has anyone heard if they're changing the survivor rules with that new funding bill? my cousin said they might be cutting benefits again

I want to thank everyone for their helpful responses. This has clarified so much for me during a really difficult time. I'm going to try to get through to SSA to discuss my specific situation, and I'll make sure to gather all those documents mentioned. It's a relief to know that my survivor benefits will be based on his SSDI amount rather than an early retirement calculation. At least that's one less thing to worry about while we focus on making the most of our remaining time together.

Every single time I log into my Social Security account I have a mini heart attack when I see missing earnings for the current year. It's such a terribly designed system that gives no explanation or context for why current year earnings aren't showing. They should at least put a big disclaimer saying "CURRENT YEAR EARNINGS WILL NOT APPEAR UNTIL NEXT YEAR" but noooo, that would be too helpful! 🙄 Has anyone found any tricks to see current year earnings before the official update?

Thank you everyone for the helpful responses! I'm much less worried now. I'll let my daughter and SIL know this is normal and that they should check again in mid-2025 to make sure their 2024 earnings show up correctly. It really would be nice if the SS website explained this delay more clearly instead of just showing such obviously incorrect numbers without any explanation!

My neighbor tried this exact strategy then the market crashed in his first bridge year and he panicked and took SS early anyway. Just something to consider - can you stomach a major market downturn while you're actively withdrawing from your 401k?

One more important point: run calculations on the tax implications of higher RMDs vs. higher SS benefits. While reducing RMDs is generally helpful, remember that 85% of SS benefits may become taxable if your other income (including RMDs) is high enough. In some cases, the tax advantage of reducing RMDs can be partially offset by increased taxation of your larger SS benefit. This doesn't usually negate the advantage of delaying, but it's something to model in your specific situation. A good tax-focused financial planner can run these projections for you and might identify some additional strategies to minimize lifetime tax burden.

One more important thing - when SSA withholds benefits due to the earnings test, those months of withholding actually increase your benefit amount once you reach full retirement age. It's as if you hadn't taken benefits during those months, so you get credit for them later. For example, if due to your work in 2024-2025, SSA ends up withholding 6 months worth of benefits before you reach your FRA, when you do reach FRA, they'll recalculate your benefit as if you had started taking benefits 6 months later than you actually did. This results in a higher monthly benefit for the rest of your life. So while it feels like a penalty now, there's a silver lining in the long run.

Update: I finally got through to SSA this morning! The representative was actually very helpful. She explained that: 1. I need to report my estimated earnings for the year 2. They'll calculate how much I'll exceed the annual limit 3. They'll withhold some of my monthly benefits in 2025 to recover the excess amount She also confirmed what someone mentioned here - that when I reach my full retirement age, my benefit will be recalculated to credit me for the months where benefits were withheld. I feel much better knowing what to expect now instead of worrying about a surprise bill. Thanks everyone for your help!

I recently went through this when my wife passed. The $255 death benefit is only paid to a surviving spouse who was living with the deceased OR to a surviving spouse or child who is eligible for ongoing survivor benefits on the deceased's record. The benefit isn't paid to funeral homes or estates. You must apply within 2 years of the death. Your mother will need to provide: her SSN, your father's SSN, death certificate, their marriage certificate, and her banking information for direct deposit. She can call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 to apply, but expect long wait times. As others mentioned, the survivor benefits (monthly payments) are much more significant financially than this token death benefit.

does that $255 count against the funeral expense deduction on taxes?? anyone know?

my aunt went thru something similar last yr when she switched from her own SS to her husbands survivors after he died. she got like 3 diff deposits over 2 weeks and was super confused. turned out one was retroactive pay, one was an adjustment payment, and one was her regular monthly benefit. the letter explaining it all came like 10 days after the first deposit! SS is always slow with their explanations

UPDATE: I finally managed to get through to someone at SSA this afternoon! You all were right - the one-time payment was just the first part of my back pay calculation. The representative explained that they're processing the rest of my back payment separately, and I should see another deposit within 5-7 business days. She also confirmed that I'm getting the full 100% of what my second husband would have received at his FRA, not the reduced amount he was taking. The weird amount was because they had to adjust for some months where I received the lower benefit. Thank you all for your help and suggestions!

Has anyone tried the online application for survivor benefits? The SSA website says you can apply online but when I tried for my mom it kept giving errors. wondering if thats another option for OP besides going in person?

Update: I went to the office today and got there at 6:45am - there were already 8 people in line! But I did get in during the first group. The process took about 2 hours total, but I'm now officially applied for survivor benefits! The representative confirmed I was absolutely eligible at age 60 (that phone rep was completely wrong). She said I should see my first payment in about 3-4 weeks, and it will include any back benefits from my filing date. The amount was close to what I expected - $1,790 per month. Not as much as I'd get if I waited until FRA, but it will keep a roof over my head right now. Thanks everyone for your advice. Going in person was definitely the right move.

Just to clarify for everyone: - If receiving retirement benefits before Full Retirement Age: The annual earnings limit applies ($22,230 for 2025). SSA deducts $1 for every $2 earned above this limit. - If receiving disability benefits (SSDI): The Substantial Gainful Activity limit applies ($1,550/month for 2025 for non-blind individuals). If you earn more than this amount, benefits can be suspended. These are completely different programs with different rules. OP's situation sounds like a classic case of their record not being properly updated when transitioning from one program to another.

UPDATE: I finally spoke with someone at SSA! You all were right - they still had me classified as receiving disability benefits even though I've been on retirement benefits since February. The representative was actually very helpful once I explained the situation and showed that I had documentation of my retirement application approval. They're expediting the correction and said my benefits should resume with the next payment. They're also processing the back payment for this month. Thank you all SO MUCH for your help in figuring this out! I would have been completely lost without your advice.

I CALLED my congressman's office last week and they said its one of there TOP priorities but who knows what that really means????? they always say that. has ur mom applied for any other benefits? sometimes local senior centers have emergency funds for utility bills and stuff like that might help while were all waiting for congress to DO THEIR JOBS!!!!

One final note: Even if the GPO/WEP repeal passes, implementation might take time. SSA would need to recalculate millions of benefits, so your mother might not see changes immediately. Make sure she keeps all documentation related to both her own work history and your father's pension. Also, have her create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov if she hasn't already - that's where she'd see updates about her benefits if any changes occur.

The advice here seems focused on maximizing your monthly payment, but don't forget to think about your total lifetime benefits too! If you wait 4+ years to claim (assuming your FRA is around 66-67), you're giving up 48+ monthly payments. You'd need to live well into your 80s before the higher monthly amount makes up for all those missed payments. No one can predict how long we'll live, but if you have health concerns or family history of shorter lifespan, claiming earlier often results in more total benefits received over your lifetime.

After reviewing all the advice here, let me summarize the key points for your decision: 1) Your husband's transition from SSDI to retirement benefits won't affect your spousal benefit amount. 2) Filing at 62 gives you about 32.5% of his PIA permanently, while waiting until your FRA gives you 50%. 3) Each month you delay between 62 and FRA increases your benefit percentage slightly. 4) Consider both monthly amount AND lifetime total benefits in your decision. 5) Your financial needs now vs. later should guide your choice - there's no universally "right" answer. I suggest calling SSA to get exact benefit estimates for different filing ages to make an informed decision.