One more important thing! The reverse mortgage company will require you to stay current on property taxes, homeowners insurance, and home maintenance. If you don't, they can foreclose. Make sure you budget for these ongoing expenses with your SS benefits. That's where some seniors get into trouble with reverse mortgages.

Just wanted to share my experience as someone who went through this same decision process two years ago. I was 69 and in a very similar financial situation - living on Social Security and a small pension, needed about $40k for home repairs and some medical debt. I can confirm what others have said - my Social Security benefits were completely unaffected, and my Medicare premiums stayed the same. The key thing that helped me was working with a HUD-approved counselor (which is mandatory anyway) who walked me through all the scenarios and helped me understand the true costs. One tip: if you're comparing lenders, pay close attention to the "Total Annual Loan Cost" (TALC) rates they're required to show you - this gives you a better picture of the real cost over time than just looking at interest rates. Also, some lenders offer a "line of credit" option where you only take what you need when you need it, which can save on interest charges compared to taking a big lump sum upfront. The peace of mind of having my roof fixed and medical bills paid off has been worth it for me. Just make sure you're working with a reputable lender and have someone you trust review everything with you. Good luck with your decision!

I'm so glad to hear your update worked out! This is exactly why communities like this are so valuable - people helping each other navigate these complex government systems. Your experience will definitely help others who find themselves in similar situations. It's terrible that SSA doesn't proactively inform people about survivor benefits, but at least you were able to get it sorted out relatively quickly once you knew what to ask for. Wishing you all the best during this transition.

Sara, I'm so sorry for your loss and glad to see you were able to get this resolved! Your story really emphasizes how crucial it is for people to know about these benefits. As someone who works with seniors in my community, I see this situation far too often - people missing out on survivor benefits simply because no one tells them about it. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation, I'd recommend also checking if you're eligible for any other widow/widower benefits like reduced Medicare premiums or property tax exemptions at the local level. Sometimes there are additional benefits beyond Social Security that can help during this difficult transition. Thank you for sharing your experience - it will definitely help others who find themselves facing similar circumstances.

This is such a common frustration! I went through the same thing when I suspended my benefits at 65 last year after returning to work. The calculator disappearing is definitely a system limitation that SSA really should fix. A few things that helped me navigate this situation: 1. **Call timing matters**: I had the best luck getting through around 2:30pm on Wednesdays. Seems like mid-week afternoons are less busy than Mondays or Fridays. 2. **Request specific documents**: When you do get through, ask for both a benefit verification letter AND a PEBES statement. The verification letter shows your current suspended amount, while PEBES gives you projections at different ages. 3. **Calculate your own estimates**: Since you're suspending before FRA, your benefit is essentially "frozen" at the reduced amount you were approved for. You won't earn delayed retirement credits until after your FRA (which should be 66 years and 10 months for someone born in 1961). 4. **Keep detailed records**: Document everything - your original benefit amount, suspension date, and any communications with SSA. This helps if there are any issues when you restart benefits later. The good news is that suspending was definitely the right call given your earnings. The earnings test would have clawed back most of your benefits anyway, so you're avoiding a lot of administrative headaches. Just be patient with getting the projections you need!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm 63 and considering applying for benefits early but have been worried about losing access to the calculator if my situation changes. Reading everyone's experiences here has been incredibly valuable. A few things I've learned from researching this issue: 1. **Third-party calculators**: While not as accurate as SSA's personalized tool, there are some decent retirement calculators from AARP and other sites that can give you ballpark estimates if you have your earnings history. 2. **Local SSA office visits**: I know calling is tough, but some people have had better luck scheduling in-person appointments at their local Social Security office. The wait times can be long, but you're guaranteed to speak with someone. 3. **Annual statements**: Don't forget that SSA still mails annual Social Security statements to people over 60 who don't have online accounts. These include benefit projections at different claiming ages, though they won't reflect recent changes like suspensions. For those dealing with suspension situations like Miguel's, I'd also recommend keeping a simple log of your suspension period - start date, reason, and any communications with SSA. This documentation could be helpful when you're ready to restart benefits later. The whole system really needs to be modernized to handle these common scenarios better!

One thing nobody mentioned - when you switch to survivor benefits, you'll need his death certificate and marriage certificate. Get multiple certified copies of the death certificate (at least 5-10) when the time comes. Every organization will want one and some won't accept photocopies. Just a practical tip I wish someone had told me!

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who works with retirees - you might also want to consider the tax implications when making this decision. Your reduced retirement benefit at 65 will be taxed as income, but when you eventually switch to survivor benefits, that will also be taxable income (potentially at a higher amount). If you're still working or have other income sources, this could push you into a higher tax bracket. It's worth running the numbers with a tax professional to see how the timing affects your overall financial picture, especially if you're planning to work past 65.

Just wanted to add another data point here - I had the exact same middle initial issue but mine was because my Social Security card has my middle initial but my Medicare card doesn't! It's like the reverse of your situation. Same frustrating lockout though. What really helped me was keeping a detailed log of every discrepancy I found between my various government documents (SS card, Medicare card, tax records, etc.) before calling. The agent was able to see patterns in where the data got mixed up across different enrollment periods. One thing I learned: if you have any old W-2s or tax returns handy, bring those reference numbers too. Sometimes the IRS records can help the SSA agent figure out which version of your name/address is the "master" record that everything else should match. The whole system is definitely a mess, but at least there are people like Isabella who share solutions that actually work!

What a journey this has been to follow! As someone who's been dreading dealing with my own SSA online account setup, this thread has been incredibly educational. It's both helpful and terrifying to see how many different ways the system can fail - middle initials, address spacing, name changes, reverse situations... it's like a minefield of potential data mismatches. I really appreciate everyone who shared their experiences and solutions, especially the suggestion about that Claimyr service. The fact that we need third-party help just to reach our own government agencies says a lot about the current state of things. One question for the group: for those who successfully got their accounts working, how often do you run into glitches or lockouts even after the initial fix? I'm wondering if this is a one-time headache or something that might resurface periodically. Thanks again to everyone for documenting this whole process - this thread is going to be a lifesaver for future people dealing with the same issues!