Update: I went with my mother-in-law to the funeral home today and got 10 copies of the death certificate. We've scheduled an appointment with SSA for next week. They told us she should bring her ID, both their Social Security cards, marriage certificate, death certificate, and a recent bank statement. I'm going to go with her to make sure everything gets handled correctly. Thank you all for your advice - it's been incredibly helpful during this difficult time.

my friend said when her mom died the dad got a letter automatic like 2 weeks later and didnt have to do nothing. is that different for husbands vs wives or something?

Your ex-wife should contact SSA directly or create a my Social Security account online to get a personalized estimate of what she might receive. The calculation can get complicated because the SSA will automatically give her the highest benefit she's eligible for - either her own retirement benefit or the divorced spouse benefit. Also, if she claims before her FRA, her benefit amount will be permanently reduced.

forgot to mention... she should apply like 3-4 months before she wants benefits to start! SSA takes FOREVER to process these claims especially for divorced spouses where they gotta verify the marriage history

Thanks everyone for the helpful feedback. Based on the calculations shared, we've decided it's not worth amending the returns since the break-even point would be around 25+ years. I appreciate all the insights!

One important thing to consider: there's a 3-year, 3-month, and 15-day time limit for correcting Social Security earnings records. For earnings from 2015-2016, you're already beyond this window. However, SSA can make exceptions for "good cause" which includes situations where income was properly reported to IRS but not to SSA. You'd need to file Form SSA-7008 (Request for Correction of Earnings Record) along with proof of income and an explanation. Also, to be very technical, the benefit formula takes your highest 35 years of indexed earnings. The indexing factor adjusts earlier years' earnings upward significantly. So two recent years at $87k each might not actually replace years that, although lower in nominal terms, might be higher after indexing. If you want an exact calculation, you can request a detailed earnings analysis through an in-person appointment at your local SSA office.

One more thing to consider: if your income is this low, look into whether you qualify for SNAP benefits (food stamps), utility assistance programs, and Medicare Savings Programs that can help cover your Medicare Part B premiums. Many states also have senior tax relief programs that reduce property taxes or provide renters credits. Also, when you speak with SSA, ask specifically about whether any of your work might qualify for Special Wage Credits - some caregiving roles get additional credits that could potentially increase your benefit amount. It's a long shot, but worth asking about.

also idk if this helps but my mom told me grandma eventually got on a subsidized housing list and that helped her a lot with expenses. the wait was like 2 years tho so maybe apply now even if ur not sure?

About the 30-day reporting requirement: I worked for SSA for 22 years before retiring. The rule does exist, but it's primarily for extended stays abroad. The technical requirement is that you must report if you're outside the US for 30 consecutive days or longer, or if you're not a US citizen. For routine vacations of US citizens, while technically required to report, it rarely impacts benefits. For the family benefit calculation, the second rep was correct. The formula is complex but essentially: 1. Your PIA (benefit at FRA) is calculated 2. Family maximum is determined by a separate formula 3. Your actual benefit is subtracted from the family maximum 4. Remainder is divided among eligible dependents (up to 50% of PIA each) For tax withholding, each beneficiary needs their own W-4V, including children.

the kids benefits DO end when they turn 18 or graduate high school (up to 19 if still in high school) so keep that in mind for ur planning

One more thing I should mention - if you're concerned about your wife having to navigate the system after your passing, you might want to create a simple document for her with: 1. Your Social Security number 2. Where your important documents are kept 3. Contact information for SSA 4. A basic checklist of what she'll need to do This can make things much easier during a difficult time. I've seen many spouses struggle with the administrative aspects while grieving.

did u know they MAKE ur wife go in person to apply for the survivor thing?? my friends mom couldnt do it on the website had to call and make appointment. took FOREVER

To add some helpful clarification: when calculating your combined benefit, SSA will use this formula: 1. They'll calculate your reduced benefit on your own record (which you're already receiving - $1,425) 2. They'll calculate what your spousal benefit would be if you were only receiving spousal benefits. At age 62, this would be approximately 32.5% of your husband's PIA (not his benefit amount, but his Primary Insurance Amount - what he would get at his FRA) 3. If #2 is higher than #1, you'll get your own benefit plus the difference as a top-up The most common misconception is thinking you'll get your own benefit PLUS 50% of your spouse's. That's not how it works - you get the higher of your own benefit or the spousal benefit, not both combined.

One more important note: If your husband decides to delay claiming beyond his FRA to earn delayed retirement credits (up to age 70), this won't increase your spousal benefit. Spousal benefits are based on the worker's PIA at full retirement age, not their increased benefit amount after delayed retirement credits. So if your husband is considering waiting past 67 to increase his own benefit, just be aware that it won't change your spousal benefit amount at all.

my uncle said he got a YEAR of back pay when he filed at 70 not just 6 months. i think it depends on the office or maybe the rules changed???

One final tip: when you do apply in June 2025, apply early in the month rather than waiting until the end. This gives SSA time to process your application so your payments start without delay. Benefits are paid the month after they're due, so your June benefit would arrive in July. And make sure to set up direct deposit during your application to speed things up.

I remember reading somewhere that if you take a lump sum instead of monthly pension payments, the SSA has to calculate what your monthly payment would have been and then apply GPO to that amount. Might be worth asking your pension administrator if there's any way to structure the lump sum that minimizes this impact. Also, make sure to get everything documented really well before you contact SSA.

wait why are u taking survivors benefits if ur working? doesn't that mean ur husband passed? sorry if thats too personal just confused

One more thing to consider - IRMAA is calculated based on your tax return from 2 years prior. So if you sell your house in 2025, any potential IRMAA impact would affect your Medicare premiums in 2027. This gives you some planning time. If you anticipate other large income events in the next few years (like RMDs or other investment sales), you might want to strategize the timing of everything to avoid having multiple high-income years that could trigger IRMAA.

To summarize what everyone has correctly pointed out: 1. Social Security benefits: Your house sale won't affect these at all since you're over FRA. 2. Medicare IRMAA: If your gain is under the $250,000 exemption (which it likely is based on your purchase price), there would be no impact on your IRMAA status. 3. Watch out for: How you invest the proceeds could generate taxable income in future years. 4. Timeline: IRMAA looks at income from 2 years prior, so any potential impact would be delayed. 5. Appeals: If you do get hit with IRMAA due to a one-time event, you can appeal using Form SSA-44. For peace of mind, I'd recommend consulting with a financial advisor who specializes in retirement planning before making any major decisions. They can help you structure things to minimize any negative impacts.