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What’s That Check For?

If you’ve received a little extra money in your bank, you’ve likely received a letter afterwards explaining what it was all about.
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What’s That Check For?
It takes longer for the mail to travel than for a money to arrive in your account. Evgenia Parajanian/Shutterstock
Tom Margenau
Updated:

A couple of weeks ago, a one-time check for $90 from the Social Security Administration showed up in my checking account. I wasn’t totally sure what that was all about, but I had a pretty good idea. Today, I got a letter from the SSA telling me all about the check, and it turned out my guess was right. I'll share more about that mystery check in a minute.

But first, I want to explain to my readers why I got a check first and an explanation a couple of weeks later.

Tom Margenau
Tom Margenau
Author
Tom Margenau worked for 32 years in a variety of positions for the Social Security Administration before retiring in 2005. He has served as the director of SSA’s public information office, the chief editor of more than 100 SSA publications, a deputy press officer and spokesman, and a speechwriter for the commissioner of Social Security. For 12 years, he also wrote Social Security columns for local newspapers, and recently published the book “Social Security: Simple and Smart.” If you have a Social Security question, contact him at [email protected]
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