Can't reach Social Security Administration? Claimyr connects you to a live SSA agent in minutes.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the SSA
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the SSA drops your call
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!
Really made a difference
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.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
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!
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
Join the conversation
Join the conversation
One important point that hasn't been mentioned: If your mother was married to your stepfather for at least 10 years and hasn't remarried before age 60, she should be eligible for survivor benefits based on his record. The survivor benefit would be 100% of what he was receiving (including any WEP reduction) if she waited until her full retirement age to claim it. If she's currently receiving her own reduced retirement benefit (from claiming at 62) plus a reduced survivor benefit, the Social Security Fairness Act could increase her monthly payment by eliminating the WEP reduction that was applied to your stepfather's benefit. When the legislation takes effect, SSA would recalculate benefits for affected individuals automatically, but it's always good to stay informed about your specific situation.
Thank you for this detailed explanation! Mom was married to him for 15 years and hasn't remarried, so that's good news. She's currently receiving some combination of her own benefit and his survivor benefit (she wasn't very clear on the details). This gives me a much better understanding of what might change with the new legislation. I'll make sure she contacts SSA to get clarity on her current situation.
btw my uncle retired from post office too and we just found out the FERS supplement stops at 62 even tho regular ss doesn't start til later for most people. does ur mom know if he was getting the supplement? that might explain the low ss amount instead of WEP
I don't think she knows about any FERS supplement. That's another good question to ask when she contacts SSA. There are so many different factors that could be affecting her benefits!
Join the conversation
I know this is off-topic but does anyone know if the 3-month rule is the same when applying for spousal benefits? My wife is turning 67 next year and I want to apply for my spousal benefit since I never worked enough quarters on my own.
Yes, the timing recommendation is the same for spousal benefits. However, be aware that your spouse needs to have already filed for their own benefits (or file at the same time) for you to be eligible for spousal benefits. The 3-month advance application window applies to all retirement-based benefits.
Applying for Medicare at the same time doesn't typically slow down your retirement benefit processing. The two systems are connected but processed separately. In fact, the online application is designed to handle both simultaneously. Many people are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A at 65 even if they delay retirement benefits until later, so the systems are designed to coordinate.
Perfect! I already have Medicare since I turned 65, so sounds like that won't be an issue. I'll mark my calendar for 3 months before my birthday to submit the application online. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice!
Join the conversation
I've been through this nightmare THREE TIMES! My advice: call your local Social Security office directly instead of the main number if possible. The local offices sometimes have more flexibility with verification. Also, if you have online access to MySocialSecurity account, you might be able to start the application online and then finish by phone, which sometimes requires less stringent verification. Just make sure you can log in to your online account BEFORE your application date!
This is good advice about the local office, but I should clarify something important: If you're partially blind as you mentioned, you should let them know this at the beginning of the call. The SSA has special procedures for people with disabilities who need accommodations. They're required by law to provide reasonable accommodations for your visual impairment, which might include alternative verification methods if necessary.
Since you mentioned being partially blind, you should know that your vision condition might qualify you for additional benefits beyond just retirement. Depending on the severity, you might be eligible for disability benefits in addition to retirement. Make sure to mention your vision impairment during your application and ask if you should be applying for additional benefits. Having medical documentation ready will help with this process as well.
I actually didn't know this might be an option. My ophthalmologist has documented my progressive vision loss, and it's definitely severe enough that I can't work anymore. I'll be sure to mention this during my call and see if there are additional benefits I should apply for. Thank you for bringing this up!
Join the conversation
My brother worked until 70 and never took SS. Died at 71. All that money just gone. If you have health issues in your family history, take it earlier.
I'm sorry about your brother. That's definitely something to consider. My family tends to be long-lived, but you never know. That's what makes this decision so difficult.
One more thing to consider: delayed retirement credits only accrue until age 70, so there's absolutely no benefit to waiting beyond that point. Also, make sure you understand how your continued earnings might increase your benefit amount regardless of when you claim. Your benefit is based on your highest 35 years of earnings, so if you're earning more now than in some of those earlier years, you might see a benefit increase even after you've filed.
That's a great point! My current salary is definitely higher than what I made in my 20s and 30s, even adjusted for inflation, so continuing to work should boost my PIA calculation.
Join the conversation
whatever u do dont make the mistake i did...i filed right at 62 and now im getting like $600 less than if i had waited! wish somone had told me
this is why i'm waiting til 70, cant afford to leave money on the table these days with everything so expensive
Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I think I understand better now - her spousal benefit would be based on my full FRA amount (at 67), not my reduced amount when I file at 66. And since she's already collecting her own benefit, she'd just get the difference if 50% of my PIA is more than her current benefit. I'm going to do some more calculations to see if it makes more sense for me to wait longer than 66, considering both our current needs and the long-term impact. Really appreciate all the insights!
Join the conversation
To answer your follow-up question - the age at which your husband passed away doesn't affect how GPO works, but it does affect the base survivor benefit amount before any GPO reduction is applied. Since he died before his FRA, your survivor benefit would be based on his Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) with potential reductions based on when you claim. The GPO reduction (whether under current or 2025 rules) is then applied after calculating that base survivor benefit. The best strategy is usually to provide SSA with complete records of both his covered and non-covered employment so they can calculate the most accurate benefit under the new proportional formula.
wait i thought if spouse dies b4 FRA u can get like 71.5% of what they woudve got at FRA??? my neighbor said thats what hapened with her
To clarify what's being discussed - there are two separate calculations happening: 1) The basic survivor benefit calculation, which is affected by when your husband died and when you claim, and 2) The GPO reduction, which is based on his non-covered pension. Both affect your final payment amount. Under the 2025 changes, you'll likely see a significant improvement because your husband had relatively few years of non-covered work compared to his SS-covered employment. Document everything carefully and consider working with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security planning for government employees.
Thank you for breaking this down so clearly. I think I understand it better now. I'll gather all his employment records and definitely look into speaking with a Social Security specialist. This thread has been incredibly helpful!
Can I now claim my late husband's Social Security after Senate's GPO/WEP reform? CSRS retiree confused about survivor benefits
I'm completely lost about my Social Security situation after the recent Senate vote on GPO/WEP reform! I retired under CSRS 7 years ago, and my husband passed away last year. He had dual retirement - military pension plus FERS. When I initially went to Social Security after his death, they told me I couldn't receive any of his Social Security survivor benefits because of GPO (Government Pension Offset) since I get my CSRS pension. They said even though I've been working part-time and earned my own 40 quarters, all I qualify for is $375/month in my own benefits, which I've been receiving for about 2 years now.With all this talk about the Senate passing GPO/WEP reform, does this mean I can now go back and apply for my husband's much higher Social Security benefit? I'm 69 years old now - shouldn't I be eligible for full survivor benefits? The SSA website is so confusing and the phone lines are always busy. Does anyone know if the law has actually changed yet, or is it still just a proposal? I'm so tired of getting tiny benefits while seeing others collect full amounts!
Join the conversation
To answer your question about back payments - if the GPO is repealed or modified, there will likely be a specific effective date set in the legislation. Typically these changes are not retroactive to when you first could have been eligible, but rather start from the date the law takes effect.However, filing a protective claim now (as suggested earlier) might help establish an earlier effective date if the legislation permits it. A protective claim is basically a written statement to SSA indicating your intent to file for benefits, which can establish your filing date while you gather information or wait for a law change.Don't count on retroactive benefits though - most Social Security reforms are forward-looking only.
Join the conversation
when my dad died my mom applied for ssi benefits and they rejected her cause they said she made too much money? but then my cousin told her it was survivor benefits she needed to apply for not ssi? the whole thing is super confusing lol
That's a common confusion. SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is a needs-based program for people with limited income and resources. Survivor benefits are based on your deceased spouse's Social Security earnings record and aren't income-dependent in the same way. They're two completely different programs run by the same agency. The OP is correctly applying for survivor benefits, not SSI.
I'm really grateful for all this advice. I've made notes of everything for my phone appointment. Sounds like I should: 1. Ask for a confirmation number 2. Request February 2025 start date 3. Have all my documents ready 4. Be prepared with my banking info for direct deposit 5. Know that I can take reduced benefits now or wait until my FRA Am I missing anything important for the phone interview?
That's a great list! Also prepare: 1. Your husband's date and place of birth 2. Place of death and whether he was hospitalized 3. A list of any children under 18 or disabled adult children (if applicable) 4. Information about any other marriages either of you had 5. Your own work history summary Having all this ready will make your interview go much more smoothly. Good luck with everything!
Join the conversation
After seeing all these responses, I wanted to add that you might want to request a BRIEF - Benefit Rate Increase at Full retirement age Time. This specifically shows what your widow's benefit would be at different ages. Not all SSA representatives know about this report, so you might need to specifically ask for it by name. It will show exactly what your benefit would be if you take it now (reduced) or wait until FRA (full amount). Also, if your calculation is particularly complex (if your husband had a government pension or foreign earnings, for example), this could be contributing to the delay.
Thank you for mentioning the BRIEF report - I've never heard of that! My husband did have a small pension from a few years of teaching, so maybe that's complicating things. I'll specifically ask for this report when I next speak with them.
William Rivera
random question but whats the current substantial earnings amount for 2025? Is it still around $28k?
0 coins
Mia Roberts
•For 2025, the substantial earnings amount is approximately $29,500. It's indexed each year for inflation. You can find the full chart of yearly substantial earnings amounts on SSA.gov by searching for 'substantial earnings WEP chart'.
0 coins
Evan Kalinowski
Since you mentioned you're in good health and longevity runs in your family, have you considered the tax implications of your decision? If you claim now while working, more of your SS benefits might be taxable. If you wait until 70, you'll have a higher benefit, but potentially more of it subject to taxation depending on your other income sources in retirement.
0 coins
Dominic Green
•That's another aspect I hadn't fully considered. I'll need to look at our overall tax situation in retirement. We'll have my husband's SS, my state pension, some 401k withdrawals, and then eventually my Social Security. I should probably consult with a tax professional to model different scenarios. Thanks for bringing this up!
0 coins