Why Did My Social Security Payment Go Down This Month?

A smaller Social Security payment can throw off your entire budget. Understanding why it happened helps you plan and potentially fix the issue.

In this article, we'll cover:

1. Common reasons SSI payments decrease
2. Common reasons SSDI payments decrease
3. When deductions are taken
4. How to check your payment details
5. What to do if something seems wrong

1. Common Reasons SSI Payments Decrease

SSI adjusts monthly based on your situation:

Income changes:

• You started working or earned more
• You received income SSA didn't know about before
• A late income report is now being counted

Living arrangement changes:

• Someone moved in with you
• You started receiving free food or shelter
• Your share of household expenses changed

Resource overage:

• You exceeded $2,000 briefly
• SSA reduced benefits for that period

Overpayment recovery:

• SSA is withholding to recover a past overpayment
• Usually 10% of your benefit

COLA adjustments:

• While rare, some adjustments can reduce payments

2. Common Reasons SSDI Payments Decrease

SSDI is more stable, but can still change:

Medicare premium increase:

• Medicare Part B premiums are deducted from SSDI
• When premiums go up, your net payment goes down

Overpayment recovery:

• SSA is recovering a past overpayment
• Can be significant if you had unreported work

Earnings over SGA:

• If you earned above Substantial Gainful Activity limits
• Benefits may be suspended or reduced

Workers' compensation offset:

• If you receive workers' comp, SSDI may be reduced
• Combined benefits can't exceed 80% of prior earnings

Pension offset:

• Certain government pensions can reduce SSDI
• Called Windfall Elimination Provision

3. When Deductions Are Taken

Several things can be deducted from your payment:

Medicare premiums:

• Part B: Deducted automatically from SSDI
• Part D: Can be deducted if you choose

Overpayment recovery:

• Usually 10% of monthly benefit for SSI
• Can be higher for SSDI
• Can request lower amount if hardship

Representative payee fees:

• Organizational payees can charge up to $53/month (2026)
• Individual payees cannot charge fees

Garnishments:

• Child support
• Federal student loans in default
• Federal tax debts
• Other court-ordered garnishments

4. How to Check Your Payment Details

Online:

1. Go to ssa.gov/myaccount
2. Sign in to my Social Security
3. View your payment history
4. Check for benefit letters explaining changes

By phone:

• Call 1-800-772-1213
• TTY: 1-800-325-0778
• Ask for explanation of your payment

Check your notices:

• SSA sends letters explaining changes
• Look for recent mail from Social Security

5. What to Do If Something Seems Wrong

Compare to your records:

• Is the deduction amount correct?
• Did you report changes that aren't reflected?
• Did SSA make a mistake?

Contact SSA:

• Call or visit your local office
• Ask for a detailed breakdown
• Request recalculation if you believe there's an error

Request an appeal:

• If you disagree with a decision
• File within 60 days of the notice
• You have the right to appeal any SSA decision

Check for errors:

• Wrong income amounts
• Incorrect living situation assumptions
• Mistaken overpayment calculations

Important: If your payment decreased significantly, don't just accept it. Get an explanation and make sure it's correct.

How Purple Helps

• See when deposits arrive and exact amounts
• Track changes over time
• Keep records of your payment history
• Monitor your finances easily