2024 SSA 1099 Box 5 is negative

[user17717243057]

My husband died in 2024 and I started receiving surviving spouse SSA payments in 2025. According to my 2025 SSA 1099, it includes an amount paid in 2025 for 2024. TurboTax asked the "Amount of your 2024 lump-sum payment received in 2025". I entered the amount listed on my 2025 1099. It then said: "If you received benefits in 2024 that were already reported on your 2024 tax return, there will be an amount in box 5 of your Form SSA-1099.  Amount in box 5 of your 2024 Form SSA-1099." My 2024 SSA 1099 is completely blank except for ($255) in box 5. When I try to enter that amount (which I believe is the death benefit amount), TurboTax says the amount must be at least zero. What am I supposed to do?

[JamesG1]

In TurboTax Online, at the screen Now let's look at your 2024 form, I am able to enter the $255 which would have been the amount reported in box 5 of your 2024 form SSA-1099.

Are you receiving an error message?  Please clarify.

This is a separate amount from the amount that was reported on the screen How much was your lump-sum payment for 2024?.  This amount is reported on the 2025 form SSA-1099.

The software will use the information to compute the taxable amount of the 2025 lump-sum amount based upon the 2024 tax return information.