Thank you everyone for the helpful information! I had no idea there was such a big difference between taking widow benefits at 62 versus waiting until my full retirement age. I've made an appointment with SSA next month, and I'm going to specifically ask for a written comparison of what I'd receive at different ages. I'll make sure they understand I'm currently on CIC benefits too. It sounds like waiting until my FRA could mean several hundred more dollars each month for the rest of my life, which would make a huge difference for us. I'll update this thread after my appointment in case it helps anyone else in a similar situation.

As someone who recently navigated this exact situation, I want to emphasize how important it is to understand the timing. I was also receiving CIC benefits while caring for my disabled adult child, and when I turned 62, I was initially told by an SSA representative that I should switch to widow benefits immediately. Fortunately, I did more research first and discovered that waiting until my Full Retirement Age (which was 66 and 8 months for me) would give me the full 100% of my late husband's benefit instead of just 82.5% at age 62. That difference was about $350 per month for life! One thing I'd add that others haven't mentioned - make sure you ask about any potential Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) that might apply to your husband's benefit record between now and when you switch. These can slightly increase the base amount your widow benefits will be calculated from. Also, keep detailed records of all your communications with SSA. I had to correct errors in my file twice during the process.

Just checking in - any updates? Has your payment arrived yet?

Congratulations on getting your first payment! That's such great news. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation, this is a perfect example of how the SSA process typically works - it feels like forever when you're waiting, but most applications do process within that 6-8 week timeframe. And Zainab, that retroactive payment is going to be a nice chunk of change! January and February at $3,245 each - that's over $6,000 coming your way. Definitely a good reward for your patience. Thanks for updating us on the outcome!

For anyone else reading this thread who has a birthday on the 1st of the month, here's what to remember when planning your Social Security filing strategy: 1. You're considered to reach any age on the last day of the previous month 2. This affects your Full Retirement Age date 3. This applies to early filing reductions and delayed retirement credits 4. The earnings test exemption also starts a month earlier 5. The online calculator doesn't automatically account for this rule Always double-check with SSA when planning your filing date, especially if you have a 1st-of-month birthday!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation! As someone new to navigating Social Security, this thread has been incredibly eye-opening. It's shocking that such an important rule about 1st-of-month birthdays isn't prominently displayed in the online tools. The fact that multiple people here have experienced the same confusion shows this is a systemic communication problem with SSA. Thank you to everyone who explained the technical details - it's helping me understand what to watch out for when I eventually file. The system really should be more transparent about these kinds of rules that can significantly impact people's benefits!

Based on what you've shared, your friend needs to take three specific actions: 1. Report his blindness to SSA immediately - this is considered a change in medical condition 2. Request an evaluation for SSDI benefits based on his work history as a janitor for 20+ years 3. Ask specifically about concurrent benefits (receiving both SSI and SSDI) which may apply in his case Arizona does not offer a state supplement to SSI (unlike California mentioned above), so maximizing his federal benefits is especially important. When he speaks with SSA, he should specifically ask about the Blind Work Expense (BWE) exclusions if he has any income, and request information about any additional programs for which his blindness might qualify him. The difference between the standard SSI payment ($943/month) and potential SSDI benefits based on his work history could be substantial, potentially doubling his monthly income if he qualifies for SSDI at a decent rate.

Just wanted to add that when your friend contacts SSA, he should bring ALL his medical documentation about his macular degeneration and legal blindness diagnosis. The SSA has very specific criteria for legal blindness (20/200 vision or worse in the better eye, or visual field of 20 degrees or less), so having the official documentation from his eye doctor will be crucial. Also, since he worked as a janitor for 20+ years, there's a good chance he has enough work credits for SSDI. SSDI benefits are calculated based on his lifetime earnings, so even modest-paying jobs can result in meaningful benefits if he worked consistently. The combination of SSDI plus potentially a small SSI supplement could definitely get him closer to that $1,900 range you mentioned. One more tip - if he has trouble getting through to SSA by phone, he can also submit a written report of his medical condition change by mailing it to his local field office. Sometimes that's actually faster than trying to get through on the phone!

Thanks everyone for the explanations! I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who was confused by this random deposit. Just as an update - I called my local SSA office this morning (got lucky and got through), and they confirmed it was indeed the COLA backpay. They also said they're still processing these for many people, so don't worry if you haven't received yours yet.

Just wanted to add my experience - I'm a newcomer here but this post was super helpful! I got a similar deposit last week and had no idea what it was. After reading this I checked my benefit verification letter and sure enough, it was COLA backpay for 6 months. Mine went from $1,890 to $1,948 (about 3.1% like someone mentioned). Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - makes navigating all this SSA stuff less confusing when you're new to it all!