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As someone who recently started the Social Security application process, this thread has been absolutely eye-opening! I had no idea these text scams were so widespread and targeted. What really concerns me is how sophisticated these scammers have become - they're not just sending random spam, but actually researching when people are most vulnerable and likely to believe these fake messages. I'm particularly grateful for all the specific red flags everyone has shared: - SSA NEVER sends texts with links (this seems to be the most important rule) - Legitimate SSA communications don't use urgent, panicky language - Real SSA messages come through official mail or your mySocialSecurity account - The timing of these scams is deliberately calculated to catch people waiting for benefit decisions The technical insights about "smishing" and URL spoofing were especially helpful - I never realized how sophisticated these fake websites could be. I'm definitely going to enable two-factor authentication on my account and be much more vigilant about verifying any unexpected communications independently. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise. This community's willingness to educate and protect each other is really remarkable. I feel so much more prepared to navigate both the legitimate SSA process AND avoid these predatory scams now!
I'm so glad you asked about this - your instincts were absolutely correct! This is definitely a scam. As someone who's been helping family members navigate Social Security benefits for years, I can confirm that SSA will NEVER send you text messages with links to click. What makes these scams particularly dangerous is that they're becoming incredibly targeted. Scammers are timing these messages to coincide with when people are most likely to be expecting legitimate communication from SSA - like when you've recently applied for benefits or are approaching retirement age. A few key points to remember: - All legitimate SSA communications come through official mail or your mySocialSecurity account - SSA will never ask you to verify personal information via text - They don't create artificial urgency with language like "immediate action required" - When in doubt, always log into your mySocialSecurity account directly or call the official SSA number You did exactly the right thing by not clicking and asking here first. I'd recommend reporting this scam to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and also forwarding the text to 7726 (SPAM) to help authorities track these campaigns. Stay vigilant - these scammers know exactly how to exploit our concerns about retirement benefits, but knowledge is our best defense!
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One more thing to know about your first payment - they pay benefits in the month following the month they're due. So November benefits are paid in December, December benefits in January, etc. Something to factor into your planning.
Just wanted to add - since you're planning to request benefits starting November 1st and you mentioned your financial advisor brought up retroactive payments and taxes, make sure you're clear on the terminology during your call tomorrow. What you're actually requesting is a "protective filing date" or benefits with a start date prior to your application date, which will result in back payments for November and December. True "retroactive" benefits in SSA terms only apply if you're past full retirement age. The rep should understand what you mean, but using the right terminology can help avoid confusion and make sure you get exactly what you're asking for.
This is really helpful clarification on the terminology! I've been reading through all these responses and getting a bit confused about the different types of payments. So just to make sure I understand - when I call tomorrow, I should say I want to request benefits with a start date of November 1st, not that I want "retroactive" benefits? And this will create back payments for November and December that will likely be paid in January 2025 (making them 2025 income for tax purposes)? Want to make sure I'm prepared for the call and don't accidentally request something I don't want.
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This entire discussion has been such a lifesaver! I'm 66 and just enrolled in Medicare last month, and sure enough, my retirement estimates completely vanished from my MySocialSecurity account. I was absolutely panicking because I haven't filed for retirement benefits yet (planning to wait until 70 for maximum benefits) and thought something had gone terribly wrong with my account. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - it's clear this is just a poorly designed but completely normal part of the system. The practical tips about screenshotting estimates beforehand, requesting the mailed Social Security Statement, and using the standalone estimator tool are exactly what I needed to know. It's really frustrating that SSA doesn't warn people about this transition, but I'm so grateful to Sofia for asking the question and to everyone who shared their experiences. This community is providing the clear communication that SSA should be giving us!
Welcome to the community, Fatima! Your situation sounds exactly like what so many of us have experienced - that immediate panic when everything disappears without warning. It's particularly stressful when you're planning to delay retirement benefits like you are, because those estimates are so crucial for financial planning. The fact that you're waiting until 70 for maximum benefits shows great planning, and it's reassuring to know that the underlying calculations remain the same even though the interface changes. This thread really has become an incredible resource - I wish I had found something like this when I was going through the same confusion! The community here does such a better job explaining these system quirks than any official SSA documentation I've seen.
I'm so glad I found this thread as a newcomer to this community! Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly eye-opening. I'm 63 and was already feeling overwhelmed about the whole Medicare/Social Security process, but I had absolutely no idea that enrolling in Medicare would cause my retirement estimates to disappear from my account. This seems like such crucial information that SSA should communicate upfront - the fact that so many people have experienced this same panic really shows there's a major communication gap in their system. I'm definitely going to take everyone's advice and screenshot all my retirement estimates, work credits, and earnings history before I apply for Medicare next year. The tips about requesting the mailed Social Security Statement and using the standalone estimator are incredibly valuable too. Sofia, thank you for having the courage to ask this question - you've probably saved hundreds of people from the same stress and confusion. This community is amazing for filling in the information gaps that official sources leave behind!
Welcome to the community, Mei! Your reaction is exactly what most of us felt when we first learned about this SSA system quirk. It's honestly incredible how many people have shared nearly identical stories in this thread - the sudden panic, multiple phone calls to SSA, and finally getting an explanation that this is "normal." You're absolutely right that there's a major communication gap in their system. Taking those screenshots beforehand is definitely the way to go - I wish I had thought to do that! The fact that you're planning a full year ahead gives you such an advantage over those of us who were caught completely off guard. This thread really has become an invaluable resource, and Sofia deserves so much credit for asking the question that clearly needed to be asked. Looking forward to hearing how your Medicare application goes when the time comes!
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I'm experiencing the exact same issue! My estimate dropped by $156/month about 6 weeks ago with no changes on my end. I'm 62 and planning to retire at 66, so this is really concerning for my financial planning. After reading all these responses, I'm realizing this might be more of a systemic issue with their estimation system than something specific to individual accounts. I'm definitely going to try the detailed Retirement Estimator that StarStrider mentioned and start documenting my estimates monthly like PaulineW suggested. It's frustrating that we can't rely on these tools for accurate retirement planning, but I'm glad to see I'm not the only one dealing with this. Has anyone had success getting a clear explanation from SSA about why these fluctuations happen so frequently?
Welcome to the community, Carmen! It's both comforting and concerning to see how many of us are dealing with these unexplained estimate drops. A $156 decrease is even more significant than what Zara and I experienced. From what I've gathered reading through this thread, it seems like very few people have gotten satisfactory explanations from SSA directly - most just get told "estimates change" without any specifics. The tracking and documentation approach that PaulineW mentioned seems like our best strategy for now. I'm also curious if anyone has noticed whether these drops tend to be temporary (like Luca's experience) or if they stick around. It really shouldn't be this difficult to get reliable retirement planning information from the official source!
I'm also new to this community and dealing with a very similar situation! My estimate just dropped by $98/month last week with no changes to my work history or retirement plans. I'm 61 and planning to retire at 65. Reading through all these experiences is both reassuring (that I'm not alone) and alarming (that this seems to be such a widespread problem). I'm definitely going to start tracking my estimates monthly and try the detailed Retirement Estimator that several people have mentioned. It's really concerning that something so critical for retirement planning can fluctuate this much without explanation. Has anyone tried contacting their local SSA office in person rather than calling? I'm wondering if face-to-face might yield better results than the phone system that seems to be so problematic. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it's helping me understand this isn't necessarily a mistake on my account specifically.
Dylan Fisher
As someone new to this community and trying to understand Social Security planning for my own family, this entire discussion has been absolutely invaluable! I came in thinking spousal and survivor benefits were the same thing, so learning that survivors can get up to 100% instead of just 50% is mind-blowing. What really stands out to me is how many people shared personal stories about claiming too early and losing significant monthly income - that $700/month example really hit home. It makes me realize that while the SSA website has the basic rules, you really need this kind of real-world insight from people who've actually navigated these decisions. I'm definitely going to explore both the Claimyr service for getting through to SSA and look for an RSSA-certified advisor. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical guidance that can prevent costly mistakes!
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Ivanna St. Pierre
•I'm also new to this community and Social Security planning in general, and wow - this thread has been such an education! Like you, I had completely misunderstood the difference between spousal and survivor benefits. The fact that it jumps from 50% to potentially 100% is such crucial information that I wish was more widely known. What's really striking to me is how the timing decisions can have such long-lasting financial consequences - that story about losing $700/month by claiming early is sobering. It really emphasizes that while these benefits are incredibly valuable, the complexity means you can easily make costly mistakes without proper guidance. I'm definitely taking notes on all the resources mentioned here - the Claimyr service, looking for RSSA-certified advisors, and just knowing the right questions to ask SSA. Thanks to everyone for creating such a supportive space where people can share real experiences and help each other avoid these pitfalls!
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Ravi Kapoor
As someone completely new to Social Security planning, this thread has been absolutely eye-opening! I had no idea there was such a significant difference between spousal benefits (50%) and survivor benefits (up to 100%) - that's information that could literally mean the difference between financial security and hardship in retirement. What really concerns me is how many people shared stories about making decisions without fully understanding the long-term consequences, like the person who lost $700/month by claiming survivor benefits too early. It seems like there's a real gap between the official SSA information and the practical guidance people actually need to make these complex timing decisions. I'm grateful for communities like this where people share their real experiences - it's clear that having the right information and professional guidance can prevent costly mistakes that affect someone's financial security for decades. Thank you all for being so generous with your knowledge and experiences!
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