Perfect, thanks again! I feel much better understanding how this works now. I appreciate everyone taking time to explain.

One thing that might help your ex-wife plan ahead is knowing that she can get an estimate of her potential benefits through her my Social Security account on ssa.gov. The system will show her both her own retirement benefit estimate and what she could potentially receive as a divorced spouse benefit based on your record (once you're eligible). This can help her make an informed decision about when to claim. Also, if she does remarry in the future, she would lose the ability to claim on your record, but she could then potentially claim on her new spouse's record instead if that marriage lasts at least 10 years.

Since your friend's husband hadn't started benefits yet, she should definitely understand the "deemed filing" rules don't apply to survivor benefits. This means she could potentially take reduced survivor benefits now at 62 and then switch to her own retirement benefit at 70 if it would be higher (or vice versa - take her reduced retirement now and switch to full survivor benefits at her full retirement age). This is one of the few remaining ways to use a "claim now, claim more later" strategy since the 2015 rule changes. The chart should help explain this, but it might be worth her consulting with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security to run the numbers for her specific situation.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a widow myself (lost my husband 18 months ago) and I wish I had found that flowchart back then. I made some mistakes early on because I didn't understand all my options. Just wanted to add a few things that might help your friend: 1. She should definitely apply for the $255 death benefit if she hasn't already - it's a one-time payment but every bit helps during this difficult time. 2. If she's working, there are earnings limits that could affect her survivor benefits before her full retirement age (but NOT after FRA). 3. The Social Security office will want to see the death certificate, so make sure she has certified copies. 4. Don't let anyone pressure her into making quick decisions about when to claim - she has time to figure out the best strategy for her situation. The grief makes everything so much harder to process, so having visual aids like that flowchart really does help. Sending good thoughts to your friend during this tough time.

As someone who went through a similar earnings limit situation last year, I want to reassure you that this is more common than you think and SSA has processes in place to handle it. The key is persistence and documentation. A few practical suggestions: Try calling the SSA number at exactly 8:00 AM when they open - I found Tuesday and Wednesday mornings tend to have slightly lower call volumes. If you still can't get through, consider sending a certified letter to your local office with your SSN, explanation of the situation, and copies of your pay stubs showing the increased earnings. You mentioned setting aside benefit payments - that's actually smart. While they likely won't demand everything back at once, having some funds available gives you peace of mind. Based on your $5,800 overage, expect roughly a $241/month reduction in future benefits rather than a complete stoppage. Most importantly, the fact that you're proactively trying to report this works heavily in your favor. SSA agents appreciate when beneficiaries are upfront about changes rather than waiting for them to discover it during their annual wage matching process. Keep that documentation log you're creating - it will be invaluable if any issues arise later!

I went through something very similar last year when my part-time work income unexpectedly increased. The anxiety is completely understandable, but try not to panic! A few things that helped me: First, I had success getting through to SSA by calling right at 8:00 AM on a Tuesday - the wait was still about 45 minutes but much better than the 2+ hours later in the day. Second, while waiting to get through, I documented everything - dates I called, screenshots of my online messages, copies of my pay stubs showing the increased earnings. When I finally spoke to an agent, they were actually very helpful and understanding. They calculated that my benefits would be reduced by about $200/month for the remainder of the year rather than stopping them completely. Since you're $5,800 over the $23,400 limit, your situation sounds very similar to mine. The agent also told me that proactive reporting (which you're doing) always works in your favor if there are any complications later. Keep trying to reach them, but know that this is a manageable situation that happens to thousands of people every year. You're doing everything right by trying to report it promptly!

I'm very sorry for your loss. Having recently helped my elderly neighbor through a similar situation when her husband passed, I understand how overwhelming this can feel when you're trying to help someone navigate these systems while they're grieving. The consensus here is correct - the November payment was for October, and since your mother-in-law lived through all of October, that money rightfully belongs to your father-in-law and should not need to be returned. However, I'd strongly recommend calling SSA at 1-800-772-1213 as soon as possible to report the death and get official confirmation about the payment status. One thing I learned from our experience: when you call, ask specifically to speak with someone about "survivor benefit options" rather than just reporting a death. This often gets you to a more knowledgeable representative who can review all potential benefits your father-in-law might be eligible for, including the $255 death benefit and potentially higher monthly survivors benefits if her benefit amount was greater than his current payment. Also, consider having your father-in-law present during the call if possible - SSA may need to verify his identity to discuss benefit details, and having him available can save you from having to make multiple calls. You're being such a caring support during an incredibly difficult time. Take it one step at a time.

I'm so sorry for your family's loss. This is such a difficult time, and it's wonderful that you're helping your father-in-law navigate these complicated systems. I work as a benefits counselor and want to reassure you - the November payment your father-in-law received is actually for October (Social Security pays one month behind), and since your mother-in-law was alive for the entire month of October, that payment is rightfully his and does not need to be returned. Here's what I recommend: 1. Call SSA immediately at 1-800-772-1213 to report the death - this is required 2. When you call, specifically ask about "survivor benefits evaluation" - your father-in-law may be eligible for higher monthly payments based on her earnings record 3. Apply for the $255 death benefit 4. Be prepared that some banks automatically return SS payments when notified of death, even when they shouldn't - if this happens, you'll need to contact SSA to have it reissued To protect against potential bank issues, you might consider temporarily moving some funds to another account before making the call to SSA, just as a precaution. The most important thing right now is getting the death reported and exploring what survivor benefits your father-in-law may be entitled to. Take care of yourselves during this difficult time.

Update: I went to my local SSA office today with the SSA-561 form and all my documentation. The claims representative actually reviewed everything while I was there and found that SSA had incorrectly recorded my work start date! They had me starting 3 months earlier than I actually did, which is why they thought I had used up all my Trial Work Period months. She's submitting a correction along with my formal appeal. I'm cautiously optimistic but still nervous about the outcome. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!

This is such great news! It's a perfect example of why appealing these overpayment notices is so important - SSA makes administrative errors more often than people realize. The fact that they had your work start date wrong by 3 months shows how crucial it is to have your own documentation and records. For anyone else reading this thread, Ava's experience highlights a key point: always bring copies of EVERYTHING when you visit the SSA office - employment letters, pay stubs, any correspondence you've had with SSA, etc. Sometimes having a human being look at your actual documents can catch errors that got lost in their computer system. I hope this gets resolved quickly for you! And thank you for sharing the update - it gives hope to others dealing with similar situations.