Has ANYONE mentioned the importance of APPLYING ON TIME??? The SSA only pays 6 months of retroactive benefits for survivors! If you're already past 60 or getting close, don't wait! I made this mistake and lost almost a year of payments because I didn't realize I needed to apply right at 60. Even if you're still working, it might be worth applying and dealing with the earnings test rather than missing out completely! Also something else to consider - if you decide to remarry AFTER 60, you can still collect your late husband's survivor benefits. But if you remarry BEFORE 60, you generally can't claim on his record.

Since several people have mentioned the earnings test, let me provide some clarity on that since it might affect your decision: 1. For 2025, the earnings limit is projected to be around $22,800 if you're under full retirement age for the full year (this is an estimate based on current trends). 2. If you earn over that amount, $1 in benefits will be withheld for every $2 you earn above the limit. 3. However, it's important to understand that this isn't a penalty - it's a deferral. After you reach FRA, your benefit will be recalculated to give you credit for months when benefits were withheld. 4. If you're planning to continue working full-time at a job with significant earnings, you might want to calculate whether it makes sense to claim at 60 or wait until your earnings decrease or you reach FRA. I strongly recommend discussing these specifics with an SSA representative who can look at your exact situation and provide personalized guidance.

My brother works for the SSA and says people confuse this ALL THE TIME. Once you hit your full retirement age, there is NO earnings limit whatsoever!!!! But watch out for the tax implications - that's probably what your neighbor was talking about.

Just want to add - make sure you're also paying attention to Medicare IRMAA surcharges if your income is high enough. That's another thing that can be affected by joint income and sometimes catches people by surprise. If your combined income goes over certain thresholds, you might pay higher Medicare Part B and D premiums two years later.

My brother retired 2 months before his FRA and he said the reduction wasn't that bad actually! Like $37 less per month or something. Might be worth it if you already gave notice at work!

For what it's worth, you should apply 3 months before you want benefits to begin, regardless of whether that's at your FRA or slightly before. So if you decide to start benefits at 66+8 (slightly early) or wait until 66+10 (your actual FRA), in either case you should apply 3 months before your intended start date. The application process is the same.

Quick update on my earlier comment - I forgot to mention that you should check if your local office allows appointments. Some offices now let you schedule them through the SSA website. It's hit or miss, but worth checking before you spend hours on hold or waiting in line.

I was in your exact situation two months ago with my 17-year-old daughter. After wasting days trying to get through on the phone, I tried that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. Got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes and had the whole application done in another 30. My daughter's first payment arrived about 3 weeks later. They backpaid from when I first got my benefits too!

also ask about the earning credits!!! If he didnt work long enough (need 40 credits usually) there are special rules for younger workers!!! My friend's husband only worked 6 years before he died and his kids still qualified!!! The rules are different for survivor benefits vs retirement!!

Thank you everyone for your helpful responses. I just spoke with my sister-in-law and we're going to try calling SSA tomorrow morning. If we can't get through, we'll try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. She had no idea my niece would qualify for benefits, so this will really help with future expenses. I appreciate all the advice about documentation and what to expect.

I just remembered - my cousin had major problems trying to apply for survivor benefits online. The website kept glitching and then they processed her application wrong!!! She ended up having to go in person after waiting online for like 3 months!! If I were you I would just try to talk to a real person right away and not mess with their horrible website!!!

Thank you everyone for the helpful information! I've scheduled an appointment with my local SSA office for next week, and I've made notes about asking for the "restricted application" option. I'm still upset about potentially losing 3 years of benefits, but at least I can make better choices going forward. I'll update after my appointment to let you know how it goes and what they tell me about my options.

This whole thread is making me scared to retire lol I'm 64 and was planning to wait till 68 to max out my benefits but now I'm wondering if it's worth the hassle? Maybe I should just take the lower amount at 66 and avoid all this nightmare??

Don't let administrative problems deter you from making the best financial decision. Delaying benefits is still mathematically advantageous for most people who can afford to wait. The lifetime difference between claiming at 66 vs. 68 could be tens of thousands of dollars. Most people don't experience these issues, but obviously those with problems are more likely to post about them online. If you do delay, just keep meticulous records of all your interactions with SSA.

my niece lost her benefits when she turned 18 even tho she has autism too!! they said she wasnt "disabled enough" whatever that means. its all about what judge you get. some are nice and some are TERRIBLE. good luck!!!

Thank you everyone for all this information! I just scheduled an appointment with her developmental pediatrician and neuropsychologist to get updated evaluations. I also downloaded the SSA-4-BK form and will start working on it tonight. I'm going to try using that Claimyr service tomorrow to actually talk to someone at SSA and get specific guidance for our situation. It's such a relief to know I might be able to keep my benefits too since I'm still providing substantial care for her. This has been extremely helpful - I was feeling completely lost about what to do next.

Wait, I'm confused... I thought you ALWAYS had to report new work to Social Security no matter what? I've been calling them every time I switch jobs (I'm 68) and sitting through those awful wait times for nothing??? Someone please clarify!

Update: I talked to my mom and she's definitely receiving retirement benefits and is exactly at her FRA (66). Based on everyone's helpful replies, it sounds like she doesn't need to report her new job at all since she's at FRA and there's no earnings limit. I'm still going to help her set up a my Social Security account though, because she's been getting all her SS information through paper mail and it would be easier to have online access. Thank you everyone for the super helpful information!

has anyone else noticed that SS office treats you like your stupid when you ask questions??? i swear the lady i talked to about survivors benifits acted like i was wasting her time

One more important point about survivor benefits that hasn't been mentioned yet: If you decide to take your own reduced retirement benefit now and switch to survivor benefits at your FRA, the reduction to your own benefit is permanent. But taking reduced survivor benefits now won't affect your own retirement benefit if you switch to it later. This asymmetry in the rules is why many financial advisors recommend taking the reduced survivor benefit first and then switching to your own retirement benefit at 70 if it would be higher. Also, don't forget that you'll need to provide documentation when you apply: marriage certificate, your wife's death certificate, both your SSNs, and proof of her SSDI status. Having all this ready will make the application process smoother.