Report flags / benefit letter
NUMBERS“The monthly payment doesn't follow from the benefit”
What this flag on a benefit letter means, why it matters, and what to check.
What it means
The regular monthly payment isn't the full benefit minus the Medicare premium, rounded down to the whole dollar.
Why it matters
Social Security pays the benefit after the Medicare premium, rounded down to the whole dollar (42 U.S.C. 415(g)). A payment with cents, or a different amount, means a figure was changed.
Ordinary explanations
- Another deduction printed on the letter that wasn't read, such as voluntary tax withholding.
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) letters, which this check doesn't apply to.
What to check
Ask the applicant to download a new benefit verification letter from their my Social Security account at ssa.gov, or open it with you, and compare.
A flag is a reason to verify with the source, not proof. Apply the same steps to every applicant.
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