As someone who just turned 62 and is starting to research all this, I'm honestly shocked by how many people have missed out on benefits they were entitled to! Reading through everyone's experiences, it seems like there's a real disconnect between what SSA is supposed to do (ask about marital history and check all records) and what actually happens in practice. The fact that Victoria from SSA confirmed you have to explicitly request the calculation comparison is both helpful and frustrating - why isn't this just standard procedure? I'm definitely saving this thread and will be very specific when I eventually apply. Hunter, it sounds like you're well-prepared now with all this advice - I hope your application goes smoothly in February!

This entire thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm 64 and was actually planning to file for my own benefits next year without even thinking about my ex-spouse's record. We were married for 12 years before divorcing in 2010, and I never remarried. Reading about people missing out on hundreds of dollars per month for YEARS because they didn't know to ask is honestly terrifying. Victoria's advice about the specific wording to use is gold - "calculate my benefits on both my own work record AND my ex-spouse's record to see which gives me the higher amount." I'm writing that down exactly! It's really disappointing that we have to be so proactive about something that should be standard practice, but I'm grateful everyone shared their experiences here. Hunter, you've probably saved yourself thousands of dollars by asking this question!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Donna. What you're going through is incredibly difficult, and it's completely understandable that all of this feels overwhelming right now. Your strategy is exactly right and is actually a common recommendation from Social Security experts. You can absolutely start collecting reduced widow's benefits at 60 and then switch to your own higher retirement benefit later - this won't reduce what you'll eventually receive from your own work record. Since you mentioned you're a nurse making around $85,000, I wanted to add one practical consideration: even though the earnings test will likely reduce or eliminate your widow's benefits while you're working full-time, it's still worth applying at 60. Here's why - any benefits that are "withheld" due to the earnings test aren't actually lost forever. Once you reach your full retirement age, Social Security recalculates your benefit and gives you credit for those withheld payments through higher monthly amounts. Also, your situation could change - you might decide to reduce your hours, take a lower-paying position, or circumstances might change in other ways that would make those widow's benefits valuable. The most important thing is to be very explicit when you apply that you want ONLY survivor benefits. Don't let them talk you into filing for both - you have the right to restrict your application. Take care of yourself during this difficult time. You're being smart to plan ahead, and this community is here to help you navigate the process.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Donna. Losing a spouse suddenly is one of life's most difficult challenges, and you're being incredibly strong by planning ahead during such a painful time. Your strategy is absolutely correct and is actually considered one of the smartest Social Security optimization approaches for widows. Yes, you can start collecting reduced widow's benefits at 60 and later switch to your own higher retirement benefit without any impact on what you'll receive from your own work record. A few key points to keep in mind: - Your widow's benefit at 60 will be about 71.5% of your husband's full benefit amount - When you switch to your own benefit later, you'll get the full amount based on your age at that time - The earnings test will likely reduce your widow's benefits while you're working, but those "lost" benefits get recalculated into higher payments once you reach full retirement age Given your nursing background, you probably have strong attention to detail - use that skill when dealing with SSA. Be very clear that you want ONLY survivor benefits when you apply, and document every interaction. One suggestion: consider whether waiting until 67 or even 70 to claim your own benefit might be worth it, since your retirement benefit grows about 8% per year past full retirement age until 70. You're asking all the right questions and thinking strategically. This community will be here to support you through the process. Take care of yourself.

As someone who's been through the TWP process with my daughter, I can confirm that the official rule is earnings count when EARNED, but SSA's practical application can be inconsistent. What worked for us was being overly cautious with documentation. For any pay period that crossed months, we created a simple spreadsheet showing: - Pay period dates - Total hours worked each day - Daily wage breakdown - Monthly totals We never had to use this detailed breakdown, but having it gave us peace of mind. SSA ended up using the pay period end date method that others mentioned. One tip: If your son's warehouse job has predictable shifts (like always working Mon-Fri), you can calculate the daily breakdown easily. But if his hours are irregular, definitely keep those timesheets! Also, don't stress too much about "accidentally" triggering TWP months - the TWP is designed to help people test their ability to work. Better to have accurate records than to avoid working because of fear of the rules.

I went through this exact same confusion when I started my TWP two years ago! The "earned vs received" question drove me crazy because different SSA reps gave me different answers. Here's what I learned from actual experience: SSA's official policy says they count earnings when EARNED, but in practice, they almost always use the pay period end date on your paystub to determine which month to count the earnings toward. For your son's situation with the May 26-June 8 pay period paid on June 15th - SSA would likely count all of that toward June since June 8th is the pay period end date. My advice based on going through this: 1. Report every paystub through the my Social Security portal 2. Keep screenshots of everything you submit 3. If you're worried about a specific pay period crossing months AND the amount is close to the $1,110 threshold, add a note explaining the breakdown 4. Don't overthink it too much - the TWP is meant to help, not punish The most important thing is consistent reporting. I've never been asked for timesheets, just paystubs. Your son is lucky to have you helping him navigate this - it's confusing even for adults who've been dealing with it for years!

I'm in a similar situation - scheduled my disability review appointment for next week and still haven't gotten my Teams link! Reading through everyone's experiences here is actually reassuring that this seems to be normal (though frustrating) for SSA. I'm definitely going to check my spam folder daily now and use that office locator tool someone mentioned to get my local office number as backup. Has anyone had experience with SSA virtual appointments for disability reviews specifically, or is the process pretty much the same as retirement applications?

I just went through this exact same situation last month! I was scheduled for a virtual SSA appointment and didn't receive my Teams link until literally the day before my appointment. I was checking my email obsessively for weeks thinking they had forgotten about me. When it finally came, it was from an address like "noreply.ssa.gov" and had "SSA Virtual Appointment Confirmation" in the subject line. A couple of things that might help while you wait: First, make sure you have the SSA office locator bookmarked (ssa.gov/locator) so you can call your local office directly if needed - they're sometimes easier to reach than the main 800 number. Second, definitely test Microsoft Teams ahead of time, even if it's just joining a test meeting by yourself. The SSA rep will expect your camera and microphone to work right away. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking, but from what I've experienced and seen others post here, getting the link 1-3 days before seems to be their standard (though frustrating) timeline. Hang in there!

Just want to echo what others have said about being persistent with SSA! I went through this exact situation 2 years ago when my youngest daughter's survivor benefits ended and I needed to apply for mother's benefits as caregiver for my disabled son. One thing I learned is that you should also ask about auxiliary benefits - sometimes there are additional programs or adjustments that can help. Also, keep detailed records of all your caregiving activities (medical appointments, daily care tasks, etc.) because they may ask for specific documentation. The earnings limit others mentioned is key - at $15,000/year you're well under the threshold. Just remember that if you ever consider increasing your work hours, run the numbers first because sometimes the benefit reduction from higher earnings isn't worth it financially. Hang in there - this transition period is stressful but there is help available once you navigate the system!

I want to add something important that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure to ask SSA about whether your state has any additional caregiver support programs that might complement your federal benefits. Some states have respite care programs or caregiver stipends that can help with expenses. Also, when you go to your appointment, bring a list of all your son's medications, therapies, and medical equipment needs. This helps demonstrate the level of care required and strengthens your case for mother's benefits. I learned this the hard way when they initially questioned how much care my disabled daughter actually needed. One more tip: if possible, try to get your appointment scheduled with a disability specialist rather than a general claims representative. They tend to be more knowledgeable about DAC and caregiver benefit rules. You can specifically request this when you call to schedule. You're doing an amazing job caring for your son while working part-time. Don't let anyone make you feel like you're asking for too much - these benefits exist for exactly your situation!