I am 60 years old, still working and applied for my ex's survivor benefits in July (when I turned 60.) I qualified for the benefit. Social Security withheld 3 months because of my salary and my first payment was paid in November. My second payment was received on Dec 20th. Yesterday, I checked online regarding January's payment and it said my payments are "suspended" because I worked. Of course I worked...they calculated my 2017 benefits with my income in consideration.
I called Social Security yesterday and the woman explained that they have to "reassess"my benefit and that I need to call in January to project my 2018 income..(which I already did...in writing through a form they send me several months ago.)
The online message was ominous...as if they were taking away the benefit with using the word "suspending". Nevertheless, the SS rep said my benefit will continue, it's just "deferred" (better term) until they get my updated information. She also told me they are withholding my December payment (to be paid in January) to prevent me having from receiving an "overpayment".
My question is...why am I not getting my December 2017 payment (to be paid in January) when they have already have my numbers. I sent them copies of my paystubs a few months ago. Nothing is changing with my salary. I even have a letter from SS confirming my projected income for 2018.
And will this happen every December?
I make $14.00. I finally felt like I was getting back on track with my life with receiving the benefit...now there is yet another delay. Perhaps had this been explained in a language everyone could understand, I (and others) would be better prepared for the gap. Thank you for your time.

Hi,

You say that you make $14.00, but the important amount is your calendar year earnings. If you will earn more than $16,920 this year and/or more than $17,040 in 2018 then at least some of your benefits will need to be withheld due to the Social Security earnings test (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/whileworking2.html).

You said that 3 months of your benefits were withheld this year, so I assume that you told Social Security on your initial application that your 2017 earnings would be above $16,920. If Social Security is withholding your December payment that would normally arrive in January, it must be because you updated your 2017 estimated earnings to a higher amount than you showed on your initial application. This shouldn't happen in subsequent years unless you change your estimate again.

Social Security will likely also start out using that same estimated amount as your expected 2018 earnings, and will withhold $1 of your 2018 benefits for each $2 that your expected earnings will exceed the $17,040 exempt amount. Social Security withholds the required amount by stopping your payments for as many months as it takes to withhold the amount needed starting with the payment for January that normally arrives in February, if possible.

Probably the best thing to do would be to re-contact Social Security when you receive your W-2 form(s) for 2017. You can then give them the exact amount needed to calculate your benefits due for 2017 and they will make the appropriate adjustments. You can also give them a more accurate estimate of your 2018 earnings at the same time.

Best, Jerry