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If I could give 10 stars I would
If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
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I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
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- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
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Make sure u bring id also they asked me for 2 forms of id when i went!!
Thanks for the reminder! I'll definitely bring my driver's license and passport just to be safe.
Did anyone else notice how complicated our system is?! Why should someone have to jump through all these hoops just to get benefits they're entitled to? Two deceased ex-spouses, early vs. full retirement age rules, documentation requirements... No wonder people give up or miss out on benefits they deserve. The whole system needs an overhaul!
I agree it's complicated, but to be fair, this is a pretty unique situation. Most people don't have multiple deceased ex-spouses with different benefit amounts. The complexity comes from trying to make the system fair for all these different scenarios.
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This just happened to my mom too after the January COLA! She was expecting MORE money but got LESS. She's 73 and it was because of something called IRMAA - Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. Her income went up a little in 2023 (she sold some stock) and that pushed her into a higher bracket for Medicare premiums in 2025. It's ridiculous that they punish seniors for having a slightly better year financially. The government keeps finding ways to take from retirees!!!
I understand your frustration, but IRMAA isn't intended as a punishment - it's actually part of how Medicare is structured to remain financially sustainable. Higher-income beneficiaries pay a greater portion of their premium costs. The brackets are set by law and adjusted annually for inflation. I had to deal with this too when I had a one-time income spike from selling property. You can request a reduction in the IRMAA if it was due to a life-changing event or if your income has decreased since the tax return that triggered it. Form SSA-44 is used for this purpose, and many people successfully get their IRMAA reduced when their current situation doesn't reflect their past tax returns.
Thanks everyone for the suggestions! I checked my my Social Security account and downloaded my benefit verification letter like some of you suggested. It turns out they increased my tax withholding from 10% to 22% without sending me any notice! The COLA increase was applied, but the extra withholding more than wiped it out. I've been trying to call for three days with no luck getting through. I'll try the Claimyr service that was suggested since I really need to get this fixed before next month's payment. I need to submit a new W-4V form to reduce my withholding back to 10%. Really appreciate all the help! I'll update once I get this resolved.
Glad you figured it out! Yes, definitely submit a new W-4V form as soon as possible. It might not be processed in time for next month's payment, but they should adjust it after that. When you speak with them, ask specifically why your withholding rate was increased without notification - they're required to send notices for these changes. Also ask if they can refund the excess withholding from January immediately rather than waiting until you file taxes.
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WAIT!!! Something nobody mentioned - if she waits till her FRA she can choose to ONLY file for spousal benefits and let her OWN benefit continue to grow until 70!!! That's what my financial advisor told me is the best strategy!!!!!
That strategy (restricted application for spousal benefits only) is no longer available for people born after January 1, 1954. Based on the ages provided, the original poster's wife was born in 1961 or 1962, so she isn't eligible for this option. When she files, she'll be deemed to have filed for all benefits she's eligible for at that time.
something nobody asked is what ur cashflow is like right now. if u guys need the money now then maybe its worth taking the hit. my wife and i did cause we needed to fix our roof. sometimes the math doesnt matter as much as what u need right now ya know?
That's a good point. We're doing okay financially right now, which is why I'm trying to optimize our long-term benefits. But you're right that immediate needs sometimes outweigh the perfect mathematical strategy!
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I'm in the exact same boat! Started in October too. Does anyone know if we have to pay estimated taxes on our Social Security benefits now or can we just wait until tax time in April? I'm worried about penalties if I don't pay quarterly or something.
You typically don't need to pay estimated taxes on Social Security benefits alone. However, if you have other income (like a pension, part-time work, or investment income) and you expect to owe $1,000 or more when you file your return, you might need to make estimated payments to avoid penalties. The simplest approach is to have extra withholding taken from other income sources like pensions or part-time jobs if you have them. Otherwise, you can make estimated payments using Form 1040-ES.
One thing no one mentioned - if you're just starting on Social Security, make sure you understand that the payment schedule is based on your birth date. For people born on the 1st-10th of the month, payments come on the second Wednesday. For 11th-20th, it's the third Wednesday, and for 21st-31st, it's the fourth Wednesday. This doesn't change your tax situation, but it helps you know exactly when to expect your deposits going forward.
Except if u started getting SS before May 1997! Those of us old-timers get paid on the 3rd of each month no matter what day we were born. The birth date schedule is only for newer recipients.
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Oh I just thought of something else! When I called the SS office to ask about mailing vs bringing documents, they told me I could schedule an appointment instead of just walking in. WAY better than sitting there all day. You have to call early in the morning to get an appointment slot though.
good luck with that!! been trying to get an appointment for 3 weeks!! they never answer!!!
One important clarification about ex-spouse benefits that sometimes confuses people: applying for benefits on your ex's record does NOT reduce their benefits or notify them that you've applied. This is a common concern, but your application is completely confidential. Your ex won't know you've applied or be affected financially.
Oh thank goodness! I was actually worried about that but didn't want to ask. Our divorce wasn't exactly friendly and I really don't want him to know anything about my finances or retirement plans.
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Yes, they should send you a confirmation letter after your application is processed. If they don't mention sending one during the call, specifically ask for it. The letter should clearly state which benefit you applied for. Keep this for your records!
From your username it looks like you're in Texas? My mom had the exact same experience with the Dallas SSA office. The frontline staff gave her incorrect info about survivor benefits but when she got to the actual claims specialist, they handled it correctly. Just make sure to escalate if needed during your call.
Yes, I'm near Houston! That's reassuring to hear your mom eventually got it sorted out. I'll definitely ask for a specialist if needed.
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After using Claimyr to reach SSA (I had similar problems getting through), I found it helpful to ask for a written PEBES statement (Benefit Verification Letter) that shows exactly what benefits you're entitled to and under what conditions. Having this in writing can save a lot of confusion later. Also, once you do reach them, request that they make detailed notes in your file about your situation so you don't have to explain everything multiple times to different representatives.
This is really helpful advice. I'll definitely ask for everything in writing. Thank you!
btw my aunt did get survivor benefits after my uncle died in prison. took almost 3 months to process tho so dont expect it right away if it happens. and she said they made her fill out extra forms but it worked out in the end
Thanks for following up. That's good to know that it worked out for your aunt, even if it took some extra time and paperwork.
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One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - make sure you understand that Medicare has several parts. Part A (hospital) is premium-free if you or your spouse worked enough. Part B (medical) has a monthly premium ($174.70/month for most people in 2025). Part D (prescription) also has a premium that varies by plan. You'll need to decide which parts to take and when. If you have good coverage through your spouse, you might be able to delay Part B and D enrollment without penalties, but you must have 'creditable coverage' documentation to avoid future penalties.
Thanks for explaining the different parts! I think I need to learn more about what each part covers to make informed decisions. Especially since my spouse is considering retiring soon too, so our insurance situation might change.
Has anyone told you to check with your current insurance to see how they coordinate with Medicare? Some employer plans REQUIRE you to take Medicare when eligible through SSDI or they become secondary payers! We found this out the hard way.
No, I hadn't thought about that! I'll definitely check with our current insurance about how they handle coordination with Medicare. That could change my whole decision.
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Thanks everyone for the great information! I now understand how the reductions work month-by-month. One last question - does the same percentage reduction apply to spousal benefits if my wife claims early, or is that calculated differently?
Spousal benefits have a different reduction schedule. If claiming spousal benefits before FRA, the reduction is 25/36 of 1% for each month for the first 36 months before FRA (about 8.33% per year), and 5/12 of 1% for each additional month (5% per year). At 62, that's about a 35% reduction for spousal benefits, compared to 30% for retirement benefits. And importantly, spousal benefits don't earn delayed retirement credits past FRA - there's no advantage to waiting beyond FRA for spousal benefits.
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Connor O'Reilly
This is y i just waited till my FRA to claim... too many rules and they take ur $$ back if u mess up!
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Miguel Alvarez
•I've definitely considered waiting until FRA to avoid all this, but financially I need to start benefits sooner. Trying to navigate the rules as carefully as possible!
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Zainab Yusuf
One more important thing to know: if you earn over the limit and have benefits withheld, SSA will recalculate your benefit amount when you reach FRA to give you credit for the months they withheld benefits. So you're not permanently losing that money - it will increase your monthly benefit amount starting at FRA. Also, the earnings test only applies to earned income (wages, self-employment). It doesn't apply to investment income, pension payments, or other unearned income.
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Miguel Alvarez
•I didn't realize they recalculated at FRA - that's good to know! And yes, I only have to worry about my part-time job income; my small pension and dividends won't affect the earnings test. Thanks for the additional information.
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