I'm dealing with a similar issue right now - my spousal benefits were miscalculated and it's been 5 months with no resolution. After reading through all these responses, I'm amazed at how many different approaches there are that I never knew existed! Based on what everyone has shared, here's my plan of attack: I'm going to start with the EPIC complaint system that @Malik Jackson mentioned since it seems to have worked well for him, and simultaneously contact my Congressional Representative's office. I figure hitting it from multiple angles might speed things up. One thing I want to add that I learned from my own research - if anyone is dealing with overpayment or underpayment issues specifically, there's also something called a "critical payment" designation that can be requested if the error is causing significant financial hardship. The key is using those exact words when you speak with SSA staff. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and specific strategies. This thread is like a masterclass in navigating SSA bureaucracy! I'll report back on what works for me.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation with my retirement benefits - been waiting 3 months for a recalculation and getting nowhere with my local office. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea there were so many different avenues to try. What strikes me most is how many people are facing the exact same issue - it seems like there's a systematic problem with how complex cases get handled at the local level. The fact that we all have to become amateur investigators just to get basic help with our own benefits is really frustrating. I'm planning to try a combination of approaches based on what everyone has shared: starting with the EPIC complaint system, then contacting my Congressional Representative if needed, and documenting everything along the way. The specific terminology people have mentioned (like "Technical Expert Review" and "critical case flag") is gold - I never would have known to use these exact phrases. One question for those who have had success - should I mention in my initial EPIC complaint that I've found others online with identical issues? I'm wondering if highlighting this as a broader pattern might help get attention faster than treating it as an isolated case. Thank you to everyone who shared their strategies and experiences. This thread should definitely be bookmarked for anyone dealing with SSA headquarters access issues!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Luca. This is such a difficult situation to navigate both emotionally and financially. I went through something very similar when I lost my husband at 57. Based on what others have shared here, I'd strongly recommend getting that my.ssa.gov account set up first so you can see your actual numbers - it really makes a difference when you can compare your potential survivor benefit to your own retirement benefit projections. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier is that you can always change your mind about working levels later. If you find the earnings limit is taking too much of your benefit, you could reduce your hours temporarily, or if you need to work more, you can update your earnings estimate with SSA so they don't overwithhold. The most important thing right now is that you're already 2+ months into 2025 without any survivor benefits coming in while you're struggling financially. Sometimes the "good enough" decision made now is better than the "perfect" decision made months from now when you've missed out on help you desperately need. Hang in there - it does get easier to navigate once you get started with the process.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Luca. What a difficult situation to be in during an already challenging time. From everything shared here, it sounds like you have some really good options to consider. The strategy of taking survivor benefits now while working and potentially switching to your own retirement benefit later seems promising if your work record is strong. One practical tip that helped me when I was navigating Social Security - when you do call or visit the office, write down your questions beforehand and ask them to walk through specific dollar amounts with your actual earnings. Sometimes the general rules sound scarier than they are when you see your real numbers. Also, don't feel pressured to make a final decision in that first appointment - you can always ask them to mail you a written estimate to review at home. The community here has given you excellent advice about the my.ssa.gov account and being specific about applying for survivor benefits only. You've got this, and remember that getting some financial relief now while you figure out the longer-term strategy is completely valid. Take care of yourself during this process.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Kristin. I went through this exact process about 6 months ago when my husband passed away. The information everyone has shared here is excellent - you definitely cannot complete the full survivor benefits application online, but you can schedule your appointment online which saves so much frustration. I wanted to add one thing that really helped me: when you call or schedule online, specifically ask if you can have a "bereavement specialist" handle your case. Many SSA offices have representatives who are specially trained to work with people who have lost spouses. They tend to be more patient, understanding, and knowledgeable about the specific documents and processes involved in survivor benefits. Also, don't worry if you need to reschedule your appointment - life is unpredictable when you're grieving, and SSA is generally accommodating about this. I had to reschedule mine twice because I just wasn't emotionally ready, and they were completely understanding. One last practical tip: if you decide to do a phone appointment, make sure you're in a quiet space with good cell reception and have a pen and paper ready. They'll give you confirmation numbers and next steps that you'll want to write down, but it's hard to focus when you're emotional. You're stronger than you know, and you'll get through this process. Take it at your own pace.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Kristin. I went through this same process when my father passed away last year, and I can definitely relate to not wanting to deal with crowded offices while processing grief. Everyone here has given you excellent advice - you're absolutely right that survivor benefits can't be completed entirely online, but the online appointment scheduling is a lifesaver. I'd also echo the suggestion about asking for a bereavement specialist when you schedule. They made such a difference in my experience. One thing I wanted to add that I don't think anyone mentioned yet: if you have any of your husband's old Social Security statements or benefit estimates, bring those along too. Sometimes there can be discrepancies in earnings records, and having those documents can help resolve any issues more quickly. Also, if he was receiving any Social Security benefits before he passed away, make sure to ask about stopping those payments - sometimes there can be overpayments that need to be addressed. The reduced benefit amount at 58 might feel discouraging, but remember that you can always switch to your own retirement benefits later if they would be higher. The SSA representative can help you understand your options for maximizing your lifetime benefits. You're handling an incredibly difficult situation with such grace. Take all the time you need, and don't hesitate to ask for help when you need it.

I'm a newcomer here but have been researching this exact topic for my own situation. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you might want to review your earnings record before the conversion happens. Since SSDI benefits are calculated based on your work history up to when you became disabled, and retirement benefits use your highest 35 years of earnings, there could be rare cases where continuing to work part-time (under SGA limits) before FRA might slightly increase your eventual retirement benefit calculation. It's probably not a big difference for most people, but worth checking your earnings record on ssa.gov to see if you have any zero-earning years that could potentially be replaced. Just another small detail to consider, though the automatic conversion process itself is exactly as everyone described - completely hands-off!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for this incredibly thorough discussion! I'm in a similar situation - currently 64 and on SSDI for the past 5 years. Reading through all these responses has been so reassuring, especially hearing from people who have actually gone through the conversion process. I was getting really anxious about what would happen when I reach my FRA, but now I understand it's truly automatic and seamless. The tip about setting up a my Social Security account online is great - I'm going to do that this week so I can monitor everything leading up to my conversion. It's amazing how this community can provide clearer answers than multiple failed phone calls to SSA! Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and knowledge.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Chloe. This thread has been incredibly informative and I'm grateful to everyone who shared their experiences. As someone who recently went through the Social Security application process (though for disability rather than survivor benefits), I wanted to echo the importance of the documentation strategies mentioned here. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple checklist before each SSA interaction that included: 1) specific questions to ask, 2) documents I might need to reference, and 3) space to write down the representative's name and ID number. This made every conversation more productive and gave me a clear record to refer back to. The clarity around the earnings test based on survivor benefit FRA (66y 6m for you) rather than retirement FRA has been really helpful to understand. It's such a relief that once you reach that milestone, you can work without worrying about benefit reductions. The strategic advice about potentially taking survivor benefits now and switching to your own retirement benefit later (if higher) is brilliant planning. Having SSA run those "what-if" calculations as Isabella and others mentioned will really help you make the best long-term decision. Best wishes as you navigate this process - you're clearly approaching it with great care and preparation!

I'm so deeply sorry for your loss, Chloe. Having gone through a similar situation myself about five years ago, I know how overwhelming it can feel to navigate these complex Social Security rules while grieving. This thread has been absolutely phenomenal - the level of detailed, accurate information shared here is remarkable. I just wanted to add one final practical tip that saved me a lot of stress: when you do reach SSA and get your survivor benefits set up, ask them to explain their "direct deposit verification" process. In my case, they needed to verify my bank account information before starting payments, which added about 2 weeks to the process that I wasn't expecting. If you set up the direct deposit verification early in the application process, it can help avoid any payment delays once you're approved. Also, the advice about keeping detailed records really cannot be overstated. I still have my notebook from 2019 with all the SSA conversations documented, and I've referred back to it multiple times over the years when questions came up. The consensus here is absolutely correct - at your survivor benefit FRA of 66 years and 6 months, you can work unlimited hours with unlimited earnings and receive your full survivor benefit with no reductions. You've gotten excellent strategic advice about the potential to switch to your own retirement benefit later if it would be higher with delayed credits. You're asking all the right questions and clearly doing thorough research. That preparation will serve you well in navigating this process successfully.