I'm new to this community but facing a very similar situation with my disabled adult son. One thing I discovered that might be helpful is to also look into whether your daughter might be eligible for ABLE accounts (Achieving a Better Life Experience). These special savings accounts allow people with disabilities to save money without affecting their SSI or Medicaid eligibility, and family members can contribute up to $17,000 annually (as of 2023). While this doesn't directly address your caregiver situation, it could help with long-term financial planning for your daughter's care. Also, since you mentioned you're 63 and still working, you might want to consider that if you can delay your own Social Security until age 70, your benefit could be significantly higher than divorced spousal benefits - but definitely run the numbers first! The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) has a directory where you can find attorneys who specialize in Social Security and disability planning if you want professional guidance on timing these decisions.

Welcome to the community! I'm new here too and have been researching similar issues for my disabled adult daughter. One thing I discovered that might help is looking into your state's Family Caregiver Support Program through the Area Agency on Aging. While these programs are typically for seniors, some states have expanded them to include caregivers of disabled adults. They might offer respite services, counseling, or even small stipends. Also, since you mentioned working full-time while caregiving, you might want to check if your employer offers any dependent care assistance programs or flexible spending accounts for dependent care expenses - these can provide some tax relief even if Social Security doesn't recognize your caregiving role. The situation is definitely frustrating, but it sounds like you're asking all the right questions about planning ahead. The advice others have given about comparing your own earnings record to divorced spousal benefits is really solid - especially since you've been working continuously for most of your career.

I'm new to this community and just wanted to add my experience to help others who might be in similar situations. I delayed my benefits for 7.5 months past my FRA (reached it in March 2024, started collecting in late October) and I'm also still waiting to see my delayed retirement credits show up in MySocialSecurity. I should be getting about 5% more monthly, which would add approximately $130 to my payment. What's really striking to me after reading through all these responses is how consistent the timeline is for everyone with 5+ month delays. It seems like SSA definitely handles longer delays differently - probably requiring manual review as several people mentioned. I called in early January and got the same "wait for recalculation" response that everyone else received. The pattern across all these experiences gives me confidence that this is just a processing issue, not a mistake with our applications. I'm going to follow the community advice and wait until mid-February before calling again. If I do need to call, I'll definitely use that specific terminology about "delayed retirement credits not being applied to benefit amount." Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - this thread has been incredibly valuable for understanding what's normal in these situations. It's reassuring to know we're all in this together and should see our proper benefits (with back pay) once SSA gets through their processing backlog!

As someone new to this community, I'm really grateful to have found this discussion! I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation - I delayed my benefits for 6.5 months past my FRA (reached it in May 2024, started collecting in mid-November) and my MySocialSecurity account still isn't showing the delayed retirement credits. I should be getting about 4.33% more monthly (6.5 months × 2/3% per month), which would add roughly $105 to my payment. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly eye-opening and reassuring. The clear pattern that emerges is that delays of 5+ months consistently take longer to process, likely requiring manual review rather than automatic processing. I called SSA in December and again in mid-January, getting the same "wait for annual recalculation" response both times. What really strikes me is how consistent the timeline and responses have been across all our different delay periods - from 5 months all the way up to 9+ months. This strongly suggests it's a systematic processing issue rather than individual problems with our applications. The fact that we've all been told to wait for January recalculation, and we're all still waiting, really reinforces that this is just how SSA handles longer delays. I'm definitely going to follow the community consensus and wait until mid-February before calling again. If I do need to call, I'll use that specific terminology about "delayed retirement credits not being applied to benefit amount" that several people mentioned. It's really comforting to know that when the adjustment finally comes through, we should get all the back pay from when our benefits started. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - this thread has been invaluable for understanding what's normal in these situations!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Kristin. I went through this exact process about 6 months ago when my husband passed away. The information everyone has shared here is excellent - you definitely cannot complete the full survivor benefits application online, but you can schedule your appointment online which saves so much frustration. I wanted to add one thing that really helped me: when you call or schedule online, specifically ask if you can have a "bereavement specialist" handle your case. Many SSA offices have representatives who are specially trained to work with people who have lost spouses. They tend to be more patient, understanding, and knowledgeable about the specific documents and processes involved in survivor benefits. Also, don't worry if you need to reschedule your appointment - life is unpredictable when you're grieving, and SSA is generally accommodating about this. I had to reschedule mine twice because I just wasn't emotionally ready, and they were completely understanding. One last practical tip: if you decide to do a phone appointment, make sure you're in a quiet space with good cell reception and have a pen and paper ready. They'll give you confirmation numbers and next steps that you'll want to write down, but it's hard to focus when you're emotional. You're stronger than you know, and you'll get through this process. Take it at your own pace.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Kristin. I went through this same process when my father passed away last year, and I can definitely relate to not wanting to deal with crowded offices while processing grief. Everyone here has given you excellent advice - you're absolutely right that survivor benefits can't be completed entirely online, but the online appointment scheduling is a lifesaver. I'd also echo the suggestion about asking for a bereavement specialist when you schedule. They made such a difference in my experience. One thing I wanted to add that I don't think anyone mentioned yet: if you have any of your husband's old Social Security statements or benefit estimates, bring those along too. Sometimes there can be discrepancies in earnings records, and having those documents can help resolve any issues more quickly. Also, if he was receiving any Social Security benefits before he passed away, make sure to ask about stopping those payments - sometimes there can be overpayments that need to be addressed. The reduced benefit amount at 58 might feel discouraging, but remember that you can always switch to your own retirement benefits later if they would be higher. The SSA representative can help you understand your options for maximizing your lifetime benefits. You're handling an incredibly difficult situation with such grace. Take all the time you need, and don't hesitate to ask for help when you need it.

I just wanted to jump in as someone who's been navigating the SSA earnings limit for about 8 months now. The advice in this thread is spot-on - it really is about when you EARN the money, not when you're paid. One thing I learned that might help others: if you're ever unsure about a specific situation, SSA has local field offices where you can sometimes get face-to-face help. I know calling is a nightmare, but I had good luck just walking into my local office during non-peak hours (mid-morning on weekdays) and getting clarity on some confusing scenarios. Also, for those asking about tracking tools - I started with a simple notebook that I kept in my work bag. Every day I worked, I'd jot down the date, hours, and estimated earnings. At the end of each month, I'd add it up. Low-tech but foolproof! The most important thing I learned is to be conservative with your estimates and keep detailed records. Better to work a little less and keep your full benefit than to risk the overpayment headache that several people here have described. The peace of mind is worth more than the extra few dollars you might earn by cutting it close.

As someone who just went through this process last year, I can confirm what most others have said - SSA absolutely counts earnings when you EARN them, not when you get paid. This caused me some initial confusion because my employer pays on the 15th and 30th of each month, so my paychecks never aligned with the actual months I worked the hours. What really helped me was creating a simple system: I keep a small pocket calendar where I write my hours worked each day, then at the end of each week I calculate my earnings for those specific dates. This way I always know exactly where I stand for the current month, regardless of when my actual paycheck arrives. One tip that saved me from potential problems: if you work any holidays or get called in for emergency shifts, make sure to account for any premium pay (time-and-a-half, holiday pay, etc.) when calculating your monthly totals. I almost went over the limit one month because I forgot that my Thanksgiving hours were paid at 1.5x my regular rate. Also, don't hesitate to ask your HR department for a detailed breakdown of how they track your hours across month boundaries. Most payroll systems can generate reports showing exactly when hours were worked versus when they'll be paid, which can be invaluable for your record-keeping. The $1,950 monthly limit might seem manageable, but it's easier to hit than you think when you factor in all the variables. I aim for no more than $1,800 per month just to have a buffer zone. Better safe than sorry!

I work in IT and see this kind of issue a lot with government sites. One thing that might help is checking if JavaScript is enabled in your browser - some SSA forms won't submit properly without it. Also, if you're using a VPN, try disconnecting it temporarily as government sites sometimes block VPN traffic. Another trick is to fill out the form completely but don't submit it right away - let it sit for a minute or two, then try submitting. Sometimes the session needs time to fully establish. Good luck!

I've been dealing with this same frustrating issue for weeks! What finally worked for me was a combination of things: I cleared my browser cache, disabled my ad blocker, and then tried during off-peak hours (around 6 AM). It took three attempts but eventually went through. One thing I noticed is that if you get the error message, don't immediately try again - wait at least 10-15 minutes between attempts or it seems to make the problem worse. Also, make sure you're using a supported browser (Chrome or Edge worked best for me). If you're still having trouble after trying all the tech fixes people have suggested, I'd recommend calling the SSA helpline at 1-800-772-1213. Yes, the wait times can be brutal, but at least you'll get a human who can help process your application over the phone. Hang in there - you'll get through eventually!