Hey all - would like your thoughts on how to handle this...
My husband was approved for SSD beginning July 2023, with first payment for July to happen on August 16, 2023. He passed away 8/10/2023 (cancer sucks). The first payment (and only payment he would be eligible for since he passed) was direct deposited 8/16/23. SSA withdrew the deposit on 8/29/23. July 2023 was still owed to him, so I started the process and filed form SSA-1724. It took several months, but finally in January 2024 I was sent a notice and the check in my name referencing my husband and the payment due to him/his estate.
Around the same time in January 2024, 2023 Form SSA-1099 was sent in my husband's name for the amount he should have received in SSD, but did NOT. My stressed and fragile widow's brain reasoned that SSA processed everything in the 2023 year, even though I received the SSD check in 2024 (in my name) for his estate. So I didn't question the 2023 SSA-1099 further and reported it when filing with TT and it was reflected on 6a of the 1040 form, and calculated the amount taxable.
Fast forward to January 2025. I have now received a 2024 Form SSA-1099SM in MY name and SSN (though my husband's name and SSN is also referenced in Box 7 & 8). I have now received a 1099 in both 2023 and 2024 for the SAME SSD payment that was payable in 2023, but not actually paid until 2024.
So my question is - What is the most correct way to handle this? 2023 taxes was the last filing I made for my husband and me filing married. I'll be filing single for 2024. I would love to ignore the 2024 1099 since I already filed for it in 2023, and if push comes to shove, I can show and explain it all if anything gets flagged. But I don't really wanna get flagged. I like to be on the up and up, but at the same time, it's taking up too much rent in my head and I just want it to be done and filed with a pretty red bow. 🙂
Thank you for any insight you can offer!
