What to do if you disagree with the amount of your Social Security payment

Every month, the Social Security Administration (SSA) sends out benefits for retired and disabled workers as well as survivors of contributors to the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program along with Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. In order to receive the money, a person must have a Social Security number (SSN), in addition to meeting certain credits.

Payments are then calculated by SSA on an individual basis, for Old-Age benefits they are based on earnings and retirement age. Once the calculation is done, payments are sent. However, on some occasions, recipients may not agree with the amount they receive.

What to do if you disagree with the amount of your Social Security payment?

If you believe SSA miscalculated your benefit, you have the right to appeal the decision. You must file an appeal request within 60 days of receiving the initial letter from the SSA. Social Security listing your benefit amount.

The appeal can be filed online or in writing, using the SSA-561 “Request for Reconsideration” form, which can be downloaded from the website of the Social Security. You should then send it to your local Social Security office.

It is important to mention that a different amount than expected may be due to an error in your earnings history. You can check your earnings record with a My Social Security account. If you think there is any incorrect information, call at 800-772-1213 to request a correction.

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How are Social Security benefits calculated?

Throughout one’s working life, a worker accumulates a record of earnings. This is the basis that SSA uses to calculate monthly payments. The process to determine the amount is made up of three steps:

For more details on this process, visit: How does the government calculate my monthly social security payment when I retire?

SSA calculates benefits annually, adjusting for inflation and calculating the prior year’s earnings. With a personal my Social Security account, you can get an estimate of your benefits.