9 THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY

Even if you've been collecting benefits for years, you may have more to learn.

- BY SANDRA BLOCK

SOCIAL Security is an important source of income for millions of retirees. But the program has a lot of ins and outs, and even longtime beneficiaries may not know them all. Here's a look at some facts about Social Security that may surprise you.

1 Benefits are paid in the month following the month for which they are due.

Benefits are paid in the month following the month for which they are due. When you're eligible for Social Security, the check you receive is for the prior month's benefits. For example, you'll get your July benefits in August. Social Security makes its annual cost-of-living adjustment to benefits due in December, so beneficiaries see the increase in their January checks. Payments are typically made on Wednesdays, based on your birthday. For example, if you were born on the first through the 10th day of the month, you'll receive your payment on the second Wednesday of the month. If you are receiving benefits based on someone else's earnings record (such as that of your spouse), payments will be based on the primary beneficiary's birth date. You can find a full schedule of 2025 payments at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10031-2025.pdf.

2 If you move, you should notify Social Security.

Even if you have direct deposit-which is the case for most beneficiaries—Social Security needs to have the correct address on file so it can mail you important documents. If Social Security can't contact you, it will stop your benefits. You can change your address online through your mySocialSecurity account, at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

3 If Social Security overpays your benefits, you'll be required to pay at least some of that money back.

Every year, Social Security sends out billions of dollars in overpayments to beneficiaries. The overpayments may occur because Social Security received incorrect information about their income or made an error in calculating benefits.