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my sister tried to get surviver benefits but they denied her because she was married for only 9 years not 10 years! so unfair!!!
The 10-year marriage duration requirement applies to divorced spouse benefits, not to widow(er)'s benefits for a current marriage. For survivor benefits after the death of a spouse, you generally only need to have been married for 9 months (with some exceptions like accidental death). Your sister should appeal if she was denied survivor benefits from a current marriage that lasted at least 9 months.
Congratulations on getting approved, and I'm so sorry for your loss. Your post gives me hope - I lost my spouse 6 weeks ago and have been putting off calling SSA because the whole process seems so daunting. Can I ask what specific documents you had ready that made the biggest difference? I keep seeing conflicting information online about what they actually need beyond the death certificate and marriage certificate.
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I've been through a similar situation when my spouse started receiving SSDI. One thing that really helped us was requesting what's called a "manual computation" from SSA - basically asking them to recalculate everything step by step while you're there or on the phone. Sometimes their automated systems don't properly account for all the exclusions and allocations, especially the ineligible child piece. Also, make sure they know your exact living situation. If you rent vs own your home, or if there have been any changes in your household composition since your wife first applied for SSI, that could affect the calculation. The representative I worked with found that they had outdated information about our rent amount, which was throwing off the entire computation. Don't give up - even if the math works out that she's technically ineligible now, there might be other factors or exclusions that should apply to your situation. Michigan does have some state supplemental payments in certain circumstances, so definitely mention that when you call.
This is really helpful advice! I didn't know you could request a manual computation - that sounds like exactly what we need to make sure everything is being calculated correctly. We do rent our apartment and our situation hasn't changed since my wife first got SSI, but it's worth double-checking that they have all the right information on file. The automated systems making errors makes a lot of sense given how complex these calculations are. I'm definitely going to ask specifically about Michigan's state supplement too. Thanks for sharing your experience and for the encouragement - it gives me hope that there might be something we can get sorted out!
I went through something very similar when my husband got approved for SSDI last year! The SSA calculations can be so confusing, especially with the deeming rules. One thing I learned is that they sometimes make mistakes with the timing - like they might suspend benefits immediately when your SSDI starts, but then they're supposed to do a proper redetermination within 30 days to calculate the correct reduced amount. In our case, my SSI was suspended for about 6 weeks while they "recalculated," and then I got reinstated at a lower amount with some backpay for the gap period. The key was staying on top of them and calling every week to check status. Also, definitely verify they're using the right numbers for your household size and Michigan's rules. Sometimes they miss the ineligible child allocation or use outdated federal benefit rates. I'd recommend keeping detailed notes of every conversation you have with them - dates, times, representative names, what they told you. It really helped when I had to escalate my case. Good luck getting this sorted out - the money you're owed can really add up while they're figuring it out!
Thank you for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear that someone else went through this exact situation and got it resolved. The timing issue you mentioned makes a lot of sense - maybe they did suspend it immediately but haven't finished the proper redetermination yet. Six weeks feels like forever when you're counting on that money, but knowing there might be backpay at the end gives me hope. I'm definitely going to start keeping detailed notes of every conversation like you suggested - that's such smart advice for dealing with any government agency. I'll start calling weekly to check on the status. Did you find there were certain days or times that were better for getting through to someone, or was it just persistence no matter when you called?
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I'm in a very similar boat! Applied in August for January 2025 benefits and mine has been stuck on "processing" for months too. Reading through all these responses is so helpful - I had no idea this was such a common experience. It's frustrating that SSA doesn't communicate better about their timelines, but at least now I know I'm not alone. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially those who confirmed that back pay covers the waiting period. Going to try calling them next week to double check everything is in order, but feeling much more reassured now!
Welcome to the club! It's crazy how many of us are in the same situation. I applied around the same time as you (late September) and was getting really anxious about the lack of communication. After reading everyone's experiences here and calling SSA myself, I feel so much better. Definitely recommend calling just for peace of mind - even though the wait time was brutal, it was worth it to confirm everything was on track. Hope your call goes smoothly and you get good news too!
This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a newcomer here but found this discussion through a web search when I was panicking about my own SSA application. Applied in early October for March 2025 benefits and have been checking my account obsessively. Seeing how many people are in the exact same situation really puts things in perspective. The lack of communication from SSA is definitely frustrating - they could save everyone a lot of stress with just a simple status update or timeline estimate. Planning to call them next week armed with all the great advice from this thread. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences!
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This has been such an incredibly thorough and helpful discussion! As someone who's still a few years away from FRA but trying to plan ahead, I really appreciate how everyone has consistently confirmed that there is absolutely NO earnings limit once you reach Full Retirement Age. What strikes me most is how this misinformation seems to spread so easily - like what happened with the original poster hearing conflicting advice from coworkers and family. It's clear that having access to accurate information from people who've actually been through this process (and even someone from SSA field offices!) makes all the difference in planning confidently. The practical tips shared here go way beyond just the basic earnings rule too - things like separate bank accounts for tax tracking, timing salary increases strategically, setting up MySocialSecurity accounts early, and understanding the difference between earnings tests and tax implications. These real-world insights are exactly what you need when making these important decisions. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and experiences. This thread should definitely be saved as a reference for anyone navigating retirement planning while considering continued work after FRA!
I completely agree! As someone who's also still several years away from FRA, this discussion has been like taking a comprehensive course in Social Security planning. What really stands out to me is how unanimous everyone has been about the core message - there truly is NO earnings limit after FRA. I think the misinformation spreads so easily because Social Security rules can seem complex, and people often share partial information or mix up different aspects of the system. But having multiple perspectives from people who've actually navigated this transition, plus professional advisors and even an SSA employee, really drives home how clear-cut this particular rule is. The practical advice shared here has been invaluable too - I'm definitely going to set up my MySocialSecurity account early and start tracking my earnings record. And the tips about tax planning and timing considerations are exactly the kind of real-world details you don't find in the basic explanations of the rules. This thread is definitely going in my bookmarks as essential reading for retirement planning. Thanks to everyone for creating such a helpful resource for those of us trying to understand how to navigate work and Social Security after FRA!
This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! As someone who's about 2 years away from my FRA, I came here with the exact same confusion as the original poster. The consistent message from everyone - that there is NO earnings limit whatsoever once you reach FRA - has completely cleared up my concerns. What I find most valuable is seeing so many different perspectives all confirming the same information: people who've actually made this transition, retirement advisors, and even an SSA field office worker. That level of consensus really drives home how definitive this rule is. I'm particularly grateful for all the practical advice that went beyond just the basic earnings rule - the tax planning considerations, the tip about separate bank accounts, the MySocialSecurity account setup, and especially understanding the difference between earnings tests and tax implications. These details will definitely help me plan my own transition more effectively. One thing this discussion has really reinforced for me is how important it is to get information from multiple reliable sources rather than relying on well-meaning but potentially inaccurate advice from friends and family. The misinformation around Social Security rules seems to spread so easily! Thanks to everyone who contributed their knowledge and experience. This thread is going straight into my retirement planning resources folder!
Charlie Yang
Update: I called SSA this morning because I realized I forgot to bring my son's school transcript yesterday. The agent I spoke with was actually very helpful and said I can upload it through my mySocialSecurity account instead of making another trip to the office. She also confirmed that yes, I'll need to submit updated enrollment verification each semester. Just wanted to share this tip in case it helps anyone else!
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ApolloJackson
•That's excellent information. Using the mySocialSecurity portal for document uploads is definitely the most efficient method. For student benefits, SSA Form SSA-1372 (Student's Statement Regarding School Attendance) is typically required at the beginning of each academic year, not necessarily each semester. Your school's registrar office should be familiar with completing their portion of this form. Keep digital copies of everything you submit!
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StarStrider
This is such an important story to share! I'm a newcomer here but have been dealing with similar confusion about survivor benefits. My father passed away last year and I've been getting conflicting information from different SSA representatives. Your experience gives me hope that persistence pays off. I'm planning to visit my local office next week and will definitely ask for a supervisor if I get pushback. It's really disheartening to hear how common these incorrect initial denials seem to be - makes you wonder how many people just walk away without getting what they're entitled to. Thanks for sharing your success and encouraging others to advocate for themselves!
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