As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to add my voice to the chorus of support you're receiving. Your experience perfectly illustrates why so many people find Social Security rules intimidating - even when you try to get official guidance, you can end up with conflicting information that leads to real financial consequences. I'm particularly struck by how you received such definitive advice from the first SSA rep about PTO not counting toward your monthly limit, only to be told the complete opposite later. This kind of inconsistency from their own staff seems inexcusable given the significant financial impact on beneficiaries. From reading through all the excellent advice here, it seems like you have two strong options: 1) Document that July 15th conversation thoroughly and pursue an administrative exception for SSA misinformation, or 2) Use Form SSA-521 to withdraw your application entirely and start fresh in 2026 without any earnings test complications. The withdrawal option is looking increasingly attractive when you consider that you'd avoid the $9,840 in potential withheld benefits, get delayed retirement credits for higher monthly payments, and have the peace of mind of starting over without all these complex calculations and appeals. Thank you for sharing this experience so openly - it's an invaluable learning opportunity for those of us who will face these same decisions in the future. Your willingness to document this process will undoubtedly help others avoid similar pitfalls or at least know what questions to ask and insist on getting answers in writing.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really impressed by the depth of knowledge and support being shared here. Your situation, Amelia, is unfortunately a textbook example of why navigating Social Security can be so treacherous - even when you try to do everything right by calling for official guidance first. What really stands out to me is that you made a major financial decision (starting benefits early) based on specific advice from an SSA representative, only to discover later that the advice was incorrect. That July 15th conversation where you were told PTO wouldn't count toward your monthly limit should absolutely be documented and escalated - SSA has provisions for situations where their misinformation causes financial harm to beneficiaries. The Form SSA-521 withdrawal option that several people have mentioned seems like it deserves serious consideration. Yes, you'd need to repay benefits already received, but when you factor in avoiding $9,840 in potential withheld benefits plus gaining delayed retirement credits for higher future payments, the math might actually work in your favor. I'm curious - have you been able to calculate approximately how much you've received in benefits so far? That would help determine if the withdrawal route makes financial sense compared to dealing with the earnings test complications. Thank you for sharing this experience so thoroughly. As someone who will be facing these same decisions in a few years, this thread has been incredibly educational about the real-world complexities that go far beyond what SSA's website explains.

I'm so sorry for your loss, and I want to echo what everyone has shared - this terminology confusion is incredibly common and frustrating during an already overwhelming time. You're absolutely not alone in feeling confused by SSA's use of both "widow's benefits" and "survivor benefits." As a newcomer who's been reading through all these helpful responses, I wanted to add that it might be worth asking specifically about the "restricted application" strategy during your SSA appointment. Since your mom is over 62, she may be able to file for one benefit while delaying the other, then switch later - but the rules around this can be complex and depend on when she was born. Also, something I learned from helping a family member - when you call for that appointment, ask if they can mail you a written benefits estimate beforehand. Sometimes having the numbers in front of you makes the phone conversation much clearer, especially when you're dealing with grief and stress. The community here has given you such valuable advice about comparing the actual dollar amounts. That really seems to be the key to making the best decision for your mom's long-term financial security. Wishing you both strength as you work through this process.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Having just gone through a similar situation with my own family, I completely understand the confusion around this terminology. What helped us tremendously was creating a simple checklist before our SSA appointment: - Ask for actual dollar amounts for both widow's benefits and her own retirement benefits - Get calculations for taking benefits now vs. waiting - Ask about the $255 death benefit specifically - Inquire about any retroactive payments - Request everything in writing if possible One thing I wish someone had told us earlier - if your mom is still working, make sure to discuss the earnings test limits. This could affect which benefit strategy makes the most sense timing-wise. Also, don't hesitate to call back if you get conflicting information from different representatives. Unfortunately, that does happen sometimes, and it's worth getting a second opinion on such an important financial decision. The fact that you're helping your mom navigate this shows what a caring family you are. Take it one step at a time, and don't feel pressured to make immediate decisions. You've got this.

Didn't see it mentioned but don't forget about STATE taxes too! Some states tax Social Security and some don't. I moved from Minnesota to Florida partly because MN taxes SS benefits and FL doesn't. Smart to check your state rules!

Just wanted to add something that might help with planning - if you're going to be working part-time and receiving Social Security, you might want to consider having taxes withheld from your part-time job wages to cover any taxes owed on your SS benefits. This can be easier than dealing with quarterly estimated payments. You can adjust your W-4 with your part-time employer to have extra federal tax withheld beyond what's needed for your wages. Many people find this simpler than calculating and making quarterly payments to the IRS. Just another option to consider when you're planning your tax strategy!

Just want to emphasize something important based on my own experience: when you go to apply, make sure you specifically tell them you want to apply for divorced spouse benefits. I made the mistake of just saying I wanted to apply for Social Security, and they only looked at my own record. When I went back later and specifically asked about ex-spouse benefits, they said "Oh, you didn't mention you were applying for that" and I had to start the process over. Be very clear about which benefit you're applying for, and ask them to compare both options for you.

I want to add something that might be helpful - you mentioned your first ex-husband is 65 now. Since men born in 1960 have a Full Retirement Age of 67, he's actually not at his FRA yet, which means he may not have filed for his benefits. This could affect your timing. Also, I'd strongly recommend getting a my Social Security account set up at ssa.gov if you don't have one already. You can get benefit estimates for your own record there, which will help you compare with potential ex-spouse benefits. The online calculators can give you a rough idea, but for divorced spouse benefits you'll need to call or visit SSA since those calculations require your ex's earnings record. One more thing - if you're considering waiting until your FRA to potentially use the restricted application strategy that was mentioned, remember that you'd be giving up 4+ years of benefits. Run the numbers carefully to see if the delayed retirement credits make up for those missed payments. Sometimes taking the reduced benefit early comes out ahead in the long run, especially if you need the income now.

Welcome to everyone who's joined this discussion! I'm also new to this community and found this thread while desperately searching for answers about my own Social Security application. I applied in late January for September benefits and have been stuck on step 2 for about 3 weeks now. Like so many others here, I was starting to panic thinking I'd done something wrong or that my application had fallen through the cracks somehow. Reading through all of these experiences has been such a relief - it's clear that SSA's online portal is just fundamentally broken and doesn't reflect what's actually happening with our applications behind the scenes. The fact that so many people have had months-long delays on step 2 but still received their benefits on time is incredibly reassuring. What really strikes me is how this thread has become an invaluable resource that fills the gap left by SSA's inadequate communication systems. The official website tells us nothing useful, their phone lines are nearly impossible to get through, yet here we all are finding the real information we need from each other's shared experiences. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their stories and advice - this discussion has probably saved dozens of people from unnecessary stress and anxiety during an already overwhelming process!

Welcome to all the newcomers joining this discussion! I'm also new to this community and found this thread while frantically searching for answers about my own Social Security application delays. I applied in mid-February for November benefits and I'm already experiencing the same frustrating pattern - stuck on step 2 after just 2 weeks with absolutely no movement on the MySocialSecurity portal. Reading through everyone's shared experiences here has been incredibly enlightening and reassuring. It's both shocking and oddly comforting to see how universal this problem is with SSA's online system. What really stands out to me is how this community discussion has become an essential resource that fills such a huge gap in official information. The SSA website provides almost no useful guidance about realistic processing times, and as many have mentioned, their phone system is practically unusable. The consistent theme throughout all these stories - that benefits typically start on time despite the completely unreliable status tracking - has given me tremendous peace of mind during what was becoming a very stressful waiting period. It's amazing how much anxiety can be relieved just by knowing that dozens of other people have gone through this exact same experience and come out fine on the other side. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their stories and advice. This thread has become an invaluable community resource that honestly should be linked from the official SSA website! It's saved so many of us from unnecessary panic during an already overwhelming life transition.