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my neighbor got widow benefits from her first husband even tho she was married to second husband when she applied!!! BUT!!!! she had to wait until she was 60 and the first husband had higher earnings. so YES you can pick but only if ur 60+ and you get the higher one only!!
To answer your follow-up question about the application process - yes, you should bring marriage certificates for both marriages, as well as your divorce decree from the first marriage. Death certificate(s) for any deceased spouse will also be needed. While you can start the survivor application online, complex situations like yours usually require finishing the process with a phone or in-person interview. Make sure to explicitly mention both marriages during your application so they check both records. And as others have mentioned, think carefully about WHEN you claim - the difference between claiming at 60 versus your Full Retirement Age can be substantial.
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To add to my previous comment, when you submit the SSA-1724 form, make sure you clearly note that your brother died on August 1st specifically. Some claims representatives aren't familiar with this special rule for deaths on the 1st of the month, so you might need to politely point them to their own policy (POMS GN 02408.610). Also, as someone else mentioned, don't forget to apply for the one-time death benefit of $255 if you were the one who paid for the funeral expenses. That's a separate benefit using form SSA-8 (Application for Lump-Sum Death Payment).
This is really helpful advice - thank you! I'll definitely make a note about the specific date and the policy reference when I submit the form. Would you recommend including a copy of his death certificate showing the August 1st date as well?
Yes, absolutely include a copy of the death certificate! That's essential documentation. Also bring proof that you paid the funeral expenses (receipts or bills in your name) and any documentation showing you were his representative payee. If you have the original letter from SSA acknowledging his death, include that too. One more tip: If you're able to visit your local SSA office in person rather than trying to call, you might have better luck. Many offices now allow walk-ins in the afternoon, but if you can schedule an appointment that's even better.
Thank you again! I have all those documents ready. I think I'll try that service someone mentioned to get through by phone first, and if that doesn't work, I'll see about visiting the local office. I really appreciate everyone's help with this.
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i hope we get a good increase this year. groceries are killing me lately!
We're only getting 2.5% which is a JOKE! Last year was 3.2% and the year before was 8.7%. They're slowly chipping away at our benefits while everything gets more expensive!
For anyone wondering about the 2025 COLA letters, here's the official timeline according to the SSA website: 1. COLA percentage announcement: October 10, 2024 (already happened - 2.5%) 2. MySocialSecurity online accounts will update: Early December 2024 3. COLA notices mailing: December 5-20, 2024 4. First increased payment: January 2025 If you need your new benefit amount sooner for budgeting purposes, I'd recommend setting up a MySocialSecurity account if you haven't already. The information typically appears there 1-2 weeks before physical letters arrive.
Thank you for this clear timeline! I'll mark my calendar to check my online account in early December.
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Something important to understand about your situation: You're dealing with two separate processes, and they must happen in sequence: 1) First, your SSA-521 withdrawal must be processed completely. This includes calculating exactly how much you need to repay from your retirement benefits. 2) Only after that's finalized can they move forward with your survivor benefit application. Once your withdrawal is approved, you should receive a formal notice with repayment instructions. After repayment is confirmed, the survivor benefits processing can begin. The good news is that survivor benefits will typically be backdated to your application date (or protective filing date), so you won't lose benefits due to administrative delays.
Thank you for breaking this down so clearly. It helps to understand the sequence. I just wish the SSA rep had explained it this way instead of just saying it'll take a long time. Do you know if there's any way to find out which specific processing center has my case?
WAIT im confused - if you already suspended your benefits why do you have to withdraw them too? aren't those the same thing??
They're actually completely different. Suspension just temporarily stops payments but keeps your claim active. Withdrawal (SSA-521) terminates your claim entirely as if you never filed, which allows you to file for a different benefit type without reduction. But withdrawal also requires you to repay all benefits received, which suspension doesn't.
ohhh that explains a lot! so in OPs case they need to withdraw the retirement to get the full survivor amount? thats so complicated!
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Just wondering - why did you decide to withdraw your application? I'm thinking about applying soon but nervous about making the wrong decision.
I realized I could get a significantly higher monthly benefit by waiting until my Full Retirement Age instead of taking it early. I did some calculations and for my situation, the extra 25% in monthly benefits would be worth the wait. Plus, I'm still working part-time and the earnings limit would have reduced my benefits anyway.
To clarify some of the conflicting information here: After an application withdrawal, account access issues can vary significantly in duration based on several factors: 1. Whether your withdrawal was processed before any payments were issued 2. How your local field office processed the withdrawal 3. Whether there were any special circumstances with your application In approximately 60% of cases, accounts return to normal viewing within 4-6 weeks. In about 25% of cases, it happens faster (within 1-2 weeks). For the remaining cases, it can take 8+ weeks or require manual intervention. If you need to see your statement urgently, calling is your best option. If it's not urgent, waiting 6 weeks from the withdrawal acknowledgment date is reasonable before making that call.
Thank you for these statistics - that's really helpful! My withdrawal was before any payments started, so hopefully I'll be in that 60% group where it resolves in 4-6 weeks. I'll give it a bit more time.
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What's GPO? Is that different from WEP? I get so confused with all these letters lol
GPO = Government Pension Offset (reduces spousal/survivor benefits if you get a non-covered government pension) WEP = Windfall Elimination Provision (reduces your own Social Security benefit if you also get a non-covered government pension) Both penalties affect government workers who didn't pay Social Security taxes for their government job but are eligible for Social Security based on other work or through a spouse.
my neighbor is in this exact situation and she just keeps checking the news every day hoping it'll pass. she's missing out on like $900 a month because of GPO! thats REAL money that could change her life
It's criminal what they're doing to us! I'm losing over $1,200 a month between the WEP reduction on my own benefit and the GPO elimination of my survivor benefit. After 40+ years of working (partly in covered and partly in non-covered employment), this is how they treat us!
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Ok so wait im confused... if i get a company car does that count for the earnings test too??
A company car can be more complicated. If it's exclusively for business use, then no, it typically doesn't count toward your earnings limit. But if you use it for personal purposes too, the fair market value of that personal use might be considered taxable compensation and could appear in Box 1 of your W-2, which would count toward your earnings limit. Your payroll department should be able to tell you exactly how they're reporting any company car benefit.
Just my experience but when I was in this situation a few years back, I called my local SS office (not the main number) and they actually answered! The agent told me reimbursements don't count but if I was worried I should just keep my W2 earnings about $1000 under the limit to have a buffer. Worked for me!
That's good advice about keeping a buffer. I'll see if I can cut back a few hours in the last quarter to stay safely under the limit. Thanks!
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Based on your follow-up with the actual benefit amounts, let me add some precision. If your PIA is $2,900 and your wife's reduced age 62 benefit is $1,320: 1. If she takes the spousal top-up 5 months before FRA, the spousal portion would be reduced by approximately 2.1% (0.42% per month × 5 months). 2. Her full spousal benefit would be $1,450 (50% of your $2,900 PIA) 3. With the 5-month reduction, her spousal portion would be about $1,420 instead of $1,450 4. Since she already receives $1,320 from her own record, the reduced top-up would be about $100/month instead of $130/month So the question becomes: Is waiting 5 months for an extra $30/month for the rest of her life worth giving up 5 months of receiving $100/month? The break-even point would be around 17 years.
Thank you for doing that math! That really helps put it in perspective. Since my wife is in good health and her family tends to be long-lived, waiting the 5 months probably makes sense for her. Really appreciate everyone's insights on this!
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Yes, the earnings limit has increased. For 2024 it was $21,240 for those under FRA the whole year, and for 2025 it's projected to be around $22,320. But remember, this limit only applies to people who haven't reached their Full Retirement Age yet. The original poster is over their FRA, so they can earn unlimited amounts without any benefit reduction.
Thanks for clarifying! I didn't realize the limit increases each year. My mom should be reaching her FRA soon so that's good to know.
Thank you all for the helpful advice! I'm going to start my online application this weekend and aim for January benefits. It's a relief to know I can keep my employer health insurance without complications. I'll make sure to gather all my documents first and check my online account regularly for updates. Really appreciate all the tips!
Good luck! Come back and let us know how it goes. The online system is usually pretty good, but sometimes there are hiccups. If you run into any issues, don't hesitate to ask more questions here.
Amy Fleming
Does anyone know if there's a certain time window we have to report changes in income? Like is there a deadline after you decide to start working? I'm in a similar situation but already started a part-time job 3 weeks ago and haven't reported anything yet... getting nervous reading this thread!
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Butch Sledgehammer
•You should report changes as soon as possible. While there's no specific deadline stated in days, the requirement is to report "promptly" when your situation changes. Three weeks isn't terrible, but I wouldn't wait any longer. Call or send that certified letter this week if possible.
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Sergio Neal
make sure u keep track of your hours super carefully!!! my mom went over by like $50 one month and they took away her WHOLE check that month even tho she was way under the yearly limit. the monthly limit is the important one
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Sara Unger
•Thanks for the warning! I'll definitely keep careful records of both my hours and earnings each month. My employer said they can limit my schedule if needed to stay under the threshold.
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