Can't reach Social Security Administration? Claimyr connects you to a live SSA agent in minutes.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the SSA
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the SSA drops your call
If I could give 10 stars I would
If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
Really made a difference
Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
Join the conversation
Join the conversation
As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely fascinated by the incredible depth of knowledge and real-world experience shared in this thread! This has truly become a comprehensive guide to Social Security lump sum planning. Sofia, one aspect I haven't seen mentioned yet is how the lump sum decision might interact with any pension benefits you may have. If you're entitled to a pension that could trigger the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or Government Pension Offset (GPO), the timing and amount of your Social Security benefits could be affected differently depending on whether you take the lump sum or maximize monthly payments. Also, considering you have three years to plan, you might want to track how interest rates and inflation evolve over that period. The present value calculation of taking a lump sum now versus higher monthly payments later could shift significantly if we see major changes in economic conditions. What looks optimal today might not be the best choice in 2028. Another practical tip: consider setting annual reminders to review your my Social Security account online. This will help you stay current with any benefit estimate changes and ensure your earnings record remains accurate as you approach filing age. The collective wisdom shared here - from record-keeping strategies to tax implications to psychological preparation - has created an invaluable roadmap for making this decision. You're incredibly fortunate to have found this community while you still have time to plan thoroughly!
Welcome to the community, Daryl! As another newcomer, I'm continuously amazed by how this discussion keeps revealing new layers of complexity in Social Security planning. Your point about pension interactions with WEP/GPO is crucial - those provisions can significantly impact benefit calculations in ways that might not be obvious when making the lump sum decision. The observation about economic conditions changing over the three-year planning window is really insightful. Interest rates and inflation can dramatically affect the present value analysis of immediate lump sum versus future monthly payments. Having annual check-ins to reassess the economic landscape alongside updated benefit projections sounds like a smart strategy. I also appreciate the practical tip about setting reminders to review the online Social Security account. Staying current with earnings records and benefit estimates will help ensure any decision is based on the most accurate information available. This thread has become such an incredible resource - covering everything from technical mechanics to tax implications, record-keeping strategies, psychological preparation, family considerations, and now economic factors and pension interactions. Sofia, you've discovered a truly comprehensive guide for navigating this complex decision! The community's willingness to share detailed experiences and expertise is remarkable. Thank you everyone for creating such a valuable discussion that will benefit not just Sofia, but anyone facing similar Social Security planning decisions!
As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely impressed by the comprehensive discussion that's developed here! This thread has become an incredible educational resource covering every conceivable aspect of Social Security lump sum planning. Sofia, one consideration I haven't seen discussed yet is how the timing of your lump sum decision might affect your Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from traditional retirement accounts. Since RMDs begin at age 73, you'll be dealing with those mandatory withdrawals just a few years after claiming Social Security at 70. Taking a lump sum could potentially push you into a higher tax bracket in the year you receive it, which might not align well with your RMD strategy. Conversely, maximizing your monthly Social Security benefit might provide more predictable income that could help you better manage the tax impact of future RMDs. Also, given all the excellent advice about preparation and documentation, you might want to consider creating a simple timeline now that maps out key financial milestones between now and age 73 - when you'll claim Social Security, when RMDs begin, any planned major expenses, etc. This visual timeline could help you see how the lump sum decision fits into your broader retirement income strategy. The wealth of practical experience and strategic thinking shared in this thread is truly remarkable. You're going to be incredibly well-prepared to make an informed decision that aligns with your overall financial goals!
Welcome to the community, Jamal! As another newcomer, I'm constantly amazed by how this discussion continues to uncover new layers of complexity in retirement planning. Your point about RMD interactions is brilliant - I hadn't considered how the lump sum timing could create a potential tax collision just a few years later when mandatory withdrawals begin. The idea of creating a visual timeline mapping out key financial milestones is excellent. Being able to see how Social Security claiming, RMD requirements, and other major financial events align (or potentially conflict) over the next decade would provide such valuable context for making the lump sum decision. This thread has truly become a masterpiece of comprehensive financial planning. From the basic mechanics of retroactive benefits to tax implications, Medicare considerations, record-keeping strategies, psychological preparation, survivor benefit impacts, pension interactions, economic factors, and now RMD coordination - it covers every angle imaginable. Sofia, you've discovered an absolutely incredible resource here! The collective wisdom shared by this community has created what amounts to a complete guide for making one of the most important Social Security decisions. With three years to implement all the preparation strategies discussed here, you'll be making this choice from a position of complete information and careful planning. Thank you to everyone for contributing such valuable insights and real-world experience!
Join the conversation
Just want to add that you should also ask SSA for a copy of your updated benefit computation when they do the recalculation. They can provide a breakdown showing exactly which years of earnings they used and how your new earnings affected the calculation. This documentation is helpful for your records and can also help you understand whether the recalculation gave you the maximum possible benefit increase. Sometimes people are eligible for additional adjustments they weren't initially given.
This is really good advice about getting the documentation! I never would have thought to ask for the actual computation breakdown. That way I can see exactly which years they used and make sure they didn't miss any of my work years. Thanks for the tip!
I'm in a similar situation - been on SSDI for 9 years and working part-time the whole time. This thread is incredibly helpful! I had no idea I could request a recalculation when I hit retirement age. I always assumed they just automatically switched you over at the same amount. Now I'm definitely going to be proactive about this when my time comes. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's given me hope that my years of part-time work might actually pay off in a higher monthly benefit!
That's exactly how I felt when I first learned about this! I had just assumed the transition was automatic with no possibility of an increase. It's amazing how much valuable information gets shared in communities like this that you'd never know to ask SSA about directly. Definitely save this thread and refer back to it when you're getting close to your retirement age - there's so much good practical advice here about the specific terms to use and what documentation to request.
Join the conversation
One more thing! When your wife starts receiving the spousal benefits, they'll be subject to the same taxation rules as other Social Security benefits. Depending on your combined income, up to 85% of Social Security benefits may be taxable. Just something to factor into your retirement budget planning for next year.
wait they tax social security?? i thought that money was already taxed when we earned it! thats double taxation!
Social Security benefits can be taxable if your combined income exceeds certain thresholds. It's not double taxation in the traditional sense - only a portion of benefits become taxable (up to 85%) when your income exceeds certain levels. For married couples filing jointly, taxation begins when combined income exceeds $32,000. This is definitely something to discuss with a tax professional when planning retirement finances.
Just want to emphasize something that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure to keep detailed records of all the payments and adjustments. When my parents went through this process, there was a small error in the calculation that took months to resolve. I'd recommend taking screenshots of your wife's current benefit amount from her MySocialSecurity account before you file, and then monitoring it closely after your benefits start. Also, if for some reason the automatic adjustment doesn't happen within 60 days of your first payment, don't hesitate to contact SSA immediately. Sometimes these things get stuck in the system and need a manual push. The sooner you catch any issues, the easier they are to fix and get any back payments you're owed.
Join the conversation
This is such a great discussion! As someone new to understanding Social Security benefits, I'm learning so much from everyone's experiences and explanations. One thing I'm curious about - Sofia mentioned her husband's benefit will be around $1,800 at FRA while hers could be $3,100 at 70. This seems like a pretty common situation where one spouse (often the wife) has significantly lower lifetime earnings. For couples in similar situations, is there any benefit to the lower-earning spouse claiming their own benefits early (like at 62) while the higher-earning spouse delays until 70? Or does that strategy have drawbacks I'm not considering? I'm trying to understand all the moving pieces before I start making my own retirement decisions.
Great question! That's actually a common strategy called "claim and delay" or "split strategy." The lower-earning spouse can claim their own reduced benefit early (like at 62) while the higher earner waits until 70. This gives the couple some immediate income while maximizing the eventual survivor benefit. The drawback is that the lower earner's benefit gets permanently reduced - if they claim at 62 instead of their FRA, they might only get 75% of their full benefit. But since they'll likely switch to the higher survivor benefit later anyway, that reduction becomes less important. Just keep in mind that once the lower earner switches to survivor benefits, they lose their own benefit entirely - they can't stack them. So in Sofia's case, even if her husband claimed his $1,800 early and it got reduced to maybe $1,350, he'd still end up with her $3,100 survivor benefit eventually, making the early reduction somewhat irrelevant in the long run.
As someone who just started learning about Social Security planning, this thread has been incredibly educational! I'm amazed at how complex the survivor benefit calculations can be. One thing that really stands out to me is how the timing strategy can literally be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars over a lifetime. If Sofia delays to 70 and her husband lives another 20+ years after she passes, that extra $450/month ($3,100 vs $2,650) adds up to over $100,000 in additional benefits! I'm curious though - are there any scenarios where this delay strategy might backfire? Like what if both spouses have serious health concerns, or what if tax implications make the higher benefit less advantageous? I want to make sure I understand both the benefits AND the potential downsides before I start planning my own strategy. Also, does anyone know if these delayed retirement credit rules are expected to change in the coming years? I've heard there might be Social Security reforms, and I'm wondering if that could affect the math for younger people like me who won't hit FRA for another 25+ years.
Paolo Esposito
As a newcomer to this community, I want to echo what others have said about how valuable this discussion has been! I'm still a few years away from retirement but starting to educate myself on the process. One thing that really stands out to me from reading through all these responses is how important it is to understand the distinction between filing date and benefit start date. This seems like such a critical detail that could easily trip people up if they don't know to look for it. @Amina Bah - your original question was excellent and really got to the heart of a timing issue that I'm sure many people face. The $4,000 monthly benefit you mentioned is impressive - it's motivating to see what's possible with careful career planning and maximizing contributions over time. For those who shared their recent experiences going through this process (@Tami Morgan, @Connor Richards, @Diego Chavez), thank you for the real-world insights! It's reassuring to hear that the online system works as designed and that filing 3 months early with the correct benefit start date produces the expected results. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread for when my time comes to file. This community seems like such a valuable resource for navigating these important financial decisions!
0 coins
Yuki Ito
•Welcome to the community, Paolo! I'm also new here and have been amazed by how knowledgeable and helpful everyone is. This thread has been like a masterclass in Social Security timing strategies. You're absolutely right about the filing date vs. benefit start date distinction being crucial - it's one of those details that could cost someone thousands of dollars annually if they get it wrong. I'm grateful that @Amina Bah asked such a thoughtful question that brought out all these expert responses. As someone also years away from retirement, I m'taking notes on the practical tips shared here: creating the my "Social Security account" early to check estimates, filing 3 months ahead of your target date, and being very careful about selecting the correct benefit start month on the application. The fact that multiple people confirmed this approach worked for them in practice gives me confidence it s'solid advice. @Paolo Esposito - have you started looking into the my Social "Security online portal" yet? From what others have shared, it seems like a good idea to familiarize yourself with it well before you need to file, just to see your projected benefits and get comfortable with the interface.
0 coins
Josef Tearle
As another newcomer to this community, I want to add my thanks for such an informative discussion! I'm currently 62 and trying to decide on my optimal filing strategy, so this thread has been incredibly valuable. What really strikes me is how the Social Security system seems designed to accommodate exactly the scenario @Amina Bah described - allowing you to file months ahead while preserving your benefit calculation based on your chosen start date. It's actually quite thoughtful policy design, even if it's not always clearly communicated. I'm particularly grateful for the real-world experiences shared by @Tami Morgan, @Connor Richards, and @Diego Chavez. Hearing that the online system actually shows you the benefit amount before you submit gives me confidence that there are safeguards against accidentally selecting the wrong start month. One question for the group: for those who have used the "my Social Security" online portal, how far in advance can you see projected benefit estimates? I'm wondering if I should create my account now to start tracking my estimates as I approach my own optimal filing age, or if the estimates only become available closer to retirement eligibility. Thanks again to everyone who contributed to making this such an educational thread!
0 coins
Dmitry Popov
•Welcome to the community, Josef! Great question about the "my Social Security" portal timing. From what I understand, you can actually create your account and view benefit estimates well before you're eligible to file - I believe you can access estimates as early as age 60, and possibly even earlier if you have sufficient work credits. The estimates get updated annually based on your latest earnings, so creating your account now at 62 would definitely be worthwhile. You'll be able to see projections for different filing ages (62, full retirement age, age 70, etc.) which can really help with your strategic planning. I'm also impressed by how this discussion has highlighted the user-friendly aspects of the online system that aren't always obvious from the official SSA materials. The fact that it shows benefit amounts in real-time as you select different start dates seems like such a valuable feature for avoiding costly mistakes. @Josef Tearle - since you re'62 and actively planning, you might also want to explore some of the Social Security optimization strategies that others have touched on. The spousal benefits coordination that @Pedro Sawyer mentioned could be particularly relevant depending on your situation.
0 coins