Can't reach Social Security Administration? Claimyr connects you to a live SSA agent in minutes.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the SSA
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the SSA drops your call
If I could give 10 stars I would
If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
Really made a difference
Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
Join the conversation
What's the final deadline to file Social Security for January 1st benefits start date?
Hi everyone! I'm planning to start my Social Security retirement benefits on January 1st due to some ongoing health issues. Problem is, there's a potential job opportunity that might come through that would actually let me keep working (with fewer physical demands). I'm trying to figure out how long I can delay making my final decision.Does anyone know the absolute last date I could submit my application to SSA and still have my benefits start on January 1st? I don't want to miss any deadlines but also don't want to rush into filing if I don't have to.Any advice from folks who've done this timing dance would be super helpful!
Join the conversation
Natalie Khan
Thank you! I didn't even think about gathering all those documents. I'm going to create my account today and start collecting everything I'll need. My birthday is on the 17th, so sounds like I'd get paid on the 3rd Wednesday of the month?
Join the conversation
Isaac Wright
Just curious - have u considered filing a restricted application for spousal benefits only (if ur married) and letting ur own benefit grow? My neighbor did this and got some $ now while still getting a bigger check later
Unfortunately, that strategy is no longer available for most people. The "restricted application" option was eliminated by legislation in 2015 (the Bipartisan Budget Act). It's only available to those born on or before January 1, 1954. Since the original poster is currently 66, they were born after that cutoff date and wouldn't be eligible for this strategy.
Maya Lewis
Thanks everyone for the helpful feedback! After considering all your points, I'm leaning strongly toward waiting until my FRA in June 2025. The earnings test complications, potential overpayments, and reporting requirements sound like headaches I'd rather avoid. Plus, the math seems to favor waiting when you factor in my current earnings. I appreciate all the different perspectives - this has been incredibly helpful!
KhalilStar
•Smart decision! And just think - you can still change your mind if your situation changes. SS gives us flexibility, even if their rules are confusing!
Confused about spousal benefits timing - do I claim when I reach FRA or when my younger husband does?
I'm trying to figure out the whole spousal benefit situation and it's making my head spin! I'm 59 and my husband is 56. I spent most of my working years as a stay-at-home mom raising our four wonderful (but expensive!) children, only working part-time jobs here and there. My Social Security statement shows I'd only get about $425 per month at my full retirement age (67). My husband has worked consistently and will get around $2,800 at his FRA.Here's what I'm confused about - WHEN can I actually start getting the spousal benefit? Do I have to wait until my husband reaches his full retirement age? Or can I claim it when I reach my FRA, even though he's younger? I know I'd get 50% of his benefit which would be WAY better than my tiny $425. Also, does he actually have to file for his benefits before I can get the spousal amount? I want to maximize what we get but this timing stuff is confusing me!
Join the conversation
Laila Fury
Thank you all SO much for these detailed explanations! I think I understand better now - my husband has to file first before I can get anything, and if we want maximum benefits, waiting until his FRA is best, but that means I'd be 70 by then. We'll need to consider if we want to maximize the monthly amount or start getting something sooner even if it's reduced.I'm going to talk this all over with my husband this weekend and then try calling SSA directly to get specific numbers for our situation. Hopefully I can actually reach someone! If not, I might try that Claimyr service someone mentioned.One last question - does my husband have to actually start receiving his benefits, or can he file and suspend so I can get spousal benefits while his continues to grow?
Join the conversation
Amina Diop
have u tried using the calculator on the main ssa.gov site instead of just your personal acct? might work
That's a good idea! I'll try the general calculators. They won't be as accurate as the personalized one, but better than nothing.
StarGazer101
This whole situation makes me so nervous about applying for my own benefits next year. Seems like once you make any move, you're stuck with whatever happens to your online account! I've been saving screenshots of all my estimates just in case.
Yara Nassar
•That's actually very smart. I recommend everyone take screenshots of their benefit estimates at different ages before applying. The SSA systems don't handle special situations very elegantly, especially when it comes to suspending or changing your mind.
Join the conversation
Pedro Sawyer
don't forget to fill out IRS form SSA-1199 too, thats what my aunt had to do
Mae Bennett
•The SSA-1199 is only needed if you're changing direct deposit by mail or if you don't have online access. It's not required if you make the change online through your MySocialSecurity account or in person at an SSA office.
UPDATE: I was finally able to speak with someone at SSA! I used the Claimyr service that was suggested and got through in about 20 minutes. The agent was able to update my direct deposit information immediately and she said the change should be effective for my upcoming payment. She also placed a block on my account to prevent unauthorized changes. Thanks everyone for your help!
Great to hear! Make sure to keep checking your MySocialSecurity account over the next few days to confirm the change appears there. Sometimes there's a delay between when they process it and when it shows online.
Make sure to PRINT or SCREENSHOT the confirmation! The SSA has 'lost' records of changes before. Always keep proof of everything you do with them!!
Join the conversation
Emma Davis
One thing nobodys mentioned is the WEP and GPO rules. My friend got caught by this and had her SS reduced cause of her government pension. You should ask about that too while your there!!!
Good point about WEP/GPO, but it's important to clarify that these wouldn't impact this specific situation. The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) only affects your own Social Security benefit if you receive a pension from work not covered by Social Security. The Government Pension Offset (GPO) affects spousal or survivor benefits if you receive a government pension from non-covered work. Since FERS employees pay into Social Security, neither WEP nor GPO apply to their FERS pension or supplement. However, it's always good to confirm this with SSA when discussing your specific situation.
Thank you all so much for your helpful responses! I'm feeling much more confident now. I'm going to schedule an in-person appointment at my local SSA office and bring all my FERS documentation clearly showing it's the supplement. I'll make sure they document in my file that I'm eligible for both benefits simultaneously. It's frustrating that there's so much conflicting information out there, even from SSA representatives themselves. I'm glad I checked here before making any decisions. I'll update after my appointment in case it helps anyone else in a similar situation.
Join the conversation
To answer your follow-up question - yes, they will count years with zero earnings if you don't have 35 years of work. If you have more than 35 years of earnings, they'll use your highest 35 years and ignore the lowest years. With 33 years of work history, if you work 2 more years, you'll have exactly 35 years. But if you don't, they'll include 2 zero-earning years in your calculation, which will bring down your average. And yes, if you're turning 62 in 2027, the 2025 AWI will be your indexing base year. The SSA's calculations always use the AWI from the year you turn 60.
Perfect explanation - thank you! Sounds like I should definitely plan to work those 2 more years to avoid having zeros in my calculation. I really appreciate everyone's help in understanding this.
StarSurfer
The WHOLE SYSTEM is designed to be confusing on purpose!!! They don't want us to understand how our benefits are calculated because then we might realize we're not getting what we deserve after paying in our whole lives!!!!
It's complex but not a conspiracy. The indexing system actually helps people by adjusting past earnings to reflect wage growth. Without indexing, your earnings from 30 years ago would seem tiny compared to today's wages.
Join the conversation
Mei Liu
This whole system is RIDICULOUS!!! Why should you be penalized for being SMART enough to have investment income??? The government just wants to TAKE YOUR MONEY and make it IMPOSSIBLE to understand the rules. My brother lost THOUSANDS because of this earnings limit garbage.
The earnings limit isn't meant to be a penalty - it's based on the original concept that Social Security replaces lost wages when you retire. If you're still working and earning wages, you're not fully "retired" in their view. Investment income isn't penalized because it's not wages replacing your work. The earnings limit also goes away once you reach your Full Retirement Age (66-67 depending on birth year). After that, you can earn unlimited wages with no reduction in benefits.
Andre Dubois
Thanks everyone for the great information! To summarize what I've learned: 1. Only my $800/month salary counts toward the earnings limit, not the S corp distributions 2. I should proactively report this on my Annual Earnings Report to SSA 3. I need to keep documentation proving I'm not actively managing the properties 4. Getting something in writing from SSA about my specific situation is a good idea I'm going to try that Claimyr service to actually reach a human at SSA and request a written determination. Will also make sure my property management agreement clearly shows they handle everything. Feel much better about this now!
Great summary! One additional tip: When you speak with SSA, specifically ask about the "material participation" standard as it relates to your situation. This is the formal term they use when evaluating business involvement, and using their terminology helps ensure you get the most accurate information. Good luck!
Join the conversation
Dmitry Popov
My cousin works for SSA and she told me that only income that had FICA taxes taken out counts for SS benefits calculation. So jobs where you got a W2 and paid into the system. She said distributions from retirement accounts DEFINITELY don't count toward your SS benefit calculation no matter how they're taxed.
Thank you everyone for the helpful information! It's clear that my IRA distributions won't help with Social Security calculations, so I'll focus on continuing my part-time work to replace those zero years. I'll also look into the divorced spouse benefits since we were married for 22 years. I appreciate all the advice!
Manny Lark
if you're having trouble getting through to them on the phone before your appointment (which is likely), try using Claimyr. It's a service that basically holds your place in line with SSA and calls you when an agent is available. Saved me HOURS of frustration when I was dealing with my benefit switch last year. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU
0 coins
Darcy Moore
•That sounds really helpful. I've tried calling SSA before and gave up after being on hold forever. I'll check out that website - thanks for the tip!
0 coins
Ben Cooper
One additional point about your upcoming call: Have a pen and paper ready to write down the name of the person you speak with, the date and time, and notes about what they tell you. Sometimes there can be confusion or miscommunication, and having detailed notes about your conversation will help if you need to follow up later. Also, since you worked up until COVID hit, make sure they have your most recent earnings in their system. Occasionally the most recent year or two of earnings might not be reflected in their initial calculations.
0 coins
Darcy Moore
•That's really smart advice. I'll definitely take detailed notes and ask them to verify my earnings record includes everything through when I stopped working in 2020. Thank you!
0 coins