Giovanni, I'm so sorry for your loss and the frustration you must be feeling about missing out on these benefits for so long. You're absolutely not alone - this happens to far too many people. One thing I want to emphasize that's been touched on but bears repeating: even though you'll face earnings test reductions now, filing for survivor benefits at 63 while working is often still the right financial move. Here's why: 1) The survivor benefit amount is based on what your husband would have received at his full retirement age, not reduced for early claiming like your own benefit would be 2) Even with earnings test withholding, you're establishing your claim and will get credit for those withheld amounts later 3) Most importantly, this allows your own retirement benefit to keep growing with delayed retirement credits until age 70 I'd also suggest asking your SSA representative to run projections showing your total lifetime benefits under different scenarios - taking survivor benefits now vs. waiting, when to potentially switch to your own benefit, etc. Having those numbers in black and white can help you make the best decision. The system really should do better at notifying people about benefits they're eligible for. Your story will hopefully help others who might be in similar situations. Best of luck with your appointment!

Giovanni, I'm so sorry for your loss and what you've been going through. Your situation really highlights how broken the notification system is - it's unconscionable that SSA doesn't proactively reach out to people about benefits they're entitled to. I wanted to add one more strategy consideration that might be relevant: since you're planning to work until at least 67, you might want to calculate whether it makes sense to delay applying for survivor benefits until you reach your full retirement age (when the earnings test disappears entirely). At that point, you'd get 100% of your survivor benefit with no earnings restrictions, and you could still let your own retirement benefit grow until 70 if that would be higher. The trade-off is losing the partial payments you'd get now (after earnings test reductions) versus waiting for full payments in a few years. Given that you've already missed 11 years, waiting another 4 years might actually maximize your lifetime benefits - especially since you're earning $85k which would significantly reduce your current payments anyway. Definitely ask your SSA rep to run the numbers both ways: applying now with earnings test vs. waiting until FRA. The math might surprise you! Also, document everything at your appointment and don't be afraid to ask for a second opinion or supervisor if anything seems unclear. You've waited this long - make sure you get it right going forward.

I'm dealing with a similar WEP situation and it's incredibly frustrating! I'm a retired teacher receiving a pension, and when I tried to apply for spousal benefits online last month, I got the same error messages. What's particularly annoying is that the SSA website makes it sound like ALL spousal benefit applications can be done online now, but they don't mention anywhere that WEP cases are excluded. I ended up having to schedule an appointment for February 14th, which felt like forever to wait. One thing that helped me was contacting my congressman's office - they have caseworkers who can sometimes expedite SSA appointments for constituents. It might be worth a try if you're really in a bind financially. Good luck with your March appointment!

I'm in a very similar situation as a retired federal employee with CSRS pension - tried to apply for spousal benefits online and hit the same wall due to WEP. The frustrating part is there's absolutely no clear warning on the SSA website that WEP cases can't be processed online. I wasted hours trying different approaches before finally giving up and scheduling an appointment. One tip that might help while you're waiting: if you haven't already, try calling the SSA national number (1-800-772-1213) early in the morning (right at 8am) and ask to speak with a claims specialist about establishing a "protective filing date" for your spousal benefits application. Even if they can't process your full application over the phone, getting that protective filing date established could ensure your benefits start from when you first attempted to apply, not from your eventual appointment date. I was able to get this done after about 45 minutes on hold, and it gave me some peace of mind about the timing. The whole system really needs to be modernized to handle these common pension offset situations online. It's 2025 - there's no excuse for forcing people to wait months for something that should be straightforward!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! I'm 66 and 8 months old, so almost at my FRA, and I've been researching this exact strategy. From everything I've read, you are absolutely correct that you should be able to file for widow's benefits while letting your own retirement grow until 70. One thing that might help when they call you back is to be very clear about the terminology. I've seen advice to say something like "I want to file an application that is restricted in scope to widow's benefits only" rather than just saying "restricted application" since that phrase sometimes confuses reps who think of the old spousal benefit restrictions. Also, if it helps, I found a reference in the Social Security Handbook (section 1724) that specifically talks about how you can choose to receive only one type of benefit when you're eligible for multiple types. The key is that you haven't filed for your own retirement yet. Don't let them discourage you - this is a legitimate strategy that can save you thousands of dollars over the years. I'm planning to use your experience as a learning opportunity for when I file in a few months!

I'm a newcomer here but had to chime in because I just went through this EXACT same ordeal! I'm 67 and filed my restricted application for widow's benefits three months ago, but only after being told "no" by THREE different SSA reps who clearly didn't understand the rules. What finally worked for me was calling and immediately saying: "I need to speak with someone who is familiar with restricted applications for survivor benefits under current Social Security law." When they tried to transfer me to a general rep, I politely insisted on speaking with a Technical Expert or supervisor. The key phrase that got results was: "I am eligible for both widow's benefits and my own retirement benefits, but I am filing an application restricted in scope to ONLY my widow's benefits. I am NOT applying for my retirement benefits at this time and understand my retirement benefit will continue to accrue delayed retirement credits until age 70." It's infuriating that so many reps don't know these rules, but don't give up! This strategy is 100% legal and can save you tens of thousands of dollars. Your previous survivor benefits from when your kids were minors have absolutely no bearing on this - I had the same situation and it was never even mentioned during my successful application. Stay persistent and don't let them discourage you from what you're legally entitled to!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Freya. Losing a spouse is devastating enough without having to navigate the SSA bureaucracy during such a difficult time. I'm glad you were able to make progress with that Claimyr service! For others reading this who might be in similar situations, I'd also recommend reaching out to local senior centers or Area Agencies on Aging - many have volunteers who are familiar with SSA processes and can help guide you through the paperwork or even accompany you to appointments. Some also have relationships with SSA offices that can help expedite things. Also, if anyone is caring for a deceased person's minor children, don't forget that survivor benefits may be available for dependent children too (up to age 18, or 19 if still in high school). The family maximum rules can be complex, but it's worth exploring if applicable. Wishing you all the best as you work through this process, Freya. Please do keep us updated!

I'm really sorry for your loss, Freya. What you're going through with SSA is unfortunately all too common these days. I went through a similar situation when my father passed last year, and the waiting times were absolutely brutal. A few additional tips that helped me: 1. If you haven't already, gather ALL your documents now - certified copy of death certificate, marriage certificate, birth certificates, your husband's W-2s or tax returns from the last 2 years, and bank statements. Having everything ready will speed things up once you do get your appointment. 2. Keep detailed records of every interaction - date, time, who you spoke with, reference numbers. SSA loses paperwork frequently and you may need to reference previous conversations. 3. Consider applying for any immediate assistance programs through your state while waiting for survivor benefits to kick in. Many states have emergency assistance for widows/widowers. 4. If you're really struggling financially, emphasize this when requesting expedited service - they do have procedures for "dire need" cases, though getting them to actually use those procedures can be challenging. The fact that you got through with Claimyr is fantastic news! Hoping the rest of your process goes smoothly and you get your benefits soon.

Grace, you're definitely not too late! I went through this exact same situation two years ago - also missed applying right at my FRA due to holiday chaos. The 6-month retroactive window that others mentioned is absolutely correct. I applied in February for January benefits and received my full January payment in March along with my February payment. The key is to apply online at ssa.gov as soon as possible and clearly specify January 2025 as your desired benefit start date. There's a specific question about this during the application process. Don't worry about the phone wait times - the online application is actually faster and you can save your progress if needed. You've got this!

As someone who works with seniors on benefits applications, I want to emphasize what others have said - you're absolutely fine! The 6-month retroactive window is standard policy, and mid-January is still very early. When you apply online at ssa.gov, there's a clear section where you select your desired benefit start date - just choose January 2025. One tip: have your tax returns from the last 2 years handy when you apply, as the system may ask about your earnings history. Also, once you submit the application, you'll get a receipt number - save that! It helps if you need to call later with questions. The whole process usually takes about 30-45 minutes online and is much more reliable than trying to get through on the phone right now.