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Thank you all for the helpful responses. I'll check my mySocialSecurity account in mid-January, and if it's not there, I'll watch for the mailed form in early February. I'm definitely concerned about the tax implications now - I had no idea so much of my Social Security could be taxable! I'll look into filing that W-4V form to have taxes withheld going forward. This has been very educational!
Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through this transition a few years ago. The SSA-1099 form is pretty straightforward - it shows your total benefits received and any federal taxes that were withheld (if you had any). The form itself is only one page, so it's easy to read. One thing that caught me off guard was realizing that Social Security benefits can push you into a higher tax bracket when combined with other income. Since you're still working part-time, I'd strongly recommend talking to a tax professional this year, especially since it's your first time dealing with both income types. They can help you figure out estimated quarterly payments for next year so you don't get hit with a big bill again. Also, keep that SSA-1099 form safe - you'll need it every year you file taxes while receiving benefits, and replacements can take weeks to get if you lose it!
This is really helpful advice about talking to a tax professional! I was thinking about trying to do my taxes myself this year like I always have, but with both SS benefits and work income, it sounds like it might be worth paying for some professional help. Better to get it right the first time than make costly mistakes. Do you have any recommendations for what type of tax preparer to look for? Should I go with someone who specializes in retirement/Social Security issues?
One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that if you're currently receiving spousal benefits on your husband's record while he's alive, those would automatically convert to survivor benefits when he passes away (assuming the survivor benefit is higher). This can make the transition a bit smoother since SSA already has your information on file. Also, since you mentioned you're still working part-time, you might want to consider how your own earnings record is being affected. If you're earning credits now, it could potentially increase your own future Social Security benefit, which might factor into your claiming strategy decision. Every year you work and pay into Social Security (up to 35 years of earnings) can potentially increase your own benefit amount. It's really admirable that you're taking the time to understand all these details ahead of time. Having this knowledge will help you make informed decisions if and when the time comes.
That's a great point about spousal benefits automatically converting to survivor benefits! I hadn't thought about that aspect. Since I'm still working part-time, you're right that I should consider how that's affecting my own Social Security record. I've been so focused on understanding survivor benefits that I forgot my current earnings could still be improving my own future benefit amount. It sounds like there are so many moving pieces to consider - my current work, potential spousal benefits now, survivor benefits later, and the timing of when to claim each one. I really appreciate everyone sharing their knowledge and experiences. This community has been incredibly helpful in breaking down what seemed like an overwhelming topic into manageable pieces I can actually understand and plan around.
I'm a Social Security Administration representative and want to clarify a few key points for everyone following this discussion: 1) **Multiple survivors CAN collect**: As mentioned correctly, multiple eligible survivors (current spouse, ex-spouse, children, etc.) can all receive benefits from the same deceased worker's record without reducing each other's amounts. 2) **Ex-spouse eligibility requirements**: The ex-spouse must have been married to the deceased for at least 10 years AND generally must be unmarried (or remarried after age 60) to qualify for survivor benefits. 3) **Benefit amounts**: Current spouses receive 100% of the deceased's benefit if claimed at Full Retirement Age. Ex-spouses also receive 100% if they meet all requirements and claim at their FRA. 4) **Important reminder**: You cannot receive both your own retirement benefit AND survivor benefit simultaneously - SSA pays the higher of the two amounts. For personalized advice about your specific situation, I recommend scheduling an appointment with your local SSA office or calling our national number at 1-800-772-1213. Every situation is unique, and we can provide guidance tailored to your circumstances. My thoughts are with you during this difficult time of planning and uncertainty about your husband's health.
Thank you so much for the official clarification! It's really reassuring to have an actual SSA representative confirm what everyone has been sharing. I feel much more confident now understanding that multiple survivors can collect without affecting each other's amounts, and that there are clear eligibility requirements. The reminder about not being able to collect both benefits simultaneously is important - I'll definitely need to think strategically about timing. I really appreciate you taking the time to provide official guidance, and I'll definitely consider scheduling an appointment to discuss my specific situation once I've had more conversations with my husband about our planning. This whole thread has been incredibly educational and helpful during what is indeed a difficult time of uncertainty.
I'm in a somewhat similar situation - currently receiving SSDI and considering remarriage in the future. Reading through all these responses has been really helpful! A few additional thoughts based on what I've learned: 1. Definitely get everything in writing from SSA - as others mentioned, verbal information can be inconsistent 2. Consider consulting with a benefits attorney who specializes in Social Security if the amounts involved are substantial 3. The timing strategy mentioned about waiting until FRA for widow benefits is really important - that reduction from 100% to 71.5% at age 60 is significant One question I haven't seen addressed: Are there any tax implications to consider when switching from SSDI+survivor benefits to widow-only benefits? I know SSDI has different tax rules than regular Social Security retirement benefits. Congratulations on your engagement! It sounds like you're being very thoughtful about planning ahead, which is smart. The peace of mind from getting official answers will be worth the effort of dealing with SSA's phone system.
Welcome to the community! You raise an excellent point about tax implications that I hadn't considered. From what I understand, SSDI benefits can be taxable depending on your total income, but the tax treatment might be different when you switch to survivor benefits. That's definitely something I should ask about when I call SSA. Thanks for the suggestion about consulting a benefits attorney - I didn't realize that was an option for Social Security issues. Given how much is at stake financially, it might be worth the cost to get professional guidance. And thank you for the congratulations! This community has been so helpful in thinking through all these scenarios. It's nice to know others are navigating similar situations.
This is such a complex situation, and I'm glad you're thinking through all the scenarios before your wedding! One thing I wanted to add that might be helpful - when you do contact SSA, ask them to walk through a "what if" scenario where you lose SSDI eligibility at different points (say, 6 months after marriage vs 2 years after marriage). The timing of when you might lose SSDI could affect your strategy for claiming widow benefits. Also, since you mentioned your medical condition might improve, have you considered whether there's any voluntary work activity you could do that might trigger a work review? Sometimes people don't realize that even small amounts of work can prompt SSA to reevaluate your disability status. Just something to keep in mind as you plan your future together. The fact that you're asking these questions now shows you're being really responsible about your financial planning. Best of luck with both the wedding and getting solid answers from SSA!
This is really helpful advice about asking SSA for different timing scenarios! I hadn't thought about how the timing of losing SSDI could impact my strategy. You're absolutely right about work activity - I've been wondering if I could do some volunteer work or maybe help my fiancé with his small business occasionally, but now I'm realizing I need to be really careful about that. Even unpaid work might be seen as demonstrating work capacity, right? It's so tricky to balance wanting to be productive with protecting my benefits. Thanks for pointing this out - I'll definitely ask SSA about work activity limits when I call them.
I understand your concern about the genetic carrier status! As someone who's dealt with similar genetic testing situations, I can share that being a Fragile X carrier typically doesn't meet SSA's disability criteria unless there are actual functional impairments. Many carriers of genetic conditions live completely normal lives without any symptoms that would affect their ability to work. SSA's disability determination is based on whether someone can perform "substantial gainful activity" - if your husband is working and functioning normally, the carrier status alone wouldn't qualify him as disabled under their definitions. The labeling on your daughter's paperwork was most likely either a clerical error or an internal coding issue related to family medical history tracking. You were right to correct it initially. If you're still concerned, a quick follow-up call to clarify the genetic carrier distinction might give you peace of mind, but it shouldn't impact your daughter's benefits since her own disability determination is separate from household member classifications.
Dylan Wright
Update: I found it! For anyone else looking, after logging in to mySocialSecurity, click on "Replacement Documents" on the left side menu, then select "Replacement SSA-1099/1042S". It lets you download a PDF immediately. So much easier than I thought!
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Ava Rodriguez
•good job! told you it was easy lol
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Dmitry Smirnov
•Glad you found it! One additional tip - save a digital copy somewhere secure rather than just printing it. Makes it easier to find next year when you need to compare statements or if your tax preparer needs it again.
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Miguel Diaz
WAIT - does everyone on Social Security get this form?? I get SSDI (disability) not retirement and I don't remember seeing any tax form! Am I supposed to be reporting this on my taxes?? I haven't filed in years because I thought disability wasn't taxable!
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Cassandra Moon
•@Miguel Diaz - I went through something similar a few years ago! Don t'stress too much about the past years. If your total income including (SSDI was) below the filing threshold, you likely didn t'owe anything anyway. The IRS won t'penalize you for not filing when you weren t'required to. But definitely start filing going forward - even if you don t'owe taxes, you might qualify for refundable credits that could get you money back. The VITA program Amina mentioned is perfect for your situation since they specialize in helping people with disabilities navigate tax issues.
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Zoe Kyriakidou
•@Miguel Diaz Just wanted to add - when you do get your tax situation sorted out, make sure to keep copies of all your SSA-1099 forms going forward. I learned this the hard way when I needed to prove my benefit amounts for a mortgage application. Also, if you re'still having trouble accessing the online portal, try clearing your browser cache or using a different browser. The SSA website can be finicky sometimes but it s'worth persisting since having digital access makes everything so much easier.
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