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Login.Gov SSA account showing new email but only lets me sign in with old one - anyone else?
I'm experiencing the weirdest issue with my SSA online account after switching to the Login.Gov system. Everything was fine until yesterday when I tried updating my contact information because I'm switching internet providers. I successfully changed my email address in my profile, and the system showed the change was complete - my profile page displays the NEW email address. But here's the crazy part - when I log out and try to log back in using that new email address, the system says it doesn't recognize it! I've tried three times now. The only way I can access my account is by using my OLD email address that I just changed from! Has the SSA system just not fully processed my email change? The wait time when I called was over 2 hours so I hung up. Does anyone know if there's a lag time between updating profile info and when Login.Gov actually recognizes those changes? Not sure if I should be worried about accessing my benefits info when I need it.
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why does social security make EVERYTHING so complicated???? i had a similar problem but with my phone number and ended up getting locked out of my account for A MONTH!!!! had to go to the office in person which was another nightmare with the wait times
The wait times at the offices r CRAZY!! I went last week and waited 3hrs just to be told I needed different paperwork 🤦♀️
UPDATE: Problem solved! I followed the advice to update my email on Login.gov directly (separate from my SSA profile), and now everything works correctly. I can log in with my new email address now. Thanks everyone for the help! For anyone else with this issue - you need to change your email in BOTH systems.
Thanks for coming back to share what fixed it! So many people just disappear after getting their answer!
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ALSO! Something nobody mentioned yet - even if you did qualify for the maximum, that $5,100 figure isn't right for 2023. The max at age 70 for 2023 is $4,555 if you had maximum earnings for 35+ years. The numbers in these discussions are ALWAYS changing due to COLA adjustments.
yep and if OP is retiring in a few years itll be even different by then prob higher with inflation
One more important point: there IS an earnings limit, but it works differently than you're thinking. The earnings limit applies if you claim benefits BEFORE your Full Retirement Age (FRA) while still working. It doesn't affect what your benefit amount will be at age 70. At age 70, you can earn unlimited income from working without any reduction to your Social Security benefits. The only thing that might affect your net benefit at that point would be taxation - up to 85% of your benefit could be taxable depending on your combined income.
That's really helpful to know! I was planning to keep working part-time even after claiming at 70, so I'm glad to hear that won't reduce my benefits.
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Don't forget that your first payment might be prorated depending on when you applied and when you want benefits to start. They don't always start on the first of the month.
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what happens if u dont have all the money to pay back? my cusin started ss early and its been 4 months but he spent most of it already
Unfortunately, SSA requires repayment of the full amount before they'll process the withdrawal. There's no installment option for this specific situation. If your cousin can't repay the full amount, they won't be able to withdraw the application. However, if they're still under FRA, they could consider suspending benefits when they reach FRA until age 70 to earn delayed retirement credits on the portion of benefits not affected by early claiming.
Just a heads up - after you submit the SSA-521 form, you might still receive another payment or two while they're processing your request. Don't spend this money! You'll need to return these payments as well. When I did my withdrawal, I got an extra payment deposited even after submitting my form, and it created confusion with the total amount I needed to repay.
That's really good to know. I'll make sure to set aside any additional payments that come through during the processing time. Would it be better to just return a check immediately if one arrives after I submit the form?
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Thank you all for the helpful responses! I've learned so much more than I expected. Just to make sure I understand correctly: 1) I can get up to 100% of my husband's benefit as a survivor if I claim at my FRA, 2) My early claiming of my own benefit doesn't reduce my survivor benefit, 3) I should be aware of the household income reduction from losing one check, and 4) I need to be careful about getting accurate information from SSA. This gives me a much better picture for our financial planning.
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just make sure they apply within 30 days!!! SS doesn't backdate payments if u wait!
This isn't correct. SSA will backdate survivor benefit applications for up to 6 months, but not beyond that. So while it's best to apply immediately, the 30-day deadline mentioned isn't accurate. They shouldn't delay, but they have more than 30 days.
Random question but did your sister-in-law ever work for a state government that didn't participate in Social Security? My aunt found out her husband's survivor benefits were reduced because of something called the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). Just something to look into if she ever had non-SS employment.
That's a good point to consider. Fortunately, my sister-in-law only worked in the private sector, so WEP and GPO shouldn't apply in her case. I appreciate you bringing this up though - it could help someone else reading this thread.
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That's great! Glad you got it sorted out. Just make a note on your calendar for 6 weeks from now in case you need to follow up. In my experience, these things sometimes fall through the cracks.
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One more important thing to consider: If you're still working, your benefits could be reduced if you claim before your FRA and earn over the annual limit ($22,320 in 2025). After FRA, there's no earnings limit. So if you're planning to continue working, that's another factor to consider in your claiming decision.
Good point about the earnings test. Though it's worth mentioning that those "lost" benefits due to the earnings test aren't truly lost - your benefit amount is recalculated at FRA to give credit for months when benefits were withheld.
Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I think I understand now - my FRA is 66 and 10 months (not a "max age"), and I can get delayed retirement credits up until age 70. I'm still working, so I'll probably wait at least until my FRA to avoid the earnings limit. Since my family tends to live into their 90s, waiting until 70 might be the best financial decision for me. I'll check my mySocialSecurity account to get my specific benefit estimates at different ages.
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Yes, there is definitely an advantage to waiting past 60 if you can afford to. The survivor benefit increases gradually from age 60 until you reach your Full Retirement Age (which is likely 67 for you). Here's the approximate breakdown: - Age 60: 71.5% of deceased spouse's benefit - Age 61: 76.25% - Age 62: 81% - Age 63: 85.75% - Age 64: 90.5% - Age 65: 95.25% - Age 66: 99.9% - FRA (67): 100% Each year you wait gives you about a 4.75% increase. This is different from retirement benefits, which increase 8% per year beyond FRA until age 70. Survivor benefits don't increase after you reach your FRA. If your own retirement benefit might be higher than the survivor benefit, another strategy would be to take the reduced survivor benefit at 60 and then switch to your own benefit at 70 when it reaches its maximum amount.
wait you can switch between different benefits???? i thought once you picked one you were stuck with it for life
One thing I learned during my own benefits journey is that survivor benefits are uniquely flexible compared to retirement benefits. You can actually switch between them! For example, you could take reduced survivor benefits at 60, then switch to your own retirement benefit later if it would be higher (especially if you wait until 70 to maximize your own benefit). And something else important - the earnings limit changes in the year you reach FRA. During the months of that year before your birthday, the limit is much higher (around $59,520 for 2025) and they only withhold $1 for every $3 above the limit. After you reach FRA, there's no earnings limit at all! It's definitely worth making an appointment with SSA to discuss your specific options. They can run calculations based on your work record to help you make the best decision.
That's incredibly helpful! I had no idea about the flexibility to switch between benefits. I'll definitely need to speak with SSA directly to understand my options based on my specific work record. Thank you!
Mohamed Anderson
My sister worked for SSA for 35 years and told me they NEVER automatically give you the best deal! You HAVE to ask specifically or they'll just keep quiet and you lose money forever! They shoulda told you all this when you first applied but they dont care about us seniors!
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Daniel White
•This isn't entirely accurate. While it's always good to be informed about your benefits, the SSA systems are designed to automatically calculate dual entitlement (when someone is eligible for their own retirement plus spousal benefits). However, it is true that they don't automatically *advise* you on claiming strategies that might maximize your benefits. They'll process what you apply for, but they don't typically suggest when you should file or how to coordinate between spouses. That's why it's good to do research or talk to a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security claiming strategies.
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Abigail Patel
Thank you all for the helpful information! I've learned so much from this discussion. We're going to reconsider when my husband should file based on all your advice about spousal and survivor benefits. I think we need to look at this as a family strategy rather than just individual benefits like someone suggested. I'm also going to make an appointment with our local SSA office to make sure we understand all our options before making a decision. The difference between filing at 65 versus waiting until 70 could mean tens of thousands of dollars over our lifetime. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain things so clearly!
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