Why you just got a $90 Social Security check — and why 40 million seniors didn

Millions of seniors are receiving $90 deposits from the Social Security Administration this week, prompting some to question the source of the money. The checks are tied to the Trump administration's announcement that it would send checks to about 20 million Medicare enrollees to lower healthcare costs.

The payments are funded by the Medicare Improvement Fund, which was set up by Congress to improve and support the original Medicare fee-for-service program. Experts say the $90, while helpful, won't fully offset higher costs facing Medicare recipients.

Americans of all ages are grappling with rising healthcare costs, which they cite as a top financial concern, according to polling from nonprofit health policy research organization KFF.

Seniors enrolled in Part B under traditional Medicare and who don't pay income-related premiums or receive premium assistance from Medicaid are eligible for the one-time payment. Beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage are ineligible for the payments.

"People who are paying the income-related premium have higher incomes to begin with, so the thinking is that they may be better able to absorb higher costs and wouldn't benefit as much from the $90 payment as people with lower incomes," Juliette Cubanski, vice president and director of the Program on Medicare Policy at KFF, told CBS News.

The agency said the initiative improves Medicare and makes coverage more affordable by putting "healthcare dollars back where they belong – in the hands of our Medicare beneficiaries."

Most eligible beneficiaries will receive the $90 rebate through a direct deposit from the Social Security Administration on or around Oct. 8, according to the CMS fact sheet. Some seniors reported receiving the payments or pending deposits on Tuesday, according to social media reports.

Some beneficiaries will receive a $90 paper check from the U.S. Department of the Treasury later in October. It will include the following message: "Medicare Improvement Fund Payment; $90 Payment to Offset October Premium."

Eligible beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Part B can call 1-800-MEDICARE to determine whether or not they qualify for the one-time check. Beneficiaries who want to check on the status of their payment can call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 beginning on Oct. 15.

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