I'm so sorry for your loss, Chloe. This is definitely something you need to address quickly, but don't panic - it's a very common issue that SSA deals with regularly. The payment system isn't connected in real-time to death notifications, so there's always this lag where payments continue briefly after someone passes. Here's what I learned when I went through this with my stepfather: Call SSA as early as possible in the morning (8 AM is ideal) and tell them you need to report an "overpayment due to death" - using those exact words will get you to the right department faster. Have his SSN, exact date of death, and the bank routing/account information ready. They'll likely send a form directly to the bank authorizing the return of the funds. Whatever you do, don't touch that money until you get the all-clear from SSA. The whole process usually takes 1-2 weeks once you make contact. You're doing everything right by being proactive about this. Many people just ignore it and then face bigger headaches later when SSA discovers it during their regular audits.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Chloe. I went through this exact situation when my uncle passed away in September. The key thing that helped me was calling SSA's automated phone system outside of peak hours - I had success calling around 7 PM on a weekday evening. The automated system can actually handle simple benefit inquiries and death notifications without needing to speak to a live person initially. When you do speak with someone, make sure to ask them to note in your father's file that you've reported the posthumous payment and are awaiting instructions for return. This creates a paper trail showing you were proactive about reporting it, which protects you if there are any delays in the return process. Also, ask the bank to place a hold or note on that specific deposit so it doesn't accidentally get mixed in with other account activity. Most banks are familiar with this situation and can flag SSA deposits separately until they receive return authorization. The whole thing took about 3 weeks for me, but having that documentation helped avoid any complications. You're handling this the right way by addressing it quickly.

I wanted to share something that really helped me when I went through this process - create a simple checklist of all the documents mentioned here and check them off as you gather them. It sounds basic, but when you're dealing with grief and stress, having that visual confirmation that you have everything can be really reassuring. Also, if you have multiple copies of important documents like the death certificate, bring extras. Sometimes they need to keep originals for their records, and you'll want copies for your own files. One last tip - if you use any medications that might affect your memory or concentration, consider taking your appointment at a time of day when you feel most alert. The information they'll give you is important for your financial future, so you want to be in the best headspace possible to understand and remember it all. You're being so proactive about this - that's going to serve you well!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you have any military service records for your husband (DD-214), bring those too. Military service can sometimes affect Social Security benefits calculations, and they may need to verify his service dates. Also, I'd suggest bringing a copy of your most recent Social Security statement (you can print it from ssa.gov if you have an account) so you can compare your projected benefits with the survivor benefits. This will help you understand which option might be better for you long-term. The representatives are usually very helpful in walking through these comparisons during your appointment. You sound like you're doing everything right to prepare - that thoroughness will definitely pay off!

Just wanted to share my recent experience since I went through this exact same process last year! I applied online in January at age 67 and received my first payment about 5 weeks later in March (for February benefits). The key things that helped speed up my process: 1) Made sure all my W-2s and tax info was up to date in their system beforehand, 2) Double-checked that my direct deposit info was correct in my mySSA account, and 3) Didn't call unless absolutely necessary since that seemed to slow things down. The online status tracker was actually pretty accurate - it went from "pending" to "approved" about a week before I got my first deposit. Since you're at full retirement age and filed online, you're in a good position for faster processing. Fingers crossed you see that payment sooner rather than later!

I went through this same process about 6 months ago and wanted to share what helped me get accurate information. While waiting for processing, I found that creating a my Social Security account online (if you don't already have one) was invaluable. Not only can you track your application status there, but you can also see your estimated benefit amount and payment schedule once approved. One thing that caught me off guard was that your first payment date depends on when your application gets fully processed, not just when you applied. So even though you applied in February, if processing takes a few weeks, your first payment might still follow the normal schedule based on your birth date (sounds like that would be the third Wednesday for you). The good news is that once you're in the system, payments are very reliable. I'd recommend checking your online account every few days rather than calling - the phone wait times are brutal and the online info is usually more current anyway.

I'm glad to see you're getting some solid advice here! As someone who works with international benefit cases, I wanted to add a few practical tips for when the time comes: 1. Make sure your wife keeps her Mexican passport current - she'll need it for identity verification when applying for survivor benefits at the US Embassy. 2. Consider setting up a US bank account that offers good international wire transfer services now, rather than waiting. Some Mexican banks have partnerships with US banks that make transfers easier and cheaper. 3. Keep all your Social Security earnings records organized and accessible. The embassy will need documentation of your work history when processing her application. 4. If she does decide to give up her green card eventually, she should do it formally through USCIS rather than just staying away - this creates a clear paper trail that can actually help with benefit processing later. The totalization agreement really does make this much simpler than it used to be. Your 35+ years of contributions definitely put you in a strong position to provide for her future security.

Great question about banking! For US-Mexico transfers, I've had good experiences with Bank of America and Wells Fargo - they both have partnerships with Mexican banks that reduce transfer fees. BBVA is another option since they operate in both countries. For documentation, yes - keep those annual Social Security statements (Form SSA-1099), but also consider requesting a complete earnings record from SSA using Form SSA-7050-F4. This gives you a year-by-year breakdown of your covered earnings, which can be helpful if there are any discrepancies when your wife applies for benefits. One more tip: if your wife plans to maintain her green card, she should file US tax returns even while living primarily in Mexico. This helps establish her continuing ties to the US and can be useful documentation for both immigration and Social Security purposes. The foreign earned income exclusion can help minimize any US tax liability on her Mexican income. The fact that you're planning this out now really shows you care about her future security - that's wonderful to see!

I'm in a somewhat similar boat and wanted to share what I've learned so far. I'm currently receiving early retirement benefits and have a pending SSDI application, though I don't have the workers' comp component that you're dealing with. From what I understand after speaking with several SSA representatives (and getting different answers each time, unfortunately), the key points seem to be: 1. If your SSDI gets approved, you'll receive the higher benefit amount - which would be your full disability benefit rather than your reduced early retirement amount. 2. The workers' comp offset only applies to SSDI, not to regular retirement benefits directly. But since you'd be receiving SSDI instead of early retirement if approved, that's where the offset would hit. 3. The good news is that even with the offset, you'll likely still come out ahead compared to your current reduced early retirement payments. One thing that's been helpful for me is keeping a detailed log of every conversation I have with SSA, including the representative's name, date, and what they told me. The consistency of information has been... let's say "variable." Have you considered reaching out to your local SSA office in person? Sometimes face-to-face conversations can be more productive than the phone calls, especially for complex situations like yours. Good luck with everything - this process is definitely not easy to navigate!

I've been following this discussion and wanted to add some clarity based on my experience working with Social Security benefits. The interaction between Workers' Comp settlements and Social Security benefits can indeed be confusing, but here's what's important to understand: The Workers' Compensation offset formula uses the higher of: (1) your monthly Social Security benefit amount, or (2) 1/12th of your highest annual earnings in the 5 years before you became disabled. Your combined benefits cannot exceed 80% of this figure. However, there's an important timing consideration: if your Workers' Comp settlement is structured as a lump sum, SSA will typically "prorate" it over the period it was intended to cover. This can significantly affect how the offset is calculated and applied. Also, regarding the conversion from early retirement to SSDI - yes, you would receive your full Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) if approved for SSDI, which is typically higher than reduced early retirement benefits. The key is that this adjustment happens regardless of the Workers' Comp situation. I'd strongly recommend requesting a "benefit estimate" letter from SSA that shows exactly how your benefits would be calculated with the Workers' Comp offset. This will give you concrete numbers to work with for your financial planning. The system is complex, but understanding these key points should help you make more informed decisions about your situation.