Thank you everyone for all the helpful responses. I think I understand much better now. It sounds like: 1. My wife would get my age 70 benefit amount as her survivor benefit (not my FRA amount) 2. If I pass before she reaches her FRA, she might want to wait until her FRA to claim the survivor benefit to avoid any reduction 3. Her early claiming of her own benefit doesn't penalize her survivor benefit amount This is very reassuring for our planning. I'm going to look into getting official clarification from SSA directly too, using that phone service someone mentioned if needed.

Just came back to say I called SSA today and spent TWO HOURS on the phone. Turns out I WAS getting the wrong amount all this time!!! They're going to adjust my survivor benefit to what my husband was actually receiving at 70, not his FRA amount. And they're supposed to pay me back for the difference going back 4 years. So THANK YOU to everyone in this thread because I would've never questioned this if I hadn't read these comments!

Make sure ur wife knows she CAN'T just call the main 800 number for survivor benefits!!! She has to call the local office directly but they never answer. I had better luck faxing them (yes, FAX, in 2025!) a request for them to call me back with appointment. Riduculous system.

This is really great information everyone! As someone new to thinking about survivor benefits, I had no idea about so many of these details. A few questions based on what I'm reading: 1. Is there a specific form my wife would need to fill out for survivor benefits, or is it all done through the phone appointment? 2. When you mention bringing "ALL paperwork" - beyond marriage certificate and death certificate, what other documents are typically required? 3. For the delayed retirement credits calculation - does SSA automatically calculate this correctly, or is this one of those things where she'd need to specifically ask them to verify the math? The stories about getting through to SSA are honestly terrifying. It sounds like the system is set up to discourage people from getting their benefits. I'm definitely going to organize all our documents now and maybe even write up a step-by-step guide for my wife so she knows exactly what to expect and ask for. Thanks to everyone sharing their real experiences - this is so much more helpful than the generic info on the SSA website!

My cousin works for social security and says they make these kind of mistakes all the time lol. She says most people dont notice or bother to appeal so they just get away with it. Definitely appeal!!!

As someone new to navigating SSI, this whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening. I had no idea that living arrangements and household expenses could affect benefit amounts so significantly. The fact that adding property taxes and homeowner's insurance bumped the monthly benefit up by $250 shows how important it is to get these calculations right from the start. Roger, I really hope you're able to get this corrected through the reconsideration process. $1,750 in backpay is definitely worth fighting for, especially when you were paying those expenses all along. The representative's explanation about your nephew not having income to pay his share makes no sense - that's not how SSI calculations work at all. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences here. This is exactly the kind of practical information that families dealing with disability benefits need to know.

Does anyone know if the benefit increase happens RIGHT AWAY after they do the recalculation?? Or is there another waiting period? With Social Security there's ALWAYS some complication they don't tell you about until afterwards!!!

This is such great information! I'm in a similar situation - took early retirement at 62 but now considering part-time work. Reading through all these responses, I'm curious about one thing: does it matter HOW MUCH you earn when it comes to the recalculation? Like, if I only work part-time and earn say $15,000 a year, would that still potentially increase my benefit if it's higher than one of my lower earning years from the past? Or do the new earnings need to be substantial to make any meaningful difference in the monthly payment? Also, for those who've been through this process - do you get any notification from SSA when they do the recalculation, or does your payment just quietly increase one month?

To answer your question directly: SSA callbacks typically appear as "Unknown," "No Caller ID," or occasionally "US Government" depending on which office is calling you and what phone system they're using. Important details to know: 1. They will identify themselves immediately when you answer 2. They usually attempt 2-3 callbacks if you miss them 3. They will leave a voicemail identifying themselves as SSA 4. Callback times range from 30 minutes to next business day If you miss their callback, you'll need to start the process over. I recommend temporarily changing your phone settings to ensure unknown calls aren't automatically rejected. Also, when they call, they'll need to verify your identity before discussing your case, so have your Social Security number and other identifying information ready.

I had the exact same experience last week! SSA called me back and it showed as "UNKNOWN" on my Android phone. I almost didn't answer because I get so many spam calls. When I did pick up, the representative immediately said "Hello, this is [name] calling from the Social Security Administration" so you'll know right away it's legitimate. They called me back about 2 hours after I requested the callback. Pro tip: make sure you're in a quiet place when they call because they'll need to verify your identity with personal information, and the connection quality can sometimes be poor. Also, have your Social Security card and any relevant documents nearby - they might reference specific details about your case. Good luck with your retirement application! The wait times are definitely frustrating, but once you get through to someone they're usually very helpful.