I'm so frustrated with the SSA right now. I've been trying to correct a mistake on my earnings record for months and keep getting the runaround. Anyone dealt with this before?

This is such a timely thread! I've been putting off updating my address with SSA for months because I've heard horror stories about the wait times. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really helpful - especially the tips about calling early morning and trying local offices. Has anyone tried the mail option? I'm wondering if that might be less stressful than dealing with phone calls, even if it takes longer to process.

Thank you everyone for all the helpful information. I've written down questions about the RIB-LIM provision to ask specifically when I speak with SSA. I'll try calling them tomorrow morning, and if I can't get through, I might try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. I'm still grieving, but knowing what to expect helps me feel a little more in control of the situation. I'll update here once I've been able to speak with SSA about my specific benefit calculation.

I'm so sorry for your loss. This is such a difficult time to have to navigate these complex benefit rules. One thing that might help while you're waiting to speak with SSA - you can create a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov to view some of your husband's benefit information. It won't give you the full picture, but it might show what he was receiving at the time of his death. Also, when you do speak with SSA, ask them to mail you a written explanation of how they calculated your survivor benefit amount. Having it in writing can be helpful if you need to reference it later or if there are any questions about the calculation. Take care of yourself during this process.

SSA website is useless for explaining this stuff clearly. And good luck getting someone on the phone who actually understands the rules. The whole system is designed to confuse people IMO.

Just wanted to add one more important detail that might help you: When you apply in December 2024, make sure you have your W-2s or earnings records ready from your current employer. SSA will want to verify your projected earnings for 2025, especially since you mentioned earning $8,000/month for those first three months. Having documentation ready can help speed up the processing and avoid any delays in getting your benefits started on time in March. Also, if your employer offers any flexibility with your January-March schedule, you might consider whether there are any tax advantages to timing your final paychecks, but that's more of a question for a tax professional.

One thing nobody mentioned - when you apply for your mother's benefit, bring ALL the documentation about your son's condition with you! The 504 plan, doctor letters, hospital records, EVERYTHING. I made the mistake of not bringing my daughter's medical records and they gave me a hard time about proving she needed special care. They kept saying "but she gets survivor benefits already" like that was enough. You need to be super clear that you're applying for the mother's benefit based on having his father's child in your care, not applying for anything related to disability.

I'm a newcomer here but have been following this discussion closely as I'm in a somewhat similar situation. Reading through everyone's responses has been incredibly eye-opening - I had no idea about mother's/father's benefits either! MoonlightSonata, I want to echo what others have said: you absolutely should apply for these benefits immediately. From what I'm learning here, it sounds like you've been eligible this entire time and just weren't informed about it when you first applied for your son's benefits. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone here had experience with how quickly SSA processes mother's/father's benefit applications? Given that you mentioned your savings are rapidly depleting, timing might be important for your financial planning. Also, thank you to everyone sharing their experiences and technical knowledge. This community is proving to be more helpful than any official SSA resource I've found online!

DONT FORGET ABOUT MEDICARE!!!! If you're not working at 65, you HAVE to sign up for Medicare even if you haven't started Social Security yet!!!! They don't automatically enroll you if you haven't started benefits. My friend missed her enrollment period and had to pay penalties for YEARS!!!

Just want to add one more thing that might be helpful - you mentioned your husband is already 76 and collecting $2,350/month. Since he's past his Full Retirement Age, he's not subject to any earnings test, so if he's still working that won't affect his benefits at all. Also, given the 18-year age gap, you might want to consider life insurance planning alongside your Social Security strategy. If your husband passes away and you're relying on survivor benefits, having some life insurance could help bridge any financial gaps, especially if you claim your own benefits early at 62. The good news is that with your own benefit being relatively high compared to the spousal benefit, you have some flexibility in your timing. Just make sure you run the actual numbers with SSA before making your final decision!