I'm so confused...I went to SSA office yesterday and the person told me they aren't processing these yet and to come back in April. But you all are saying you've gotten calls? Are different offices handling this differently?

This is why I tell EVERYONE to file as early as possible when new benefits become available! My mother-in-law waited 3 months after the POMS update for GPO and now she's at the back of the line. The early bird gets the worm with SSA. Always file right away and let them sort it out.

my wife is a widow and she did exactly what ur talking about! she took her own SS at 63 and then when she hit FRA last year she switched to her husbands benefit which was higher. that SSA lady gave u wrong info for sure!!!

After reading through this thread, I wanted to provide some additional clarity on the survivor benefit amounts since your husband claimed early: When calculating your survivor benefit, SSA will look at: 1. The actual benefit your husband was receiving when he died (reduced for early claiming) 2. What your husband would have received if he had lived to his FRA (full amount) As his widow, you'll generally receive the higher of: - 100% of what your husband was actually receiving at death - 82.5% of your husband's PIA (the amount he would have received at his FRA) This is called the "widow's limit" or RIB-LIM rule. It can be complicated, but it's important to understand this when comparing your options. Don't feel bad about the confusion - this is one of the most complex areas of Social Security rules, and unfortunately, not all SSA representatives are equally well-versed in these details.

my friend told me that you get back pay for the months you're eligible but don't receive yet. is that true?

hey when you do apply make sure u call and verify they received it! my sister thought she submitted everything but turns out the application was never completed and she had to start over after waiting 2 months!

To add some additional context that might be helpful: this rule about birthdays in the first 10 days of the month is formally called the "Date of Attainment Rule" in SSA's Program Operations Manual. The exact same rule applies to when you turn 62 (earliest eligibility age), when you reach FRA, and when you turn 70 (maximum benefit age). One important note - even though you can start benefits in the month you reach FRA with no reduction, your actual payment for that month will arrive the following month. So your June 2025 benefit payment would arrive in July 2025. This sometimes confuses people who are expecting a payment right away.

Thank you all for the great information! Just to summarize what I learned so the next person with this question can benefit: 1. Since my FRA is on the 2nd of the month (within the first 10 days), I'm considered to have reached FRA for the entire month 2. I can safely start benefits in June 2025 with NO reduction 3. When applying, I should specifically select June 2025 as my benefit start month 4. My June benefit will actually be paid in July This has been incredibly helpful and saved me from potentially making a costly mistake or having to spend hours trying to reach SSA directly. Thanks again everyone!

I understand your frustration with the SSA phone system. Regarding your survivor benefits questions, this is actually a complex area where speaking with an SSA representative is important. Since your questions relate to survivor benefits, you'll want to mention that specifically when you do connect with someone. Survivor benefit decisions can have long-term financial implications, especially regarding whether to take reduced survivor benefits early and switch to your own retirement later, or vice versa. One approach that has worked for many people is calling your local office directly rather than the national line. Local offices often have separate phone numbers that might be less congested. You can find your local office contact information here: secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp Also, for survivor benefits specifically, gathering these documents beforehand will help when you do connect with someone: - Your spouse's death certificate - Your marriage certificate - Both your and your deceased spouse's Social Security numbers - Most recent tax returns Good luck with your call!

I wanted to update everyone - I finally got through! I followed several of your suggestions. I tried calling right at 9:00 AM as suggested, but still got disconnected after pressing 8. Then I called my local office directly using the ICON locator someone linked. I still had to wait on hold for about 30 minutes, but I finally spoke to a representative who was actually very helpful! For anyone dealing with similar issues, definitely try your local office instead of the main number. And have all your questions written down before calling - the agent helped me understand my survivor benefit options and the best timing based on my situation. Thanks to everyone who offered advice! This forum has been so helpful.

UPDATE: I went to my local office this morning! Got there 30 minutes before they opened and there was already a line, but it moved pretty quickly. The security guard was checking people at the door and I just told him I needed to drop off a W-4V form. He let me in and directed me to a specific window. The person at the desk took my form, entered some info into the computer, and gave me a receipt! She said it would take 4-6 weeks to process but at least now I have proof I submitted it. Thank you all for your help and advice!!!

wait u can have taxes takin out of ss checks?? i didnt know that i been gettin benefits for 2 yrs and always owe at tax time ughhh

I went through this exact situation last year. Few important things I learned: 1. There's usually a one-time death payment of $255 you can apply for 2. The conversion from 50% to 75% is correct but takes time to process 3. SSA won't backdate payments to death date automatically - you need to specifically request this 4. If your son receives Medicare through his DAC benefit, nothing changes with that coverage 5. Make sure ALL your son's information is updated in the system (address, direct deposit, etc) when you report the death Don't wait until after she passes - gather all documents now (birth certificates, marriage certificate, your son's medical records proving disability, etc). Being prepared helps tremendously.

oh also some funeral homes will report the death to social security for u! ask them if they do this service when the time comes. but u still need to go to SSA yourself for the benefits stuff.

I think you're confusing CIC (Child-in-Care) benefits with child's benefits. CIC is what YOU get for taking care of children under 16. Your kids are getting child's benefits which continue until 18 (or 19 if still in high school). The CIC benefits for you will stop when your youngest turns 16, as others have mentioned.

does ur husband have good retirement besides ss? my friend had to go back to work when her kid turned 16 cuz of this stupid rule

I don't think your month of birth works with your FRA date. If you're 66 and 1 month NOW (Jan 2025), you were born in Dec 1958, which means your FRA would be 66 and 8 months (Aug 2025), not June 2025. Can you double-check this? It might change your calculations.

Based on all the information and corrections, here's a summary of your optimal strategy: 1. Apply now but specify January 2025 as your benefit start month 2. Make sure to apply for both your retirement benefit and the spousal benefit simultaneously 3. Your March-May earnings ($10,500) are well below the pre-FRA limit, so no benefits will be withheld 4. The permanent reduction for starting 5 months early is minimal ($52/month) compared to receiving 5 extra months of payments 5. After June 2025 (your FRA), you can earn unlimited amounts without affecting your benefits Taking benefits in January 2025 appears to be the mathematically optimal choice in your specific situation.

One thing no one has mentioned yet - there's a HUGE advantage to the higher-earning spouse delaying benefits until 70 if possible. Each year you delay past FRA increases your benefit by 8%, so waiting from 67 to 70 gives you a 24% higher benefit FOR LIFE. And if that higher-earning spouse dies first, that higher amount becomes the survivor benefit (assuming it's higher than the surviving spouse's own benefit). So in your case, since your benefit is higher than his, you might want to strongly consider waiting until 70 to claim, especially if you have longevity in your family.

Im still confused about something... if the husband takes SS at 62 but then keeps working, doesnt his benefit amount go up? And then wouldnt that mean the survivor benefit goes up too?