Retirement

Can I Keep This Benefit Payment?

August 17, 2017 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: July 16, 2021

two women looking at laptopSocial Security is with you through life’s journey, securing today and tomorrow for millions of people. We know that reliability and dependability is an important part of your financial security. We use the same throughout the month eligibility rules for the first month’s Social Security check through the last month’s check, so it’s easy to know when checks are payable.

If you meet all the requirements to receive benefits, Social Security pays your benefit after you have lived throughout the month. At 62, the first month many people are eligible for benefits may be in the month after their birthday. Social Security follows an English law that says you actually reach your age the day before your birthday. So, if you were born on the first or second day of the month, your first month of eligibility will be your birthday month. If you were born on any other day in the month, the first month you could be eligible to receive benefits will be the month after your birthday month. When starting benefits after age 62, people are eligible to be paid for the month they file, since they were previously age 62 throughout the month.

For example, if Michael is born on June 1 or 2 and is age 62, he is eligible in June, and the first month he will receive his benefit payment is July. If Michael’s birthday is any other day in June, the first month he will be eligible for benefits is July and his first benefit will be paid in August. If Michael starts benefits at age 63 and files in June, he can be paid for June in July.

Benefits are always paid the following month for all types of Social Security benefits including retirement, disability and survivors.  This does not apply to Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Being eligible throughout the month also applies to the month of death of a Social Security beneficiary. To be eligible for the payment, the person must have lived all month long to receive the payment that comes the following month. That includes throughout the entire last day of the month.  Your survivor may be eligible for a payment for the last month and should contact us at 1-800-772-1213. For information about applying for survivors benefits, visit our Survivors Benefits page.

Understanding how the benefits are paid gives you a sense of certainty about your payments.

You’ll know how to plan when starting benefits and what happens to the last check. We continue to secure your today and tomorrow by providing the Social Security information you need.

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About the Author

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Comments

  1. Joseph P.

    I plan to continue working and am finding out that it would be better for me right now to keep the health insurance I have at work. Can I do that and not be penalized later. I already enrolled and received my Medicare card. Please advise. Thank you. P.S. I did not apply for SSC Benefits.

    • Vonda

      Hi Joseph, thanks for using our blog. If you are covered under a group health plan based on your or your spouse’s current employment, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) that will let you sign up for Medicare Part B.

      You have an 8-month SEP to sign up for Part A and/or Part B that starts at one of these times (whichever happens first):
      • The month after the employment ends
      • The month after group health plan insurance based on current employment ends.

      Usually, you don’t pay a late enrollment penalty if you sign up during a SEP. You should always check with your health benefits advisor, or health plan representative to see what’s best for you.

      If you do decide to terminate your Medicare Part B, check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details. We hope this helps!

  2. Mark K.

    Hello, My wife was receiving SSA retirement benefits. She passed on 11/12/20 and received direct deposit into her banking account on 11/18/20 as her birthdate was 2/12, so the payment was issued per the SSA schedule of the 3rd Wed of the month. She did not receive any payments after the 11/18 payment. The bank insists that they have to return the 11/18 payment to the SSA. I showed them the “What You Need to Know When You Get Retirement or Survivor Benefits” booklet, and in particular page 1 which explains her 11/18 payment was for benefits earned in Oct of 2020 and page 11 section “If a beneficiary dies” only requires reimbursement to SSA if she had been paid in Dec. 2020. Can you clarify for me if my understanding is correct. Thank you in advance.

    • Sue

      We’re sorry for your loss, Mark. Your understanding is correct, and it sounds like there may be an underpayment payable on your wife’s record. If so, we will pay it to a family member or legal representative of the estate. To learn how to file a claim and to find the downloadable form, visit our webpage: Claim For Amounts Due In The Case Of Deceased Beneficiary. You’ll find the mailing address and phone number of your local office using the Social Security Office Locator. Please be aware that our call volume and wait times are greater than normal. We hope this information helps.

  3. Murtaza A.

    I am covered by my employer medical benefit. I need to discontinue my Medicare coverage. Please let me know where I can find the form

  4. Dale D.

    I ‘m a widower and am collecting from my late husband account I plan on remarring soon may I collect off of my new husbands account if it is higher than my late husbands account.

  5. Patricia j.

    Where do I access CMS 1763

    • Vonda V.

      Hi Patricia, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on how to terminate Medicare Part B. We hope this is helpful!

  6. kenneth A.

    I am medically covered through my military service. I DO NOT want parts A and B deducted from my monthly payment. How can i stop this from happening. replying from letter dated September 3,2020

    • Murtaza A.

      I have medical coverage from my employer. How can I discontinue my Medicare

      • Vonda

        Hi Murtaza, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on how to terminate Medicare Part B. We hope this helps!

  7. Cecilia M.

    From reading all this information, I am assuming as a widow age 83, that if I remarry, I can still retain the benefits I have now.My husband is deceased, so will I just carry over my present benefits to my new marriage ?

  8. suzanne t.

    i need information regarding the widow benefit. there is no form online to complete

    • Vonda V.

      Hi Suzanne, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on who can get survivor benefits and how you apply for them. We hope this is helpful!

  9. Michele E.

    I need to fill out form CMS1763 for disenrollment in part B (I am still working and have insurance through work). Can I do this online or find it online to print? I do have the form on my phone but am having trouble figuring out how to print it.

    • Vonda V.

      Hi Michele, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on how to terminate Medicare Part B. We hope this helps!

      • dawnmar

        I applied for Survivors’ benefits over the phone. Is there anyway I can check the status?

        • Vonda V.

          Hi Dawn, thank you for using our blog to ask your question. You can log in to or create a my Social Security account to check the status of your application online.

          If you are unable to check your status online, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.

      • JOSEPH J.

        I WANT TO CANCEL MY PART MEDICARE CAN YOU SEND ME THE CMS 1763 FORM PLEASE

        • Vonda

          Hi Joseph, thanks for reaching out using the blog. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on how to terminate Medicare Part B. We hope this helps!

        • sherman f.

          can you send me this form cms1763

          • Vonda

            Hi Sherman thanks for using our blog. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on how to terminate Medicare Part B, including the required form. We hope this helps!

    • Ayah W.

      I am dropping Medicare Plan B, can you provide the form online for me to fill out?

    • Lawrence H.

      I need to get the CMS1763 form. Please email to me.

      Lawrence Hammond

      • Vonda

        Hi Lawrence, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on how to terminate Medicare Part B. We hope this helps!

  10. Odette B.

    If someone dies and I am the executor of his Estate , do we get any payments or reimbursement for funeral or other benefits after his death from SS.

    • Vonda V.

      Hi Odette, we are very sorry for your loss. If the deceased worked long enough into Social Security, there may be certain family members eligible for survivor benefits on thier record such as a spouse, divorced spouse, child and parents. If there are no eligible survivors, any unused money goes to the Social Security trust funds.

      If there is an underpayment payable on the deceased’s record, we may pay it to a family member or legal representative of the estate. For more information on the order of preference and to file a claim for the amounts due in the case of a deceased beneficiary, please visit our webpage titled: Claim For Amounts Due In The Case Of Deceased Beneficiary. Please send the completed form to your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.

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