I'm so sorry for your loss and the incredible frustration you and your mom are going through. Five months is absolutely ridiculous for survivor benefits processing - this is completely unacceptable. I just went through something very similar with my own family when my uncle passed away last year. My aunt waited 4 months before we finally got results, and what broke the logjam was getting our Congressional representative involved. Their federal caseworker was able to get through to SSA supervisors directly and had the claim resolved within 10 days. Here's what I'd recommend doing immediately: **Contact your House representative's office** - Ask specifically for their "federal caseworker" who handles SSA issues. This really works because they have direct lines to supervisors who can actually access and review your mom's file. **Call SSA at exactly 8:00 AM** - The wait times are much shorter when lines first open, and you're more likely to get experienced representatives. **Use specific language** - Ask for "expedited processing due to severe financial hardship" and request to speak to a "Claims Specialist" who can review the actual case details. **Document everything** - Keep a detailed log of every call with dates, representative names, and what they tell you. This creates accountability. Your mom shouldn't have to choose between groceries and her mortgage while waiting for benefits she's legally entitled to. The fact that she's already receiving retirement benefits shouldn't complicate this - something is definitely stuck in their system. Keep pushing and don't accept vague responses anymore. After 5 months, you have every right to demand immediate action. You're being an amazing advocate for your mom during such a difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss and the unbelievable stress this delay is putting on your family. Five months is absolutely outrageous - I went through something similar when my grandmother passed and we had to wait nearly 4 months for her survivor benefits to be processed. What finally worked for us was filing a congressional inquiry. I called our representative's office and spoke with their federal caseworker who handles SSA issues. They were able to get through to actual supervisors at Social Security and had our case resolved within about a week and a half. Don't hesitate to use this option - constituent services are specifically there to help with exactly these kinds of federal agency problems. A couple other things that helped: - Call SSA right at 8:00 AM when they open - much shorter wait times - Ask specifically for a "Claims Specialist" who can actually review your mom's file details - Use the phrase "expedited processing due to financial hardship" - seems like they respond better to specific terminology Your mom absolutely shouldn't have to use credit cards for groceries while waiting for benefits she's legally entitled to. After 5 months something is clearly wrong with her claim and you have every right to demand immediate action. Keep fighting for her - you're being an incredible advocate during such a difficult time. Also, you might want to call 211 to ask about local emergency assistance programs for widows while you're working to resolve this SSA nightmare. Many communities have specific resources for people waiting on delayed government benefits.

This has been such an educational thread to follow! As someone who's 60 and starting to think seriously about early retirement, I had no idea about the distinction between "earned" and "unearned" income for Social Security purposes. I have a similar situation with some investment accounts and was worried I'd have to completely stop managing my investments once I start collecting benefits. It's such a relief to learn that investment income doesn't count toward the earnings limit. The practical advice shared here has been invaluable - especially the tips about applying 4 months early, asking for written confirmation from SSA, and checking both retirement and survivor benefits. I'm also going to implement that spreadsheet idea to get better organized with tracking my different income sources. One thing that really stands out to me is how much more helpful this real-world discussion has been compared to trying to decipher the official SSA publications. There's something so valuable about hearing from people who have actually been through the process and can share what really matters in practice. Thank you to everyone who contributed their experiences and knowledge. This thread is going to save me a lot of stress and confusion as I plan for retirement!

As someone who recently turned 62 and is navigating early retirement myself, I wanted to add my voice to this incredibly helpful discussion! I had almost identical concerns about my small investment portfolio and whether trading activities would jeopardize my Social Security benefits. After reading through everyone's experiences here, I feel so much more confident about moving forward with my retirement plans. The distinction between "earned" and "unearned" income that everyone has explained makes perfect sense now, but it definitely wasn't clear from the SSA materials I'd been reading. Knowing that my modest stock investments and CD interest won't count against the earnings limit is such a huge relief! I'm particularly grateful for all the practical tips shared - applying 4 months early, asking for written confirmation, checking survivor benefits, and creating a spreadsheet to organize income sources. These are exactly the kind of real-world insights you can't get from government websites. For anyone else reading this thread with similar concerns, I can't recommend this community enough. The knowledge and willingness to help that people have shown here is truly remarkable. Thank you all for creating such a valuable resource for those of us trying to navigate these complex retirement decisions!

This thread has been so incredibly informative! As someone new to navigating Social Security benefits, I had no idea how complex the "deemed spouse" situation could be for separated couples. Reading through everyone's experiences and advice has really opened my eyes to how important proper documentation and preparation are for these cases. What strikes me most is how much variation there seems to be in how different SSA representatives handle these situations - some seem to automatically assume spousal income will count, while others are more thorough in evaluating the separation evidence. That makes the advice about calling ahead to clarify policies and potentially getting professional consultation even more valuable. The specific tips about SSA Publication 05-11000, the importance of using "permanent" separation language, and documenting community ties like voting registrations are things I never would have thought of. It's also encouraging to hear from people like Zara and Yara who have successfully navigated or are currently navigating similar situations. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a comparable situation - this discussion is a goldmine of practical advice! Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise.

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! As someone who works in social services and frequently helps clients navigate SSA benefits, I want to add a few practical tips that might help your husband's application process go more smoothly: 1. When he calls SSA, ask to speak specifically with someone experienced in "living apart" determinations for married couples applying for SSI. Not all representatives are equally familiar with these nuances. 2. Create a timeline document showing the 10-year separation with key dates (when you moved to separate addresses, when you started filing taxes separately, etc.) - this helps paint a clear picture of the permanent nature of your separation. 3. If possible, get a letter from a mutual friend or family member who can attest to your long-term separation. Third-party verification can be very compelling. 4. Keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit, and get confirmation numbers for any documents sent to SSA. Your case sounds exceptionally strong with the decade-long separation and comprehensive documentation. The fact that you've maintained completely separate lives, finances, and addresses for 10 years puts you in a much better position than many cases I've seen successfully approved. Don't let anyone discourage you from applying - your situation clearly meets the criteria for permanent separation that SSA looks for in these determinations.

As someone who recently helped my grandmother navigate a similar situation with state teacher retirement and Social Security, I can't emphasize enough how important it is to get the official calculations from the source. What I learned is that these benefit coordination rules are incredibly nuanced - what works for one person might not apply to another even in seemingly similar situations. The Railroad Retirement Board has specialized representatives who understand these intersections much better than general SSA staff. One practical tip: when your aunt calls RRB, ask them to send her a written summary of the benefit calculation and explanation of any offsets. Having it in writing helped us tremendously when we had follow-up questions later. Also, don't be discouraged if the first person she talks to can't give her a complete answer - these cases sometimes require escalation to more specialized staff. The key is persistence and making sure she gets a thorough analysis of all her options. Even if the benefit ends up being smaller than hoped due to various offsets, that extra monthly income could still make a real difference in her financial security. Good luck to your aunt!

I wanted to add something that might be relevant for your aunt's situation - the application process itself. When she contacts the Railroad Retirement Board, she should be prepared that getting an appointment and complete analysis might take several weeks or even months depending on their current workload. In the meantime, she can create a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov to review her complete earnings history and get an estimate of what her Social Security retirement benefit would be before any offsets. This will give her a baseline number to work with when she talks to RRB about the coordination. Also, if she decides to move forward with applying for Social Security benefits, she can potentially request up to 6 months of retroactive benefits since she's already past full retirement age. Given that she's 74, this could result in a decent lump sum payment even if her ongoing monthly benefit is reduced. One last thought - make sure she keeps detailed notes of every conversation she has with both RRB and SSA, including names, dates, and reference numbers. These cases can involve multiple phone calls and it's easy to lose track of what information was provided when. Having good records will help if there are any discrepancies later on.

As someone who works with disability claims, I want to emphasize that your sister should also be prepared for the appeals process if needed. Initial SSDI applications are denied about 65% of the time, even for legitimate claims. If she gets denied initially, don't give up! The reconsideration and hearing levels have much higher approval rates. Keep all her medical records organized and make sure her doctors are documenting how her rheumatoid arthritis specifically prevents her from performing her nursing duties. The key is showing she cannot do her past work AND cannot adjust to other work given her age, education, and limitations. With 35+ years of work history and a solid medical condition like severe RA, she has a strong case - just be patient with the process.

Just want to add that your sister should also consider whether she has any private disability insurance through her nursing job that she might need to coordinate with SSDI. Some employer policies require you to apply for Social Security disability and will offset their payments accordingly. Also, if she's been paying into a state disability program, she should check if that affects her SSDI eligibility or timing. It's worth reviewing all her insurance policies before the SSDI approval comes through to make sure she's maximizing all available benefits and understands any coordination requirements.