I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above last week after trying for DAYS to reach SS about my disability review. It actually works! Got through in like 15min after spending hours getting busy signals. Way better than waiting on hold forever or getting hung up on.

One strategy to consider: if you know which months you'll earn over $1,950 in 2025, you could ask SSA to suspend your benefits just for those specific months. This way, you won't have an overpayment to deal with later. Then in 2026, when only the annual limit applies, you can adjust your work schedule as needed throughout the year as long as your total stays under the limit. Just make sure to report your expected earnings to SSA in advance.

My mom just went thru this last month! She applied online and everything worked fine... they even backpaid her for the month she turned FRA even tho she applied a little late.

Thanks everyone for the helpful information! Just to make sure I've got this straight: 1. Apply 3-4 months before August 2025 2. I'll be eligible for full benefits for the entire month of August even though I turn FRA on the 14th 3. My first payment will arrive in September (3rd Wednesday) 4. The earnings test won't apply to me at all once I reach FRA in August This is all much clearer now. The SSA website is so confusing with all the different rules!

my friend remarried at 62 and kept her dead husbands ss check but i think she gets a lot less than she would if she stayed single. the whole system is so confusing!

Anyone else notice how they ALWAYS want to do ANOTHER medical review even when you've been approved for years?? My brother has been disabled since birth (literally) and they STILL make him do reviews every 3 years like he's suddenly going to be cured!! The whole system is designed to wear you down so you give up!!

Also wanted to mention that you should check to see if you qualify for SSI while your waiting to hit 62. Some people forget about that option if they have limited income and resources.

I just realized something else I should have mentioned - I did work part-time for many years but it was all under the table (cleaning houses) so I never paid into Social Security. I'm wondering if that affects anything or if there's any way to count some of that work now?

I just used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above last week when I was trying to resolve an issue with my RIB application. It worked really well - got through to an agent in about 15 minutes instead of the 3+ hours I spent on my previous attempts. Just wanted to confirm it's legitimate since I was skeptical at first.

ALSO!!! Don't forget you can actually claim BOTH benefits at different times! Some people don't realize you can take survivor benefits at FRA (getting 100% of deceased spouse's PIA) while letting your OWN retirement benefit grow until 70. OR if your own benefit at FRA is higher than survivor, take your retirement at FRA and switch to survivor at 70. Run the numbers both ways!

omg i remember when I got slapped with an overpayment notice for $12k from SSA because of some weird calculation with my sons SSI and my work. i fought it for like 8 months and they eventually reduced it but it was such a nightmare. document EVERYTHING. save all letters, take notes of every call with who you talked to and what they said. trust me on this one!!

Based on everything you've shared, I recommend taking these specific actions: 1. Visit your local SSA office in person (make an appointment first) and bring: - All pay stubs showing your PCA income year-to-date - A written statement detailing your work activity - Your concerns about potential overpayment 2. Request to speak with a Technical Expert or Claims Specialist specifically about the interaction between child-in-care benefits and the earnings test 3. Ask for a written explanation of how your specific state's PCA program income is counted for earnings test purposes 4. Consider requesting voluntary suspension of benefits until this is resolved 5. Set up an SSA online account if you haven't already to monitor your benefits The child-in-care benefit is subject to the annual earnings test, but there can be complexities with how certain types of income are counted. Getting clear documentation now will help protect you later.

I'm in a similar boat waiting for Medicare reimbursement after starting widow's benefits last month. Has anyone received their reimbursement via direct deposit, or do they send a paper check? I'm worried about missing a check in the mail since I've had mail delivery problems in my neighborhood.

Update: I finally got through to SSA this morning! The representative confirmed they have the correct start date for my Medicare (August 2022) despite what the letter said. She told me the Medicare reimbursement should come within 6-8 weeks as a separate payment. She also noted that I'll see the reimbursement pending in my MySocialSecurity account before it hits my bank account. Thanks everyone for your help and sharing your experiences. I'll update again when I receive the payment!

just wonderin - how long were u married to ur ex? cuz i think theres a 10 yr rule for ex-spouse benefits. if u were married less than 10 yrs u might not be eligible anyway

Based on all the information shared, here's what will likely happen: 1. Your phone interview on December 10th will proceed as scheduled 2. You'll explain the death certificate delay situation 3. SSA will take your application and mark it pending until the certificate arrives 4. Once you submit the certificate in January, they'll finish processing your claim 5. If approved, benefits will be paid retroactive to your application date (or the appropriate entitlement date) One important note: Since you're already receiving survivor benefits on your husband's record, SSA will determine which benefit amount is higher. You won't receive both - just the higher of the two amounts. The good news is that this switch is usually pretty straightforward since SSA already has most of your information in their system from your current claim.

To follow up on your question about earnings - SSA counts GROSS earnings toward the limit, not net after taxes. And they count it when earned, not when paid (except for special payments like bonuses or accumulated vacation pay). Given that you're only $320 below the annual earnings limit, you might want to keep careful track of your income throughout the year. Going over by even a small amount could trigger withholding of some of your widow benefits.

One more important point - when you do go to apply for your own retirement benefits at 67, make sure you specifically tell SSA you want to SWITCH from widow benefits to retirement benefits. Don't simply say you want to "apply for retirement" or they might just give you a small increase instead of recalculating the full amount you're entitled to based on your work record. Also, you can actually file for this switch online through your my Social Security account when the time comes, which might be easier than dealing with representatives who may not understand the rules.

Check if they didnt take out taxes earlier!!!! My brother had extra withholding applied to his acct by mistake after filing a W4-V years ago. They suddenly "fixed" it and sent him back money from earlier this year. No explanation til he got a letter weeks later!!

UPDATE: You all were right! I finally got a letter in the mail today explaining the payment. It was indeed a Medicare IRMAA adjustment based on my 2023 tax return showing lower income than 2021. They had me in a higher premium bracket and are refunding the difference for the first part of 2024. Mystery solved! Thank you all for your help and suggestions!