security benefits for years, I can definitely confirm what others have shared - you're completely safe to remarry at 65 without losing your survivor benefits. The key rule is that remarriage after age 60 protects your benefits, and since you're already 65, you're well within that safe zone. I've seen so many people in similar situations worry unnecessarily about this. The fact that you're already receiving the benefits makes this even more straightforward - Social Security won't take them away just because you remarry at this stage of life. When you do get married, just remember to notify SSA within a reasonable timeframe, especially if you're planning to change your name. You can usually do this online through your my Social Security account, which is often easier than trying to get through on the phone. Don't let financial concerns overshadow this beautiful opportunity for companionship and happiness. You've clearly done your due diligence by asking here, and now you can move forward with confidence. Congratulations and best wishes for your future together!

I'm really glad to see this discussion happening because these Social Security rules can be so confusing for people in complicated situations like yours. Just wanted to add one more perspective as someone who's helped family members navigate similar issues - it's worth noting that the survivor benefit amount you'll receive is based on what your ex-husband was receiving (or entitled to receive) at the time of his death, not necessarily his full retirement age benefit. If he had already started collecting Social Security before he passed away, that could affect the calculation. Also, since you mentioned you're 60 now, you might want to consider whether it makes sense to start collecting reduced survivor benefits now (at 85.7% of the full amount) versus waiting until your full retirement age for the unreduced amount, especially given your remarriage plans. The financial planning aspect can be just as important as understanding the eligibility rules!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that might help - my mom went through almost this exact situation a few years ago. She was divorced from my dad for about 8 years when he passed away (they'd been married 12 years), and she remarried at age 61. The Social Security office initially told her she couldn't get survivor benefits because she remarried, but when she brought in documentation and insisted on speaking with a supervisor, they corrected the mistake. Turns out the first representative was thinking of the rules for younger widows. The key thing that helped her was having all her paperwork organized - marriage certificate, divorce decree, death certificate, and proof of her new marriage date. She also wrote down all the relevant rule numbers and regulations she'd researched beforehand. It took a few visits, but she eventually got everything sorted out and has been receiving the survivor benefits for three years now. Don't let anyone discourage you from pursuing what you're entitled to!

To summarize what others have said correctly: - You cannot receive divorced spouse benefits on your ex's record while married to someone else. - The "remarriage after 50" rule only applies to survivor benefits, not divorced spouse benefits. - Since your ex is still alive, survivor rules don't apply to your situation. One thing not mentioned: Even if you could claim on your ex's record (if your current marriage ended), the maximum you could get would be 50% of your ex's full retirement age benefit. And that's only if you wait until your own full retirement age to claim it. I recommend creating an account at my.ssa.gov if you haven't already. You can see your estimated benefit amounts and explore different claiming strategies based on your own work record.

I'm dealing with a similar situation and wanted to add something that might help - don't forget to also consider spousal benefits on your current husband's record when he becomes eligible! Since he's 60 now, you'll have that option in a few years. Also, I learned that even though you can't claim on your ex's record while married, if you're working with a financial planner or retirement advisor, it's worth running the numbers on all possible scenarios. Sometimes the timing of when to claim your own benefits vs waiting can make a significant difference in your total lifetime benefits. The SSA representatives I've spoken with have been pretty helpful once you get through to them. Don't be afraid to call with specific questions about your work history and benefit estimates - they can run scenarios that the online calculators can't always show you.