I'm dealing with something similar right now! My mom just got her first Social Security payment last week and we were both confused when it was only about 40% of her expected benefit amount. After reading through all these comments, I realized we should check her MySocialSecurity account for the payment breakdown. Sure enough, it showed she only got paid for the last 12 days of the month since her birthday (and benefit start date) was on the 19th. It's really frustrating that SSA doesn't include even a simple note with these first payments explaining why they're different from the full benefit amount. Even just a one-line explanation like "This payment covers [X] days of benefits for [month]" would save so many people from worrying that something went wrong with their application. At least now I know what to expect when it's my turn in a few years!

I'm so glad you found this community helpful! This thread has been incredibly informative for someone like me who's still several years away from retirement. Reading through everyone's experiences with first Social Security payments has really opened my eyes to how the system actually works versus what people expect. The fact that so many people go through this same confusion with their first payment really shows there's a gap in how SSA communicates these details. It seems like a simple fix - just include a brief explanation with first payments about proration and deductions. But at least we have communities like this where people can share real experiences and help each other understand what's actually happening. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories here - this is exactly the kind of practical knowledge that helps people prepare for what can otherwise be a really stressful surprise!

I'm dealing with something very similar right now! My SSDI converted to retirement benefits in January and I just got a notice that my monthly amount should be $18 higher. When I called about backpay, the representative told me the same thing about "small amounts" not being eligible for retroactive payment. Reading through these responses has been so helpful - especially learning about requesting a "Claims Specialist" and using the term "AERO recalculation underpayment." I had no idea there were specific terms that might help get through to someone who actually understands these issues. Has anyone else noticed if the timing of when you call makes a difference? I've been trying to call first thing in the morning but still getting those long wait times everyone mentioned.

I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now! My SSDI converted to retirement benefits last month and I just discovered they've been underpaying me by $31 monthly for the past 4 months. When I called, the first representative told me there was a "$50 minimum" for backpay (which sounds completely made up based on what Sydney Torres shared about processing $1.40 underpayments!). What really helped me was calling back and specifically asking to speak with a "Claims Specialist" like Sydney suggested. The second person I talked to was much more knowledgeable and actually initiated an underpayment review on the spot. She explained that my part-time work while on SSDI had increased my benefit calculation when it converted to retirement, which is exactly what happened to you. For anyone else dealing with this - don't give up after the first phone call! The representatives seem to have very different levels of knowledge about these conversion issues. I'm still waiting to hear back about my backpay, but at least I have a case number now and someone who understood what I was talking about. Also, calling right at 8am when they open seemed to work better than afternoons - I got through in about 45 minutes instead of the 2+ hours I was waiting later in the day.

As someone who's new to understanding Social Security but approaching this same decision, this has been an absolutely incredible thread to follow! I'm 67 and still working as a teacher making about $72K, planning to file at 70 but considering continuing to work for a few more years. What's been most valuable to me is seeing everyone's real-world examples - @Austin Leonard's $28/month increase, @Javier Torres's $22/month boost, and @Anastasia Sokolov's 3.8% growth beyond COLA really help set realistic expectations. Like many others here, I had very low earnings in my early teaching years in the 1980s (starting salary was under $20K!), so I'm hopeful that continued work could replace some of those lean years. I'm definitely going to try @Victoria Stark's suggestion about using the online calculators to model different scenarios, and @Javier Torres's approach of creating a spreadsheet to track indexed earnings sounds incredibly practical. The tip about setting up automatic notifications in my Social Security account is something I never would have thought of but makes total sense. It's so reassuring to learn that the AERO process happens automatically and can only help, never hurt your benefits. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed personal experiences - this community discussion has been far more helpful than anything I've found through official channels!

As someone who just turned 69 and is facing this exact same decision, I can't thank everyone enough for sharing such detailed real-world experiences! I'm currently working as a software developer making about $105K and planning to file at 70 while continuing to work for at least another year or two. What really stands out to me from reading through all these responses is how much the AERO benefit depends on your individual earnings history. Like many others here, I had some pretty lean years in the early 1980s when I was just starting out in tech (my first job paid $18K!), so I'm cautiously optimistic that my current salary could replace some of those low-earning years in the calculation. I'm definitely going to try several of the practical suggestions mentioned here: using the online calculators to model scenarios with future earnings, creating a spreadsheet to track my indexed earnings by year, and setting up automatic notifications in my Social Security account. The tip about visiting a local SSA office in person instead of dealing with phone wait times also sounds much more promising for getting personalized guidance. It's incredibly reassuring to hear from people like @Austin Leonard, @Javier Torres, and @Anastasia Sokolov who've actually been through this process and seen real increases. Knowing that it's completely automatic and can only help (never hurt) takes a lot of the stress out of the decision to keep working past 70. Thanks to everyone for creating such a helpful and supportive discussion!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience from when I applied for survivor benefits about 3 months ago. Like everyone else has mentioned, SSA only required documentation for my marriage to my late husband (marriage certificate and death certificate) plus my identification. For previous marriages, they only asked verbal questions during the interview - dates, locations, former spouse names, and whether the marriages produced any children. What really helped me was calling the SSA office a few days before my appointment to confirm exactly what I needed to bring. The representative was able to review my case briefly and confirm that I wouldn't need documentation from my previous marriage since it was under 10 years. One small tip that made a difference: I organized everything in a simple binder with tabs - "Required Documents," "Previous Marriage Info," and "Questions to Ask." The SSA representative commented on how organized I was, which seemed to make the whole process more efficient. Your situation sounds very similar to mine - previous marriages well under 10 years, so you should be in good shape with just the basic documentation and organized information about dates and locations. The interview was actually much less stressful than I anticipated. I'm sorry for your loss, and I hope your application process goes smoothly!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience from applying for survivor benefits just last month. The documentation requirements were exactly as everyone has described - I only needed our marriage certificate, his death certificate, and my ID for the core documents. What really stood out to me was how much the SSA representative appreciated when applicants came prepared with organized information. I created a simple one-page summary with previous marriage details (dates, locations, spouse names) and brought it to the interview. She actually made a copy for their files, which seemed to speed up the process significantly. For previous marriages, they asked standard questions verbally but didn't request any documentation since mine was only 4 years long (ended in 1995). The representative explained that they only need prior marriage documents if the marriage lasted close to 10 years or if there are discrepancies in their system that need verification. One thing that surprised me was how compassionate and patient the staff was during what's obviously a difficult time. The whole appointment took about 35 minutes, and I felt supported throughout the process. You sound extremely well-prepared based on all the great advice you've received here. I'm sorry for your loss, and I hope your appointment goes as smoothly as mine did!

As a newcomer here, I want to thank everyone for sharing their experiences and advice. This thread has been incredibly helpful! I've been receiving Social Security benefits for a few years now, and thankfully I haven't gotten one of these scam calls yet, but reading about everyone's experiences makes me feel much more prepared if it happens. It's really disturbing how these scammers target people who depend on their benefits and create so much anxiety. I'm bookmarking this thread to share with other people in my situation. One thing I learned from reading all these responses is that it's always better to be overly cautious - hang up, verify through official channels, and never give out personal information over the phone. Thanks again to everyone who took the time to help educate others about these scams!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to add that these scam calls are unfortunately becoming more frequent and sophisticated. What happened to you is a classic example - they create urgency by claiming there's a payment issue and ask for banking information to "fix" it. The fact that you didn't give them any information shows great judgment! One additional tip I'd like to share: if you ever receive a suspicious call like this, write down the caller ID number and the exact time of the call. This information can be helpful when reporting the scam to the Inspector General's office. Also, consider adding your number to the Do Not Call Registry if you haven't already, though scammers often ignore this, it can help reduce some unwanted calls. Your May SSDI payment will definitely arrive on schedule - these scammers have absolutely no connection to the actual Social Security Administration or your benefits. Stay vigilant and thanks for sharing your experience to help warn others in our community!