can u work part time while collecting survivors benefits? asking for my aunt

Miguel, you've gotten some excellent advice here! Just want to reinforce what others have said - since you reached your FRA in February, you are absolutely in the clear to earn your full $8,000/month salary alongside your survivor benefits with zero penalties. I went through something very similar when I was caring for my father through his Social Security maze. The misinformation from SSA reps is unfortunately very common, especially on these earnings limit rules. I'd recommend documenting this conversation thread and maybe even calling back to SSA to get the correct information on your record. One additional tip: since you mentioned you're planning to retire fully in 4 months, now might be a good time to create a my Social Security account online if you haven't already. You can track your benefits, get verification letters, and monitor any changes without having to call and wait on hold. Congratulations on navigating this successfully - it sounds like you have a solid plan for maximizing both income streams during your transition to retirement!

I want to thank everyone for their helpful responses! I feel much better knowing I can manage my annual earnings rather than worrying about each individual month. I'll definitely keep track of my total earnings to make sure I stay under the $22,680 limit for the year. I'm going to call SSA just to confirm this information for my specific situation, but at least now I have a much better understanding of how the earnings test works. This community has been so helpful!

I've been dealing with survivor benefits for about 2 years now and went through a similar confusion with earnings limits. What really helped me was getting everything in writing from SSA. When I called, I asked the representative to send me a letter confirming the annual earnings test applies to my situation (since I'm past my first year of benefits). Having that documentation gave me peace of mind and also serves as proof if there's ever a discrepancy later. The annual limit approach is definitely correct for ongoing survivor benefits, but I totally understand the anxiety about potentially losing benefits - those payments are so important for making ends meet. One more tip: if you do end up earning close to the $22,680 limit later in the year, you can always reduce your hours in December to stay under. I did that last year just to be safe. Good luck with your part-time job - it sounds like a rewarding place to work!

I'm so sorry for your family's loss. This is such a difficult time, and it's wonderful that you're helping your sister-in-law navigate this process. Just wanted to add a few practical tips from when I went through this with my own family: 1) When you call SSA, have your sister-in-law be the one on the phone since she's the surviving parent - they won't discuss details with other family members due to privacy rules, even with good intentions. 2) Consider calling your local SSA office directly rather than the national number. Sometimes local offices are easier to reach and can schedule in-person appointments if phone wait times are impossible. 3) If your niece has any disabilities or special circumstances, mention this during the call as there may be additional benefits available that continue beyond age 18. 4) Keep in mind that once the benefits start, they'll be deposited monthly and your sister-in-law will need to report them on taxes (though they're often not taxable depending on total household income). The benefits will make a real difference for your niece's future. Take care of yourselves during this difficult time.

I'm very sorry for your loss. Just wanted to share that my experience with SSA was actually much smoother than some others here have described. When my father passed away two years ago, I was able to get through to SSA on my second call (called around 10am on a Tuesday). The representative was compassionate and walked me through everything step by step. A few things that helped me prepare: - I called from a landline rather than cell phone (not sure if this matters but the connection was crystal clear) - Had all documents spread out in front of me before calling - Wrote down questions beforehand so I wouldn't forget anything during the emotional conversation One thing I didn't see mentioned above is that they can sometimes expedite the process in cases of financial hardship. If your sister-in-law is struggling with immediate expenses related to your brother-in-law's passing, it's worth mentioning this during the call. Also, the benefits will likely be retroactive to the month after his death, so even if there's a delay in processing, your niece won't lose out on those payments. Wishing your family strength during this difficult time.

I'm so relieved to see this positive update! Your story really shows how important it is to be proactive and call directly rather than just waiting and hoping. I'm currently at week 6 waiting for my spouse's retirement application to process, and reading about your success gives me the motivation to call our local office tomorrow. It's encouraging to know that applications can actually be approved even when the online system still shows "processing" - that tracking system really needs an overhaul! Thanks for coming back to share the good news with everyone. Stories like yours help keep the rest of us from giving up hope during these long waits.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation - applied for my retirement benefits in late November and my start date was supposed to be January 1st. It's now mid-February and I'm still seeing "processing" status with no communication from SSA. Reading everyone's experiences here, especially Emma's successful outcome, gives me hope that persistence really does make a difference. I've been hesitant to call because I didn't want to bother them, but it sounds like being proactive is actually necessary in this system. I'm going to try calling my local office tomorrow morning. It's reassuring to know that even if there are delays, the retroactive payments will cover the months I've been waiting. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in dealing with these processing delays!

One more important point regarding your situation: When you reach out to SSA, specifically ask about the "Disability Freeze" (also called an "Earnings Record Freeze"). This is different from converting from retirement to disability benefits. The disability freeze protects your earnings record by excluding periods of low earnings due to disability from your benefit calculation. Since your benefit amount is based on your lifetime earnings, this could potentially increase your monthly payment even though you're past FRA. To apply for a disability freeze, you'll need to complete form SSA-16 (Application for Disability Insurance Benefits) and provide medical evidence supporting that your disability began before you applied for early retirement. The key is proving your disability onset date was before your early retirement application.

I'm so sorry you're going through this difficult situation. As a fellow community member who has dealt with Social Security issues, I want to add a few practical suggestions that might help: 1. **Document everything**: Before you contact SSA, gather all your medical records from 2020 and earlier that show your conditions were severe enough to prevent substantial work. Your VA C&P exam records will be particularly valuable. 2. **Consider getting help**: Given the complexity of your case and the potential financial impact, you might want to consult with a Social Security disability attorney or advocate. Many work on contingency, so they only get paid if they recover benefits for you. 3. **Don't give up**: While the 12-month window is generally firm, there can be exceptions for veterans, especially if you can demonstrate that your disabilities affected your ability to understand your options when you first applied. The difference between what you're getting now and what you might have received with SSDI could be substantial over your lifetime. Even if the disability freeze only removes part of the early retirement reduction, that could mean hundreds more per month. Keep pushing for answers - you've served our country and deserve every benefit you're entitled to. Wishing you the best of luck with this process!