Check your online account everyday! Mine changed from processing to approved with no email notificaiton or anything, I only knew because I happened to login that day.

One additional thing I should mention - when your application is approved, you'll receive an official award letter by mail detailing your benefit amount and payment schedule. This typically arrives about a week after the online status changes to approved. Make sure your mailing address is current in your MySocialSecurity profile. Also, I highly recommend setting up direct deposit through your online account if you haven't already. Even if your application is still processing, you can set this up now to ensure your payments arrive promptly once approved.

does she own her house?? that makes a HUGE difference if she has a mortgage or not. my SIL retired at 63 with just ss and she does ok because her house is paid off.

Here's another option for your sister to consider: If she really doesn't want to work full-time anymore, she could look for a part-time job just to cover her expenses until reaching an age where her SS benefit would be higher. Each year she delays claiming between 62 and 70 increases her benefit by approximately 8% FOR LIFE. Working part-time would also help address the health insurance gap before Medicare at 65, as some part-time positions offer health benefits. Plus, if she finds something less stressful than her previous job, it might be a good transition to full retirement. Just food for thought as she weighs her options.

Update: I finally managed to get through to SSA this morning! They confirmed my husband's application is still processing (ugh) but should be completed within the next two weeks. And yes, with his birthday being the 27th, his first payment will come on February 26th. They also said we'll receive an award letter about 2-3 weeks before the first payment. Thanks everyone for your help!

I actually ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. Felt a little silly paying to get through to a government agency we all fund with our taxes, but I was desperate after weeks of trying. Got connected to an agent in about 25 minutes!

Did u also receive a seperate notice from SSA telling u about an overpayment? They SHOULD send one if they think u owe money back but sometimes they miss that step which is totally unfair.

Anyone else think it's CRAZY how unnecessarily complicated they make all this SS stuff?? My FRA is in 2 years and I'm already stressed about dealing with all this paperwork and weird accounting methods!

One thing nobody mentioned - make sure you sign up for Medicare at 65 even if you're still working! That's separate from your SS retirement benefits. I missed the deadline and had to pay penalties. Don't make my mistake!

To summarize what everyone has correctly stated: 1. At your Full Retirement Age (66 and 10 months): No earnings limit whatsoever 2. Before FRA in 2025: $22,560 annual limit with $1 deduction for every $2 earned above limit 3. In the year you reach FRA in 2025 (months before your FRA): $59,520 limit with $1 deduction for every $3 earned above limit The most important thing is to be precise about your filing date. File exactly at 66 and 10 months or later to avoid any earnings limit issues. Also, keep in mind that working longer may increase your benefit through annual recalculations if your current earnings replace lower years in your work history. Congratulations on your upcoming retirement benefits while maintaining your career!

my aunt was in kinda the same boat and she just went ahead and took her benefits at 62 cause of health problems. she said waiting wasn't worth it if she might not be around to enjoy the money. gotta think about quality of life too right?

Based on what you've shared, here's my recommendation: 1. Request your Social Security statement through your my Social Security account to see exactly what your benefit amounts would be at different ages. 2. Calculate your ex-spousal benefit (approximately 50% of your ex's FRA benefit amount, reduced if you claim early). 3. Compare this to your own benefit at 62 vs. FRA. 4. Consider your health outlook and financial needs. In most cases where you're the higher earner, your own benefit will exceed the ex-spousal benefit, but you need the actual numbers to make an informed decision. Given your health concerns, don't automatically assume waiting until FRA is best - run the numbers for your specific situation.

I should have mentioned this earlier - your brother-in-law should also look into voluntary contributions to Social Security. In some cases, teachers can make voluntary payments to increase their quarter count. It's not always financially beneficial, but worth investigating in his specific situation. And yes, Claimyr is worth using if you need to actually talk to SSA. I spent 3 weeks trying to get answers about my WEP situation and kept getting disconnected. Used Claimyr and was talking to someone in 20 minutes who actually knew about teacher pensions and the new law changes.

Thank you everyone for the incredibly helpful responses! This clarifies so much. I've passed along all this information to my sister and brother-in-law, and they're going to: 1. Both create SSA accounts to check their estimated benefits 2. Use Claimyr to connect with an agent who can give them personalized answers 3. Have him check with the Texas teacher retirement system about any coordination options 4. Make sure he works enough post-teaching to maximize those substantial earnings years What a relief to know that my sister's own SS won't be reduced. That was their biggest worry! The GPO and WEP reductions phasing out over time is also great news since they're still about 10-12 years from retirement age.

btw my mom got a lump sum death benefit too, like $255 or something. did they mention that to u? showed up before the regular payments

I wanted to follow up about your concern with bills coming due. While waiting for your survivor benefits to start, you might want to contact your mortgage company and other creditors to explain the situation. Many have hardship programs specifically for those who've lost a spouse and are waiting for benefits to begin. Also, the one-time $255 death benefit your other commenter mentioned is separate from survivor benefits and sometimes processes faster. It should be paid to the surviving spouse if you were living together when he passed away.

does anyone know how long these applications take? my mom applied for the same thing 9 months ago and still hasnt heard anything

One more important thing to know: If you're approved for disabled widow's benefits, you'll be automatically enrolled in Medicare after 24 months on benefits, regardless of your age. This is a significant benefit that can help with your healthcare costs. Also, when you reach your full retirement age (probably 67 in your case), your benefit will automatically convert to a regular widow's benefit, which will be 100% of your husband's PIA instead of the 71.5% you receive as a disabled widow. This increase happens automatically.

Have u talked to your brothers doctors about this??? Our neurologist actually wrote a letter saying my daughter NEEDED continuous medicaid coverage for her treatment plan and that helped when we had to fight with the county medicaid office!!! Bring ALL the documentation you can!!

One more thing to be aware of: the DAC benefit amount will be 50% of your father's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) while your father is alive. If you have multiple family members drawing on your father's record, the Family Maximum Benefit rules might apply, potentially reducing the amount your brother receives. After calculating the expected DAC amount, I'd recommend contacting your state's Medicaid office BEFORE the transition occurs to discuss the DAC Medicaid continuation provision. Some offices have special coordinators who handle these complex cases. Getting ahead of the situation can prevent a gap in coverage.