dont forget to ask funeral home if they reported it! ours said they would but didnt and it caused problems later

I'm so sorry for your loss, Kyle. Losing a parent is never easy, especially at 95 after such a long life together. The Social Security payment situation is confusing and stressful when you're already dealing with so much. From what I understand based on others' experiences here, the February payment your father received should stay in his account since it was payment for January (when he was alive the whole month). Just make sure the death gets reported to SSA promptly - either through the funeral home or by calling directly. Take care of yourself during this difficult time, and don't hesitate to ask if you have more questions as you work through everything.

This thread has been incredibly informative! As someone who's been considering going back to work while on SS benefits, I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and practical advice. One thing I'd like to add that might help others - I discovered that some local AARP offices offer free one-on-one counseling sessions specifically about working while receiving Social Security. They helped me understand my specific situation and even walked through some earnings scenarios with me. It might be worth checking if there's something like that available in your area as another resource beyond calling SSA directly. StarSeeker, your methodical approach to planning this out is really smart. The 90% safety buffer suggestion from Yara is excellent - I think I'm going to use that rule myself if I decide to take on some part-time work. And keeping those monthly calendar reminders to check earnings totals is such a simple but effective way to stay on track. Thanks to everyone for making this such a valuable discussion. I feel much more confident about the possibility of returning to work now that I understand how the earnings test actually works in practice!

This has been such a comprehensive and helpful discussion! As someone who's been hesitant about working while receiving SS benefits, reading through everyone's real-world experiences has really demystified the process for me. I wanted to add one more resource that might be helpful - many states have SHINE (Serving Health Information Needs of Everyone) programs that provide free Medicare and Social Security counseling. The counselors are trained volunteers who can help walk through these earnings scenarios and answer questions about working while on benefits. They're often available through Area Agencies on Aging or senior centers. StarSeeker, your systematic approach to this decision is really impressive. Between filing the SSA-131 form, keeping detailed earnings records with that 90% safety buffer, setting up monthly check-ins, and having backup resources like Claimyr if needed, you've created a solid plan that should help you avoid any surprises. One small addition to consider - when you do start working, you might want to keep a simple log of not just your earnings but also your work hours. Sometimes having that level of detail can be helpful if there are any questions later about how your earnings were calculated, especially if you're doing any overtime or getting bonuses. Best of luck with your temporary position! Thanks to everyone who contributed their experiences - this thread is going to be a valuable reference for anyone facing similar decisions.

I'm currently going through my second CDR (first one was about 4 years ago) and wanted to share some perspective for anyone feeling anxious about the process. My first CDR took about 5 months total and resulted in continued benefits with no issues. This time around, I'm about 3 months in and just had my consultative exam last week. One thing I learned from my first experience is to treat the CE seriously - dress appropriately, arrive on time, and be honest about your limitations during the exam. The doctor asked me to do various movements and activities, and I made sure to explain when something caused pain or difficulty rather than just pushing through it. Also, I'd recommend requesting a copy of the CE report afterward (you can do this through your local SSA office). During my first CDR, I found an error in the report and was able to submit a correction, which I think helped my case. For anyone just starting the process - try not to panic. The vast majority of CDRs result in continued benefits, especially if your condition hasn't significantly improved. Focus on being thorough and accurate in your paperwork, and remember that they're looking at whether you can maintain substantial gainful activity, not whether you have some good days mixed in with the bad ones. Hang in there - the waiting is definitely stressful, but most of us get through it just fine!

I'm currently about 8 weeks into my CDR process and wanted to add my experience to this helpful thread. Got my initial notice in late January, completed all the disability report forms about 3 weeks ago, and now I'm in the waiting phase to see if they'll schedule a consultative exam. One thing I've found really helpful is keeping a detailed symptom log while going through this process - not just for the forms, but also to have concrete examples ready if they call with follow-up questions or if I need to appeal. I track things like how many hours I can concentrate, what household tasks I can/can't complete, sleep quality, and pain levels on a 1-10 scale. My local SSA field office told me that my state's DDS is currently running about 4-5 months for CDR decisions, which seems pretty consistent with what others have shared here. They also mentioned that if they need a CE, they typically schedule it around month 3-4 of the process. For anyone just starting - definitely echo what others have said about being thorough on those forms. I probably spent 2-3 hours on each section really thinking through how to accurately describe my functional limitations. The waiting is nerve-wracking, but reading everyone's experiences here has really helped manage my anxiety about it. Thanks to everyone who's shared their timelines and advice!

I've been following this discussion as someone who went through a similar situation a few years ago. One thing I want to emphasize is the importance of getting everything in writing from SSA once you do speak with them. When I was navigating my ex-spouse benefits after my second divorce, I had three different SSA representatives give me conflicting information over the phone. I finally requested that all calculations and eligibility determinations be provided in writing, which helped tremendously when I had to clarify discrepancies later. Also, don't be surprised if the first person you speak with isn't familiar with complex divorce/remarriage scenarios. I had to ask to speak with a specialist who deals specifically with spousal and survivor benefits. The general representatives are knowledgeable, but these multi-marriage situations have so many nuances that it really helps to talk to someone who handles them regularly. One last tip - bring copies of ALL your marriage certificates and divorce decrees, even if you think they might not be relevant. I initially only brought paperwork from my qualifying marriage, but they ended up needing documentation from all my marriages to properly process my claim. Best of luck navigating this process! It's complicated but definitely worth getting right.

I've been working in Social Security disability advocacy for over 15 years and wanted to add a few practical tips for when you do get your SSA appointment: 1. **Timing matters for your appointment** - Try to schedule for early morning when staff are fresh and have more time to review complex cases like yours. 2. **Bring a written summary** - Write out your marriage timeline (dates married/divorced for both husbands) and your key questions. This helps keep the appointment focused and ensures you don't forget anything important. 3. **Ask about "what if" scenarios** - Have them calculate benefits for different filing ages (62, 65, 67, 70) so you can see exactly how much waiting would be worth in dollars. 4. **Get your ex-husband's earnings estimate** - While they can't give you his exact earnings history, they can tell you approximately what your ex-spousal benefit would be based on his record. The remarriage rules are definitely tricky, but you're asking all the right questions. The fact that your first marriage lasted 29 years puts you in a strong position once your current divorce is finalized. Many people don't realize they can claim on a prior ex-spouse's record after a subsequent divorce ends. Good luck with everything! These decisions are never easy, but getting the right information upfront will help you make the best choice for your situation.

I just went through this process myself about 6 months ago and wanted to share what worked for me! The online application definitely works for ex-spouse benefits, but here are some tips that made it smoother: 1. Make sure you have your ex's full legal name exactly as it appears on official documents - middle names, suffixes, etc. The SSA system is picky about exact matches. 2. You don't need to notify your ex that you're applying. The SSA handles everything behind the scenes and your ex won't even know unless they specifically ask SSA about their record. 3. For the document uploads, I found it helpful to call them "clear and legible scans" - use a scanning app on your phone rather than just taking photos. The contrast needs to be really good or they'll reject them. 4. One thing I wish someone had told me: you can actually start the application, save it, and come back to finish it later if you need to gather more documents. Don't feel pressured to complete everything in one sitting. The whole process took about 3 weeks from application to first payment for me. The reduction at 62 was worth it in my case since I needed the income. Hang in there - the online system really does work once you get past the initial hurdles!

I went through this exact situation last year and want to offer some encouragement! The online application absolutely works for ex-spouse benefits, despite what some people say about technical issues. Here's my successful approach: 1. Gather everything BEFORE starting: marriage certificate, divorce decree (just the pages showing marriage/divorce dates and final judgment), your ex's full name and DOB (SSN helpful but not required). 2. Use Chrome browser with ad blockers disabled, and apply during off-peak hours (I did mine around 11 PM on a Tuesday). 3. The application will ask about previous marriages - say yes and provide your ex's info. The system automatically calculates whether your own benefit or spousal benefit is higher. 4. You can save your progress and return later! The application stays active for 30 days, so don't rush if you need to find documents. 5. For document uploads, use your phone's scanning app rather than photos - the contrast needs to be crisp or they'll reject them. The whole process took me about 45 minutes and I was approved in 2 weeks. Yes, you'll get a reduced benefit at 62, but sometimes having income now is more important than waiting. The SSA won't contact your ex - they handle everything internally. Don't let the horror stories discourage you from trying online first. It really does work for most people! Good luck!