Social Security bridge payments can help retirees maximize their Social Security benefits — but the strategy is not right for everyone.

The U.S. government has clawed back more than $31 million in Social Security payments that improperly went to dead people.

The third round of January’s Social Security payments, worth up to $5,108 for the highest-income earners who retire at age 70, will go out to the third group of retirees in seven days. Here is all you need to know about this month’s Social Security payments, which go out in three rounds.

In a groundbreaking initiative, the U.S. Treasury Department has successfully recovered over $31 million in Social Security overpayments made to deceased individuals.