This entire conversation has been incredibly helpful for someone like me who's just starting to understand how Medicare and Social Security work together! I'm still a few years away from eligibility, but reading through @Javier Torres's complete experience - from that initial confusion about getting an unexpected check to finally getting clear answers from SSA - really shows how manageable these situations are once you understand what's happening. It's so reassuring to learn that timing coordination issues between government systems are actually pretty normal rather than signs of major problems. The Claimyr tip is definitely going in my saved resources for future reference since phone wait times with government agencies seem to be such a universal challenge. Thank you to everyone who shared their similar experiences - it really helps newcomers like me feel more prepared for navigating these processes down the road!

As someone who's completely new to both this community and the world of Social Security/Medicare, this thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! I'm still about 10 years away from eligibility, but seeing @Javier Torres's complete journey from initial confusion to resolution has taught me so much about what to expect. It's really eye-opening to learn that these timing coordination issues between SSA and Medicare are actually pretty common rather than rare system errors. The fact that so many community members shared similar experiences shows this is something new enrollees should probably anticipate might happen. I'm definitely saving the Claimyr tip for future reference - dealing with government phone systems sounds challenging enough without having to wait hours on hold. Thank you to everyone who contributed their real-world experiences here. It's community knowledge like this that makes navigating complex government services feel much more approachable for newcomers like me!

I'm so sorry for your loss and the incredible frustration you must be feeling after 18+ months of delays. This timeline is absolutely unacceptable for what should be a straightforward final payment. I work as a benefits counselor and unfortunately see this type of delay more frequently than we should. Here's my recommendation for getting this resolved: 1) Call the SSA main line (1-800-772-1213) at exactly 8:00 AM and specifically ask to speak with someone about a "delayed underpayment claim for deceased beneficiary." This exact phrasing seems to route you to representatives with more authority to actually investigate payment delays. 2) When you get through, ask them to verify that your SSA-1724 form actually made it to the regional Payment Center that processes these claims - sometimes forms get stuck at the local office level and never get forwarded. 3) If calling doesn't produce results within 2 weeks, file a complaint with the SSA Office of Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov under their "payment processing delays" category. This often triggers a higher-level review. 4) Consider contacting your Congressional representative's office for a Social Security case inquiry - they have staff who specialize in cutting through bureaucratic delays like this. Keep detailed records of every interaction going forward. After 18+ months, you deserve specific answers about what's causing the delay and a concrete timeline for resolution, not vague "it's pending" responses. Don't give up - this payment is legally owed and there's no time limit on claiming it.

I'm so sorry for your loss and the additional stress this delay is causing during an already difficult time. Your 18+ month wait is absolutely unacceptable - I went through something similar when my grandmother passed in 2022 and it took over a year to resolve. What finally worked was being very persistent with phone calls and using specific language that seems to get better results. I'd recommend calling 1-800-772-1213 right at 8am (they're less busy then) and specifically saying you need help with a "delayed underpayment for deceased beneficiary" - that exact phrasing seems to route you to someone with more authority. Also ask them to confirm your SSA-1724 actually made it to the regional Payment Center, because sometimes forms get stuck at the local office level. If phone calls don't work within a couple weeks, you can file a complaint with the SSA Office of Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov or contact your Congressional representative's office - both can help cut through bureaucratic delays. Keep detailed records of every conversation including dates, names, and what they tell you. Don't give up - this payment is legally owed to your mother's estate and there's no time limit on claiming it. The system is frustrating but it can be resolved with persistence!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my perspective as someone who recently went through the SSA application process for ex-spouse benefits with a similar situation. Like many others here, I had a lengthy separation period before my divorce was finalized - we separated after about 7.5 years of marriage, but legal complications meant the divorce took another 3 years to complete, giving me 10.5 years total. What really struck me reading through all these responses is how consistent everyone's experiences have been with SSA only caring about the legal marriage start and end dates. When I applied last year, the process was exactly as described here - they asked for my marriage certificate and final divorce decree, calculated the duration between those two dates, and that was it. No questions about separation, living arrangements, or anything else. One thing I'd add that might be helpful: if you're planning to apply online, make sure you have digital copies of your documents ready to upload. The online system will prompt you for these during the application process. And definitely take the advice about specifically mentioning you want to be considered for ex-spouse benefits - the system doesn't always automatically check all your options. Your situation sounds completely straightforward based on everything shared here. The separation period anxiety is so real, but clearly it's a non-issue for SSA!

I'm so grateful for this detailed discussion! Reading through everyone's experiences has completely put my mind at ease about my situation. It's clear from all the responses that SSA takes a very straightforward approach - they simply calculate from the marriage certificate date to the final divorce decree date, period. No investigation into separation periods or living arrangements. What I find most reassuring is how many people have had nearly identical situations (separated around 7-8 years, divorce finalized 2-4 years later due to legal complications) and every single person confirmed that SSA only cared about those two legal dates. The consistency across all these experiences really shows this is routine for them. I'm definitely going to follow the excellent advice shared here: get certified copies of both documents ready, apply up to 4 months before turning 62, and most importantly - specifically request consideration for ex-spouse benefits rather than assuming they'll check automatically. That last tip alone could save me months of delays! It's such a relief to know that what felt like a complicated situation is actually very common and straightforward from SSA's perspective. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their real-world experiences - it makes all the difference to hear from people who have successfully navigated this exact process!

I'm new to this community but wanted to chime in since I just went through something very similar last year. I'm 65 now and reached my FRA in September 2024, but I had the same exact worry about earnings limits in my FRA year. What really helped me was calling SSA in early January to confirm the exact earnings limit for my pre-FRA months. For 2024, it was $59,520 for just the months before I reached FRA (January-August in my case). They were actually pretty helpful once I got through - though it did take forever to get someone on the phone. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: they have this "monthly earnings test" in addition to the annual test during your FRA year. So even if your total pre-FRA earnings are under the annual limit, if you have one really high month (like those holiday bonuses), they might still withhold benefits for that specific month. The monthly limit is usually around 1/12th of the annual limit. For your current situation going over by $1,240, yes they'll probably take about $620 from your early 2026 checks. But honestly, once you hit FRA in July 2026, the relief of never having to calculate this stuff again is incredible! I can work as much as I want now without any stress about benefit reductions. Hang in there - you're so close to the finish line where all these earnings limit headaches become a thing of the past!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation and your post really resonates with me! I'm 64 and have been on early retirement benefits for about two years. Like you, I work part-time (at a local bookstore) and got caught off guard this year when some unexpected overtime during our holiday rush pushed me over the earnings limit. What I've learned from my research and talking to others here is that your FRA year (2026) will definitely be more manageable. You'll get that higher earnings limit (likely around $59,000-60,000) that only applies to your January-July earnings, and the penalty rate drops from $1-for-$2 to $1-for-$3 if you do go over. Plus once you hit FRA in July, you're completely free from earnings limits forever! For your current $1,240 overage, they'll probably withhold around $620 from your early 2026 benefits, but you should get advance notice. One thing I'm planning to do differently next year is have a conversation with my manager about getting advance notice of busy periods so I can make informed decisions about extra shifts. The tracking spreadsheet idea that others mentioned sounds really smart too. I'm going to start monitoring my earnings monthly instead of just hoping I stay under the annual limit. It's frustrating to navigate these rules, but we're both so close to FRA when all this stress goes away permanently. Hang in there!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Connor. I went through something very similar about 18 months ago when my husband passed. The confusion you're experiencing is completely understandable - even some SSA representatives don't fully grasp how survivor benefits work independently from your own retirement benefits. The short answer is: your early filing for your own retirement benefits does NOT reduce your survivor benefit amount. Since you waited until after your FRA to apply for survivor benefits, you're entitled to 100% of what your husband was receiving (or would have received at his FRA). Here's what helped me: I kept detailed notes of every conversation with SSA, including the representative's name and ID number. When I got conflicting information, I was able to reference previous calls. Also, don't be afraid to hang up and call back if you get a rep who seems unsure - I learned this the hard way after getting incorrect information twice. One thing that really caught my attention in your post - you mentioned applying for survivor benefits "about a year after reaching your FRA." Make sure to ask specifically about retroactive payments. You might be eligible for up to 6 months of back payments, which could be substantial depending on the benefit amounts. The waiting and uncertainty is stressful, but you should end up with whichever benefit is higher - either your current reduced amount or your husband's full benefit amount. Hang in there!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Connor. This is definitely one of the more confusing aspects of Social Security, and you're not alone in getting mixed messages from different representatives. The good news is that everyone here is giving you correct information - your early filing for your own retirement benefits absolutely does NOT affect your survivor benefit amount. These are calculated completely separately. Since you wisely waited until after your FRA to apply for survivor benefits, you're entitled to receive the full 100% of your husband's benefit if it's higher than your current reduced benefit. I'd strongly recommend calling back and specifically asking them to explain in detail how they calculated your new benefit amount. Ask them to confirm that they're giving you the higher of: (1) your current reduced retirement benefit, or (2) 100% of your husband's benefit amount. If the representative seems uncertain about this, don't hesitate to ask to speak with a supervisor or call back for a second opinion. Also, definitely ask about retroactive payments since your husband passed away over a year ago and you're just now applying for survivor benefits. You could be entitled to several months of back pay. Document everything - names, dates, what was said. The rules are clear on this, but sometimes it takes persistence to get them applied correctly. You should end up in a much better financial position once this gets sorted out properly.