my friend just went through this... she said if you wait too long they might put a freeze on your dads account and then its a huge headache to sort out. def call them soon

I'm sorry for your loss, Chloe. I went through something similar when my grandmother passed away last year. The key thing is to act quickly - don't wait for SSA to figure it out on their own. From my experience, here's what worked: Call the SSA customer service line early in the morning (around 8 AM) when wait times are shorter. Have your father's SSN, date of death, and the bank account information ready. They'll walk you through the exact process for returning the payment. In my case, they sent a form to the bank that authorized the return of the funds. The whole process took about 10 days once I made the call. Don't stress too much - this happens frequently and they have a standard procedure for handling it. Just make sure you don't spend or move that money until it's resolved.

Great questions! I went through a similar decision process a few years ago. One thing that really helped me was using the Social Security Administration's online benefit estimator (ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/estimator.html) to see exactly what my benefit would be at different claiming ages. Since you mentioned you were the secondary earner working part-time, definitely look into whether spousal benefits might be higher than your own work record. The general rule is you get the higher of: your own benefit OR up to 50% of your husband's full retirement age benefit (if you wait until your FRA to claim spousal). Also consider this timing strategy: if your husband delays his retirement past his FRA (up to age 70), his benefit grows by 8% per year. This not only increases his monthly benefit but also increases the potential survivor benefit for you later. Sometimes it makes sense for the higher earner to delay while the lower earner claims at FRA. The tax situation with his $80k income is definitely something to factor in, but don't let it be the only deciding factor. Even if 85% of your benefit is subject to tax, you're still keeping a significant portion of it.

Just wanted to add another perspective from someone who made the decision to wait! I was in a similar boat at 62 - husband still working, making good money, and I was volunteering with our local literacy program. I agonized over the same questions you're asking. I ultimately decided to wait until my FRA at 67, and I'm really glad I did. The extra 5 years gave me time to really understand all the nuances people are discussing here. Plus, when I finally did claim, my monthly benefit was about 43% higher than what it would have been at 62. The taxation issue with your husband's income is real, but here's something to consider: his income will likely be lower once he retires, which could reduce the percentage of your SS benefits subject to tax. If you wait to claim until around the same time he retires, you might avoid some of those higher tax brackets entirely. Also, I found the SSA's "my Social Security" online account invaluable for tracking my estimated benefits at different claiming ages. Much easier than trying to get through on the phone! You can create one at ssa.gov if you haven't already. Your volunteer work with the food pantries sounds incredibly meaningful - that kind of purpose can make the wait feel more worthwhile too.

my sister said that she called them when this happened to her and they told her she couldn't do anything but wait. i think its just how the system works

I'm going through the exact same situation right now! Filed in January for benefits starting April 2025, and my 2024 earnings aren't showing up online either. After reading everyone's experiences here, it sounds like the automatic adjustment is pretty reliable - just takes time. I'm budgeting conservatively based on my current benefit estimate and treating any future increase as a bonus. The peace of mind is worth more than stressing over the exact timing. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it really helps to know this is normal!

Thank you everyone for the helpful responses! I'm much less worried now. I'll let my daughter and SIL know this is normal and that they should check again in mid-2025 to make sure their 2024 earnings show up correctly. It really would be nice if the SS website explained this delay more clearly instead of just showing such obviously incorrect numbers without any explanation!

I totally understand the confusion! This is actually one of the most common questions people have about their Social Security records. The key thing to remember is that SSA operates on a completely different timeline than what most people expect. Your daughter and son-in-law's situation is 100% normal. Those small amounts showing for 2024 could be from early in the year before they started their current jobs, or even partial reporting from their employer's payroll system. The bulk of their 2024 earnings won't appear until SSA processes all the W-2 forms next year. I'd recommend they bookmark their SSA accounts and check again around May or June 2025 - that's typically when you'll see the previous year's earnings fully updated. And definitely keep those pay stubs just in case there are any discrepancies down the road!

To address your specific questions more precisely: 1. Family Maximum Calculation: This is based on your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) - which is your benefit at Full Retirement Age - NOT your reduced early retirement benefit. This is established in SSA regulations under 20 CFR § 404.403. 2. Children's Benefits Calculation: Each child is eligible for up to 50% of your PIA, but since you're claiming early, their benefits are proportionally reduced based on your actual benefit amount. Here's a simplified example using your numbers: - Your PIA (FRA benefit): $2,600 - Your reduced benefit at 62: $1,780 (about 68.5% of PIA) - Each child's benefit would be: 50% × $1,780 = $890 The family maximum might be around 175% of your PIA, so approximately $4,550. The total family benefits ($1,780 + $890 + $890 = $3,560) would be under this maximum, so no additional reductions would apply. I recommend requesting a detailed benefits calculation from SSA for your specific situation.

To answer your follow-up question: Since your children will age out of eligibility before you reach your FRA at 67, there might not be a significant advantage to waiting if your primary concern is maximizing their benefits. By claiming at 62, you'll receive your reduced benefit of $1,780, and each child will receive approximately $890. If you waited until FRA, you'd get the full $2,600, and they'd each get $1,300, but they would receive these higher amounts for fewer years or not at all depending on exactly when they turn 18 (or 19 if still in high school). Given your son's medical expenses, claiming early might make more financial sense for your family's current needs. Just be aware that your own benefit will remain permanently reduced even after your children are no longer receiving benefits.