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I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - moved from Phoenix to Vancouver last month and my SSI payments completely disappeared when I tried to update my banking information online. It's been almost 3 weeks now and I'm getting really worried about my rent money. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful though! I had no idea there was a Federal Benefits Unit at the Ottawa embassy - I was literally planning to take the bus all the way back to Arizona just to visit an SSA office. The specific email address and phone number that @Giovanni Gallo shared is exactly what I needed. One question for those who've been through this - when you contacted the Ottawa FBU, did they ask for any specific documentation beyond just your banking info? I want to make sure I have everything ready before I reach out. Also, did anyone else have trouble with the SSA website showing conflicting information about international direct deposits? Mine still shows my old US bank account but also has some kind of error message about international processing. Thanks to everyone sharing their real experiences - it's so much more helpful than the confusing official SSA guidance!
When I contacted the Ottawa FBU, they asked for my Social Security number, full name as it appears on my SS card, current Canadian address, the specific bank details (institution number, transit number, account number), and a copy of a voided check or bank statement showing my name and the account info. They also wanted to know the exact dates and amounts of missing payments. The SSA website is notorious for showing outdated or conflicting information during international transitions - mine showed my old bank for months even after everything was supposedly updated. Don't rely on what the website shows right now. For SSI specifically (versus regular Social Security retirement), the process can sometimes take a bit longer because they have additional residency verification steps for international cases. Make sure to mention in your email that you're dealing with SSI payments specifically, as they handle those differently than retirement benefits. Also, since you're in Vancouver, you might want to mention your proximity to the US border in case they need any additional documentation that requires a quick trip to a US office. The FBU has been really good about working with people's specific situations. Good luck!
I went through this exact same nightmare when I moved from Austin to Ottawa 18 months ago! My retirement payments got stuck for almost 2 months and I was panicking. Here's what I wish someone had told me from the start: The Ottawa FBU is absolutely your best option - they're specifically set up to handle US-Canada Social Security issues. When you email them at FBU.Ottawa@ssa.gov, make sure to include "URGENT" in the subject line along with your SSN. They prioritize missing payment cases. One thing that really helped speed up my case was sending a detailed timeline of what happened. Write out: when you moved, when you tried to update your banking info, when the payment was supposed to arrive, and what the Buffalo office told you. The more specific you are, the faster they can track down where your payment went. Also, don't panic about the money being "lost" - I was convinced mine had disappeared forever, but it was just sitting in Treasury waiting for the international processing to get sorted out. Once the FBU fixed my direct deposit, they were able to release all my back payments within a week. The whole system is ridiculously complicated for something as simple as updating a bank account, but the Ottawa embassy folks actually know what they're doing unlike most SSA phone reps. You'll get through this!
This is such a relief to hear from someone who went through the exact same situation! Two months must have been incredibly stressful, but knowing you got all your back payments once it was resolved gives me a lot of hope. I'm definitely going to follow your advice about creating a detailed timeline - that's a really smart approach that I hadn't thought of. It makes sense that the more specific information I can give them upfront, the faster they can figure out what happened to my payment. I'm writing up that timeline right now before I send my email to the Ottawa FBU. Thank you so much for sharing your experience and for the reassurance that this will get sorted out!
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One last thing to consider - since your wife reaches FRA in November 2024, if she plans to keep working at all, selecting December 2024 (for January 2025 payment) as her start month means she won't be subject to the earnings test for December. The earnings test no longer applies once you reach FRA, so her December earnings won't affect her benefits regardless of the amount.
That's a great point. She's still working part-time and plans to continue for another year or so. So waiting until December after she reaches FRA means no earnings test. That's definitely the way to go then. Thank you!
Just wanted to add - make sure your wife creates her my Social Security account online if she hasn't already. You can track the application status there and it's much easier than trying to call. Also, when she does apply, she can upload documents directly through the portal rather than mailing them, which speeds up processing. The consensus here is right - apply in September for December benefits to get that January payment, and she'll avoid any reduction since she'll be past FRA.
That's really helpful advice about the online account! She does have her my Social Security account set up already, but I didn't realize you could upload documents directly through there. That will definitely be faster than mailing anything. Sounds like we have a clear plan now - apply in September, select December 2024 as benefit start month, and she'll get her first payment in January 2025 at full benefit amount. Thanks everyone for all the guidance!
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One thing that might help with your decision is to calculate the breakeven point. If you're both in good health, delaying might still make sense for the survivor benefit protection, but if you need the income now or have health concerns, claiming at FRA could be better. Also double-check if your wife has enough work credits for her own Social Security - sometimes people assume they need spousal benefits when their own benefit might actually be higher. The SSA estimator tool can help you compare scenarios, but definitely get official confirmation from SSA before making your final choice.
That's really helpful advice about checking the breakeven point and using the SSA estimator tool. I didn't realize there was an official tool that could help compare different scenarios. As someone new to navigating Social Security, it's overwhelming how many factors there are to consider - spousal vs own benefits, survivor benefits, health considerations, immediate income needs. I appreciate everyone sharing their real experiences here because the official SSA materials can be pretty confusing for situations like this.
As someone who just went through this decision process with my spouse, I'd strongly recommend using the Social Security Administration's online benefit calculators and getting a personalized estimate. What really helped us was creating a spreadsheet comparing total lifetime benefits under different scenarios - claiming at FRA vs delaying, factoring in both our ages and life expectancies. Don't forget to consider your wife's own work record too - she might be entitled to benefits on her own that could be higher than spousal benefits. The "restricted application" strategy that used to allow claiming spousal while delaying your own benefit was phased out, so now it's really about timing when you both file. Good luck with your decision!
This is such great advice about creating a spreadsheet to compare scenarios! As someone just starting to research Social Security strategies, I'm realizing how complex these decisions can be. The mention of the "restricted application" strategy being phased out is news to me - it sounds like the rules have changed quite a bit over the years. I'm wondering if there are other strategies that used to exist but don't anymore that I should be aware of? It seems like timing really is everything with these decisions, and I appreciate hearing from people who have actually been through this process recently.
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This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation planning to start benefits mid-2025, and the clarity everyone has provided about switching from monthly to annual testing is exactly what I needed. One question I haven't seen addressed - does the timing of when you file your application matter, or just when benefits actually begin? I'm wondering if I should file early in 2025 even though I want benefits to start in October, or if it's better to wait until closer to my desired start date. Also, has anyone had experience with how quickly SSA processes applications these days? I want to make sure there aren't any delays that could push my start date into 2026 unintentionally.
Great questions! From what I understand, the timing of your application versus when benefits start is important. You can actually file up to 4 months before you want your benefits to begin, so you could file in June 2025 for an October start date. This is actually recommended to avoid processing delays. As for processing times, I've heard they're running about 2-3 months right now, so filing early is definitely wise. The key thing is that your "entitlement date" (when benefits actually start) is what determines whether you're on the monthly or annual earnings test, not when you filed. So even if you file in June, as long as your benefits start in October 2025, you'd still use the monthly test for Oct-Dec 2025 and then switch to annual in 2026. I'd suggest calling SSA or visiting their website to confirm current processing times in your area though!
This is exactly the kind of detailed discussion I was hoping to find! I'm also planning to retire mid-2025 and had the same confusion about the earnings test timing. Based on all the responses here, it sounds like the key takeaway is: monthly test for the remainder of 2025 after you start benefits, then automatic switch to annual test starting January 2026. One thing I'm curious about that I haven't seen mentioned - does anyone know if there are any special considerations for seasonal workers or people with irregular income? My part-time work in 2026 will likely be project-based, so my monthly earnings might vary quite a bit even though my annual total should stay under the limit. I assume the annual test handles this better than trying to track monthly fluctuations, but wanted to check if anyone has experience with this situation. Also, huge thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences with SSA processing times and customer service challenges - this kind of practical advice is invaluable for planning!
You're absolutely right that the annual test is much better for irregular income! I had a similar situation with freelance work that varied month to month. With the annual test, SSA looks at your total earnings for the entire calendar year, so it doesn't matter if you earn $3000 one month and $500 the next - they just care about the yearly total staying under the limit (around $22,200 for 2026). This is actually one of the big advantages of the annual test over the monthly test. Just make sure to track your project income carefully throughout the year so you can adjust if you're getting close to the limit. And definitely report your estimated annual earnings to SSA when you apply - you can always update it later if your project schedule changes!
Giovanni Gallo
I'm so sorry for your loss, Seraphina. I went through something very similar when my spouse passed away 2 years ago. Based on my experience and what others have shared here, you're definitely on the right track with this strategy. One additional tip that helped me: when you call SSA, try calling right when they open at 8 AM or during lunch hours (around 12-1 PM) - I found those times had shorter wait times. Also, if you get a representative who seems unsure about the survivor-to-retirement benefit switch, politely ask to speak with a supervisor or someone who specializes in survivor benefits. The folks here are right about being very specific with your language. I actually wrote down exactly what I wanted to say before I called: "I am applying for survivor benefits only at this time, and I want to restrict the scope of my application to survivor benefits. I plan to switch to my own retirement benefit at age 70." The process took about 2 months from application to first payment for me, so don't be discouraged if it seems slow. Keep all your paperwork and get confirmation numbers for everything. You've got this!
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Chloe Martin
•Thank you so much for sharing your experience and the practical tips! I really appreciate the specific language you used - I'm going to write that down word for word before I call. The timing suggestions are also really helpful. I've been dreading the long wait times I keep hearing about, so knowing when to call for shorter waits is gold. It's reassuring to hear from someone who actually went through this process successfully. Two months seems reasonable for such an important benefit. I'm feeling much more confident about moving forward now!
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Alice Pierce
I'm so sorry for your loss, and I want to echo what others have said - you absolutely CAN do this strategy! I work as a benefits counselor and see this situation frequently. A few practical points to add to the excellent advice already given: 1. When you call SSA, ask for the "survivor benefits specialist" - they tend to be more knowledgeable about these specific rules than general representatives. 2. Consider applying in person at your local SSA office if possible. Sometimes face-to-face interactions help ensure they process everything correctly, and you can get documentation of exactly what you're applying for. 3. The survivor benefit amount you mentioned ($2,790) - make sure that's the actual survivor benefit and not just what your husband was receiving. Survivor benefits are calculated differently and could be higher than his retirement benefit was. 4. Document everything! Get the representative's name, the date you applied, and ask for written confirmation of what benefits you're receiving and when you plan to switch. Your strategy is sound - collecting $2,790 now versus waiting and potentially losing out on 3+ years of payments just to get an extra $85/month doesn't make financial sense. You're making the right choice!
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Vanessa Figueroa
•This is incredibly helpful, thank you! I hadn't thought about asking specifically for a "survivor benefits specialist" - that's a great tip. You're absolutely right about documenting everything too. I've been keeping notes from all the advice here, but I should definitely get written confirmation from SSA as well. One question about the survivor benefit calculation - how do I make sure they're calculating it correctly? My husband was getting about $2,650 when he passed, but I was told the survivor benefit would be around $2,790. Should I ask them to explain exactly how they arrived at that number? And yes, you're right about the math - even with the $85 difference, getting payments for 3+ years while my own benefit grows makes much more sense than waiting. Thanks for confirming I'm thinking about this correctly!
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