Just went thru this with my retirement filing! I worked all of 2023 but it wasnt on my record when I filed in January 2024. Was so frustrating trying to reach someone at Social Security to make sure it would be included. Spent 3 days calling and never got through!!! So sick of the waiting game with SSA.

To address your follow-up question about whether the recalculation is truly automatic: yes, it is supposed to happen automatically through their system, but as others have mentioned, it's always good practice to follow up. One tip I'd suggest: when you file your application, make a note in your calendar for about 6 months later to check on the status of this recalculation. By that time, your 2024 earnings should be processed in their system (especially if you file your taxes promptly in early 2025). Also, keep documentation of your 2024 earnings handy - not just your final W-2, but also your last paystubs of the year. If you need to follow up with SSA, having this documentation readily available will make the process much smoother.

Has your doctor said anything about applying for Compassionate Allowance? My sister's husband had ALS and they fast-tracked some benefits. I don't know if it would help your wife get benefits sooner but maybe worth asking SSA about??

dont forget about checking if your state has any widow assistance programs too! some states have emergency funds or special programs. worth looking into while waiting for SS benefits

is she getting food stamps at least? that's usually faster than disability

One thing no one mentioned - if your daughter qualifies for SSI, she might be eligible for subsidized housing which could help with your living situation. There are often long waiting lists but some areas prioritize disabled applicants. Just something to look into while you're working on the SSI application.

I went through getting my dad's SS after his stroke and the whole system is a mess. I had to wait 3 hours at the office and they kept disconnecting me when I called. I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual SSA agent in about 10 minutes instead of waiting on hold forever. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Made dealing with all the representative payee paperwork so much easier when I could actually talk to someone.

Thanks to everyone who's replied! I feel so much better knowing I don't have any immediate responsibilities. I was stressing about this for days thinking I might be neglecting some important duty. Sounds like this is just my husband planning ahead (which is very like him). I appreciate all the information and personal experiences shared here.

also be careful bout how much money u can make on SS. I think its like $22,500 for 2025 before they take some away if ur under your full retirement age.

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I'm going to: 1) Call my state unemployment office to confirm their specific rules, 2) Use that Claimyr service to reach Social Security without waiting hours, and 3) Continue job searching while making sure I report everything correctly. It sounds like I should be able to keep receiving unemployment until my Social Security payments actually begin as long as I've reported everything properly. I'll update this thread once I get official answers from both offices in case it helps someone else in the future!

Just want to add that while you're waiting to reach age 62, it might be worth exploring if you qualify for the Medicare Savings Program if your family income is limited. This program can help pay Medicare premiums for your husband, which could free up some monthly income. Requirements vary by state, but it's worth checking into. Also, make sure your husband is receiving all the benefits he's entitled to. Sometimes people on SSDI don't realize they might also qualify for SSI if their SSDI payment is low enough and they meet the resource limits.

You're correct - at $1,850/month SSDI, your husband wouldn't qualify for SSI as that exceeds the federal benefit rate. However, definitely check out the Medicare Savings Program (MSP) options. Depending on your total family income and resources, you might qualify for one of the MSP levels that could pay his Part B premium ($174.70 in 2023), which would put that money back in your pocket each month. Also, when your children age out of their benefits, that will be a significant reduction in household income. Start planning for that transition now, especially if your 16-year-old will be heading to college.

Thanks everyone for all this helpful information! I'm going to sit down with my parents and go through all these options. Sounds like the key points are: 1) Survivor benefits are up to 100% of deceased spouse's amount, not 50% like spousal benefits, 2) Dad should consider delaying his claim to maximize mom's potential survivor benefit, and 3) Mom needs to be careful about when she claims survivor benefits to avoid unnecessary reductions. I'll definitely check out that Claimyr service too if we need to speak with SSA directly. This community has been so helpful!

DON'T FORGET that if ur mom has earned ANY social security on her own record, she should ask SSA about that too. Even with limited work history she might qualify for SOMETHING on her own record and that could affect the math of when to claim!!! The whole thing is SOOOOO confusing and the SSA people sometimes give wrong info!!

this happened to my friend and she went to her congressman's office for help!! they have caseworkers who deal with SS problems and they sorted it out in like 2 weeks! try that maybe??

Why are you trying to take someone's Social Security check??? That's terrible! Those benefits are protected for a reason - people need them to survive. Your ex worked for those benefits! I don't care what the court says, going after someone's SS check is just wrong.

so does anyone know if a CRBA form FS-240 is better than having naturalization papers?? my cousin has both (born in mexico, parents got citizenship when he was 4) and doesnt know which to use when he applies next month

Congrats on getting approved! When do you get your first payment? I'm just starting to research all this stuff and the payment timing is confusing me.

my condolences on your loss. i lost my wife 2 years ago and had the EXACT same confusion!! the ssa website is SO BAD lol. they really need to update it to show survivor info but they just dont have that feature at all. but dont worry about it! your entitled to survivor benifits regardless of what the website shows.

One more thing to keep in mind - it's generally advisable to speak with an SSA representative before you make any claiming decisions regarding survivor benefits. The optimal claiming strategy often involves taking survivor benefits at one age and your own retirement benefits at a different age, depending on your specific circumstances. For example, if your own retirement benefit at age 70 would be higher than your survivor benefit, you might take reduced survivor benefits at 60 and then switch to your own benefit at 70. Or if your survivor benefit would be higher, you might take your own reduced retirement benefit at 62 and switch to survivors at your FRA. The SSA representatives won't volunteer this information unless you specifically ask about these strategies.