my brother told me u can also just ask ur employer to hold ur last paycheck til january and then it counts for next year's limit not this years. not sure if thats legal but he did it and said it worked lol

After reading everyone's responses, I'm feeling much better about this situation. It sounds like the process is pretty straightforward - they'll catch the overage through my tax return, send me a letter explaining the situation, and then make small deductions from my payments until the $350 is recovered. I'll make sure to budget for slightly smaller payments for a few months next year. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and expertise!

WAIT!! If you have a mySSA account you can get the updated benefit letter online in early December!! Thats what I did last year after waiting FOREVER for the paper letter!!! Go to ssa.gov and make an account if you dont have one!

I work at a local senior center and deal with this issue every year! Here's what I've learned: The SSA usually updates the online benefit verification letters in the first week of December, which is your best bet for meeting that December 10th deadline. Since you have POA, you can definitely set up the mySSA account for your mom. Just make sure to have her Social Security card, birth certificate, and a utility bill handy when you create it - they're pretty strict about identity verification. Also, pro tip: some assisted living facilities will accept a printed email from SSA customer service confirming the new benefit amount if you explain the urgent housing deadline when you call. Worth asking your mom's facility if they'd accept that as backup documentation!

Based on everything shared here, my advice for your appointment: 1. Ask for a complete breakdown of the FMB calculation for your family 2. Request an estimate of how your son's benefit would be affected if you file for survivors 3. Since you're job-hunting with potential earnings above the limit, consider these strategies: - Wait to file until you reach FRA in 2026 (no earnings limit then) - Only file if you end up with a lower-paying job or work part-time - If you file while earning $62K, be prepared for most of your benefits to be withheld 4. Bring documentation: your husband's death certificate, your marriage certificate, birth certificates, and your recent tax returns 5. Ask specifically about the 6-month retroactive payment your husband may have taken and how that affects your survivor benefit calculation Remember: Any benefits withheld due to the earnings test will increase your benefit amount once you reach FRA, so they're not permanently lost.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Zainab. Navigating Social Security after losing a spouse is overwhelming, especially when you're trying to protect your disabled son's benefits. From what I've seen in my own situation (lost my husband 3 years ago), here's what I wish someone had told me upfront: The Family Maximum Benefit is the big issue you need to focus on. Since your son is already receiving 75% of your husband's benefit as a survivor, adding your survivor benefit will almost certainly trigger the FMB cap and reduce his payments. The total family benefits can't exceed about 150-180% of your husband's benefit amount. Given that you're job hunting and potentially looking at $62K annually, the earnings test would wipe out most of your survivor benefits anyway (you'd lose about $20K in benefits due to the $22,320 earnings limit). My recommendation: Don't file for survivor benefits until either: 1. You reach your FRA in 2026 (no earnings limit then) 2. You find a job paying less than $22K annually 3. You decide not to work This way you protect your son's current 75% benefit rate and avoid the complexity of the family maximum calculations. Your son's needs should definitely come first, and it sounds like his current benefit amount is crucial for his care. At your appointment, definitely ask them to run the numbers both ways so you can see exactly how filing would affect his benefits. Get it in writing if possible.

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I'm going to: 1) Call my state unemployment office to confirm their specific rules, 2) Use that Claimyr service to reach Social Security without waiting hours, and 3) Continue job searching while making sure I report everything correctly. It sounds like I should be able to keep receiving unemployment until my Social Security payments actually begin as long as I've reported everything properly. I'll update this thread once I get official answers from both offices in case it helps someone else in the future!

Great plan Andrew! One additional tip - when you do get through to Social Security, ask them specifically about the effective date of your ex-spousal benefits. Sometimes there can be confusion about whether benefits start the month you applied or the month after, especially with ex-spousal claims that require additional documentation. Getting clarity on the exact start date will help you plan the transition from unemployment more precisely. Also, keep detailed records of all your conversations with both agencies - dates, times, and who you spoke with. This documentation can be really helpful if there are any questions later about timing or overpayments. Good luck with everything!

I dont trust the goverment to do this right!! They'll find some way to screw us over again... happened to my sister who was a teacher for 35 yrs and they kept denying her benefits!! Everyone should CALL and DEMAND what their owed now that this stupid gpo is gone. Dont let them forget about your case!!

I'm a retired federal employee (FERS) who's been following this closely. One important thing to note is that while SSA says they'll automatically recalculate benefits for those previously denied, I'd strongly recommend keeping documentation of your wife's original application and denial. Also, since she has 34 credits, she's actually pretty close to the 40 needed for her own benefit. If she's still under 70, it might be worth having her work a part-time job for a year or two to earn those final 6 credits - that could give her both her own SS benefit AND spousal benefits (she'd get the higher of the two). Just a thought to maximize your household's SS income! The timing couldn't be better for folks like your wife. After decades of being penalized for public service, this feels like justice finally being served.