My 2 cents - deposit the money and spend it on something nice for yourself!! If SS made a mistake, that's on them, not you. I had this happen and ignored it (different amount though, like $287) and nothing bad ever happened. They never asked for it back. Treat yourself to dinner! lol

Final update: I finally got through to SSA! The $132 payment WAS related to Medicare premium adjustments. They explained that since we'll be transitioning from direct Medicare premium payments to having them deducted from our Social Security benefits, this was a partial refund for premiums we'd already paid that will now be handled differently. The representative confirmed our regular benefits will begin as scheduled in February. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!

Since several people have mentioned authorization issues - you have a few options based on the level of help your friend needs: 1. Informal assistance: Your friend attends the appointment and you just accompany her as support (no formal authorization needed but limited in what you can do) 2. Appointed Representative: Form SSA-1696 allows you to help with specific SSA matters without full control over benefits 3. Representative Payee: More formal arrangement if she cannot manage her benefits at all (requires more documentation) Option 1 or 2 sounds most appropriate for your situation. You can download Form SSA-1696 from ssa.gov.

Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice! I talked with my neighbor and her son yesterday. We're going to schedule an in-person appointment, and her son will take the lead since he's family. I'll go along as additional support. We'll gather her ID, mail showing her current address, and birth certificate beforehand. I really appreciate all your guidance on navigating this process!

Everyone here is giving you incorrect information!!! You absolutely CAN find out what your ex-spouse gets if you submit form SSA-3288 with their signature authorizing release of information to you. Without that, yes, SSA won't tell you. But the good news is you don't NEED to know - when you apply for benefits, SSA can access both records and determine the higher benefit automatically.

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I'm going to gather my marriage certificate and divorce decree, then try to make an appointment with my local office. If I can't get through on the phone I'll try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. It's a huge relief to know I don't need to contact my ex or figure out his benefit amount myself.

Another thing to consider is setting up a special needs trust if you haven't already. If your daughter will continue getting benefits, having too many assets in her name could jeopardize future benefits. We learned this the hard way after my mom left my sister some money directly in her will instead of through the trust.

YES!! THIS!! So many families don't realize that an inheritance or even too much money saved can COMPLETELY disqualify their disabled adult children from benefits!! We set up an ABLE account AND a special needs trust. Talk to a lawyer who specializes in special needs planning - regular estate attorneys often miss these details!!

my aunt went thru this. the statement was wrong and she got the full amount my uncle was getting when she became a widow. don't worry too much about what the paper says!!!

As others have confirmed, if your husband waited until age 70 to claim, the statement is likely not reflecting his delayed retirement credits (DRCs). Each year he delayed past his FRA increased his benefit by 8%, up to a maximum of 32% if he waited from FRA to 70. When you claim survivor benefits, you'll receive the higher of: 1. Your own retirement benefit ($1,300) 2. The actual amount your husband was receiving at the time of his death ($3,600) This is why planning for survivor benefits is such an important part of married couples' Social Security strategy - having one spouse (typically the higher earner) delay benefits to age 70 not only maximizes their lifetime benefit but also potentially provides a higher survivor benefit for the remaining spouse.

Here's a trick I learned from a friend who retired from SSA: The best way to verify your family maximum calculation is to schedule an in-person appointment at your local office and specifically request a PIA/FMAX breakdown printout. This shows all the bend points and calculations. The online calculators aren't reliable for dependent benefits because they don't correctly apply the family maximum in many cases. Also, keep in mind that once your dependent child turns 16, your spouse will no longer qualify for mother's/father's benefits until they reach their own retirement age or become disabled. This catches many families by surprise, so start planning for that transition now.

Another thing to consider is that dependent benefits can increase over time. If any dependents stop receiving benefits (like when your child turns 18/19), the remaining dependents can have their benefits recalculated and potentially increased up to the 50% maximum. This won't happen automatically though - you need to contact SSA to request a recalculation when your family situation changes.

Something nobody mentioned yet - You need to call Social Security ASAP to get the $255 death benefit if you haven't already! It's not much but it's something. You have to claim it within 2 years. When my dad died they didn't automatically send it and my mom almost missed out.

Some more info since you mentioned your own work history: The survivor benefit and your own retirement benefit are calculated separately. At any given time, you'll receive the higher of the two amounts (not both combined). This creates some interesting claiming strategies, as others have mentioned. If your own benefit at age 70 would be higher than your survivor benefit, you might want to take survivor benefits at 60 and switch to your own at 70. Or if your survivor benefit at your full retirement age would be higher than your own benefit ever gets, you might take your own reduced benefit at 62 and switch to the full survivor benefit at your full retirement age. And yes, whichever benefit you're receiving will get the annual COLA increases.

Just wanted to wish you good luck with your kidney surgery. That's scary stuff on top of dealing with SSDI bureaucracy. Hope everything goes well!

To address your question about updating the Adult Function Report - it would be helpful to provide an update after your surgery. You can submit a letter from your doctor describing any additional limitations resulting from the kidney removal. Generally, SSA evaluates disability based on how your conditions limit your ability to work. While spine issues typically cause exertional limitations (lifting, standing, walking), the kidney cancer and surgery may cause non-exertional limitations (need for frequent breaks, absences for treatment, fatigue). The combination of these different types of limitations often presents a stronger case than either condition alone. When you speak with the examiner after surgery, ask if you should submit an updated Function Report or if a medical source statement from your doctor would be sufficient.

Did anyone else notice how the SSA employees NEVER give you their employee ID when you call?? They're trained not to! That way you can't prove who told you what!!! It's a deliberate trap! ALWAYS ask for their ID number and write it down!!! I learned this the hard way.

I just wanted to update everyone - I followed the advice to contact my Congressional representative, and their office actually called me back the same day! They've assigned a caseworker who's going to send an inquiry to SSA on my behalf. She said they often see cases like mine and that having their office involved usually speeds things up significantly. Thanks everyone for your help - I'll post again when I have news!

Thank you all for the incredibly helpful information! Based on your advice, I'm considering two options: 1. Continue working full-time but delay claiming survivor benefits until I reach my FRA (no earnings limit then) 2. Claim survivor benefits now understanding most will be withheld due to my earnings, then switch to my own retirement benefit at 70 I'm going to try to get an appointment with SSA to run calculations for both scenarios. Since it sounds difficult to reach them by phone, I might try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. One last question - if I do claim now and have benefits withheld due to earnings, will I get those withheld benefits back later in some form?

My mom was told one thing by SSA and then they did something completely different!!!! Double check everything they tell you and GET IT IN WRITING!!! They told her she could work part-time and still get survivor benefits but then they took almost everything away and it was a NIGHTMARE to fix!!!