just curious how much are ur survivor benefits if u don't mind sharing? trying to figure out what my mom might get

can u work part time while collecting survivors benefits? asking for my aunt

When my mom applied for survivors after my dad died last year she called the SSA after 2 weeks and found out they were missing a document she already submitted! They fixed it right away after she called and she got her first payment 3 weeks later. So definitely call!!

Just to follow up on what others have said - you mentioned your husband was on SSDI. One important thing to verify when you call is that they're correctly handling the transition from dual benefits (your retirement + his disability) to single benefits (your higher survivor benefit). Sometimes the SSA computers don't automatically make this transition smoothly. Also, if your survivor benefit will be about $450 higher per month as you mentioned, you'll want to confirm that the retroactive adjustment (back to your application date) is being processed correctly. That could be a significant payment that you wouldn't want to miss. When approved, you should receive a detailed award letter explaining the calculation of your new benefit amount. Keep that letter for your records as it's important documentation.

To answer your follow-up question about calculating the family maximum in advance: Unfortunately, it's difficult to get an exact calculation before the actual event occurs. The family maximum is based on a complex formula related to the wage earner's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA).Your best approach is to:1. Have your daughter's father request his Social Security Statement (through ssa.gov or by filing Form SSA-7004)2. Look for the section that shows his full retirement age benefit amount3. When you have that number, you could estimate the family maximum at roughly 150-180% of that amountWhen his benefits need to be divided among multiple survivors (his current wife, minor children, and your daughter), each person's theoretical benefit (75% for each) would be proportionally reduced if the total exceeds the family maximum.However, your daughter's status as a disabled adult child does give her benefits some special protections in certain situations.

Thank you so much for this detailed explanation. I'll talk to him about requesting his statement so we can at least have a rough idea of what to expect. This helps me prepare financially for her future.

One more thing to consider: You mentioned you just turned 60, so you could actually claim survivor benefits now (at a reduced rate), then switch to your own retirement benefit later. At 60, survivor benefits are reduced to about 71.5% of your ex's full benefit. Whether this makes sense depends on your current financial situation and earnings history. Have you created a my Social Security account online to see your estimated benefit amounts?

Based on those benefit amounts, your strategy makes perfect sense. Take your own benefit at 62 (around $1,240/month with the reduction), then switch to the survivor benefit at 67 (the full $3,200). This maximizes your lifetime benefits given your specific situation and the significant difference between your benefit amounts. Just be sure to explicitly tell SSA that you are restricting your application to retirement benefits only when you apply at 62.

Update: I finally got into my mySocialSecurity account and you all were right - it was the Medicare Part B premium increase that ate into my COLA. My actual increase was $41.25, but after the higher Medicare premium, it dropped to $30.85. And then I also have a Part D plan that went up by $10.50, so that's why I only saw about $20 more in my bank account. Thanks everyone for helping me understand! Wish they'd explain this better when they announce the COLA each year.

My brother and I were just talking about this yesterday! He got his increase but I haven't seen mine yet. Does anyone know if they send them out in batches? My birthday is on the 28th so I usually get paid later in the month. Will I see my COLA in January too or do I have to wait for my regular payment date?

Great question! When someone transitions from SSI to DAC benefits, they typically qualify for what's called

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I've learned so much. I'm going to try to get through to SSA to discuss our specific situation, and also look into what documentation we'll need to prove dependency. I think we have a good case since my husband has been providing most of my son's support for years. Will also discuss the adoption possibility with our family attorney. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences!

Why is SS so COMPLICATED??!!! Every time I think I understand something, there's some rule I never heard of. And try getting a straight answer from the SS office - impossible! The whole system needs to be simplified so regular people can understand it without needing a financial advisor!

To follow up on my earlier comment - since you mentioned your own benefit at 70 would be "quite a bit higher" than half of your husband's benefit, it may be worth calculating exact numbers. Your benefit at 70 would be 132% of your FRA amount (if your FRA is 67). So if your FRA benefit is more than about 38% of your husband's FRA benefit, waiting until 70 will eventually give you more than taking spousal at 62 (which would only be 35% of his FRA benefit due to early filing reduction).

Thank you everyone for the responses! After checking my paperwork more carefully, I confirmed we were married for exactly 9 years, 11 months, and 6 days. So close it hurts! I wish I had known about this 10-year rule back then - would have delayed the divorce paperwork by a month! I appreciate the suggestions about checking my earnings record. I'll do that. And I'll check out that Claimyr service if I need to call SSA. Seems worth it to avoid the hours of hold music and disconnections.

One more thought - since you're at your FRA already, you should look into whether you might qualify for SSI (Supplemental Security Income) if your current Social Security retirement benefit is very low. SSI can provide additional income for those with limited resources. The qualification rules are complicated, but it might be worth investigating. SSI is different from regular Social Security retirement benefits and has different eligibility requirements based on financial need rather than work history.

Just to clarify some confusion I'm seeing in the comments: When you're already receiving Social Security retirement benefits on your own record and then apply for survivor benefits, you don't actually "switch" benefits entirely. Instead, SSA will pay you the higher of the two benefit amounts. In your case, you'll continue to receive your $2,150 basic benefit plus an additional amount (called a "top-up") to bring you up to your husband's benefit level. This is important to understand because it's still considered one benefit payment, just with an added amount. This is why your Medicare shouldn't be disrupted—you're not stopping one benefit to start another.

btw did anyone else notice that SSA has different processing times in different states?? my cousin in florida got her survivors in like 3 weeks but my mom in california waited almost 3 months for hers even tho they applied like the same week! so unfair!!

What state are you in? Some states have different rules about how their pensions interact with Social Security.

Based on the numbers you've shared, here's what your situation might look like: 1. Your TRS pension will be $3,750/month 2. Your survivor benefit is $2,280/month 3. Your own SS benefit would be about $840/month Under GPO, they would reduce your survivor benefit by $2,500 (2/3 of $3,750), which would eliminate your survivor benefit completely. However, your own SS benefit of $840 would be subject to WEP but not GPO. The WEP reduction is generally less severe than GPO and depends on your years of substantial earnings under Social Security. So your best option might be to take your TRS pension and your own reduced SS benefit rather than the survivor benefit. I'd recommend speaking with an SSA representative who can calculate the exact WEP reduction based on your work history.