Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through this process with my husband's UK earnings about 3 years ago. The most frustrating part was that different SSA employees gave us completely different information each time we called or visited. One told us we didn't need any special forms, another said totalization doesn't affect benefit amounts at all, and a third said we needed to contact the UK first. What finally worked was finding an SSA employee who specialized in international cases. They explained that not all offices handle totalization agreements regularly, so it's worth asking specifically for someone with international experience when you make your appointment. Also, bring every single piece of documentation you have from Germany - even if they say they don't need it all, having extra paperwork available saved us from multiple trips. The good news is once it's properly processed, the benefit increase can be significant depending on his German earnings during those years. Good luck with the process!

I just went through a similar process with my wife's earnings from Australia! A few additional tips that helped us: First, definitely start with the German pension authority (Deutsche Rentenversicherung) as others mentioned. You can actually request the Versicherungsverlauf online through their website if your husband still has his German social security number - it's much faster than going through mail. Second, when you do get to SSA, ask specifically for the "International Operations" specialist at your local office. Regular claims reps often aren't trained on totalization agreements and will give you incorrect information. I learned this the hard way after three failed appointments. The whole process took us about 7 months, but the benefit increase was substantial - added about $180/month to her projected retirement benefit. Definitely worth the hassle, especially since your husband is still relatively young and you have time to sort this out properly. One last thing: keep detailed records of every interaction with both agencies, including names and dates. You'll likely need to reference previous conversations multiple times throughout the process.

This is such a helpful thread! As someone new to navigating Social Security benefits, I'm learning so much from everyone's experiences. It sounds like the key takeaway for your neighbor is that while her 4-year-old will get the full 50% benefit they're entitled to once the twins age out, the household will still experience a significant income reduction because that money the twins were receiving doesn't just transfer over. I'm bookmarking several of these suggestions - the BOAN request, visiting the local office in person, and that Claimyr service for getting through to SSA faster. It's frustrating how complicated these calculations are and how hard it can be to get clear answers from SSA directly. Your neighbor is lucky to have someone like you helping her navigate this system! Has anyone here dealt with appealing benefit calculations if they think SSA made an error? I'm wondering if that's something families should be aware of as an option if the numbers don't seem right.

This is such valuable information for families dealing with SSDI dependent benefits! I'm relatively new to understanding how Social Security works, but I've been helping my elderly father navigate some benefit questions recently. One thing I want to emphasize from reading through all these responses is how important it is to get everything in writing from SSA. When I was helping my dad, we had three different phone representatives give us three different answers to the same question. It wasn't until we got the official documentation that we knew what was actually correct. For your neighbor, in addition to all the great suggestions here about getting the BOAN report and visiting the local office, I'd recommend she ask for any benefit changes or calculations to be sent to her in writing. That way she has official documentation of exactly when the twins' benefits will end and what the new payment amounts will be. Also, has she looked into whether there are any local organizations that help families navigate Social Security benefits? Sometimes community centers, disability advocacy groups, or even libraries have volunteers who are familiar with the system and can help interpret the documentation once she gets it from SSA.

To summarize what everyone has said: 1. Your children's survivor benefits continue until they turn 18 (or 19 if still in high school) regardless of YOUR marital status 2. SSA doesn't monitor social media platforms 3. Cohabitation without legal marriage has no effect on benefits 4. Only legal remarriage would affect any widow's benefits YOU might receive (not the children's) So go ahead and use whatever name you want on social media without worrying about it affecting benefits.

I understand your concern about protecting your children's benefits - that's such an important priority as a parent. Just wanted to add that if you're still feeling anxious about this, you could also consider using a hyphenated name on social media (like Curtis-[Boyfriend's Last Name]) as a compromise. That way you're showing your relationship status without fully adopting his name, though as everyone has said, either approach is fine from a benefits perspective. The key thing is that you're being thoughtful about your family's financial security, which shows you're a great mom!

This is totally normal! I've been getting Social Security for about 7 years now and this happens every time there's a federal holiday that would interfere with the regular payment schedule. The SSA processes payments early to make sure you don't have to wait longer than usual. Presidents Day is February 17th this year, so that's definitely why your payment came early. You can always check the official SSA payment calendar on their website to see when holidays will affect your payment dates throughout the year. No need to worry - you're getting your regular payment, just on an adjusted schedule!

Same thing happened to me! I've been receiving disability benefits for about 3 years and this caught me off guard too. Like others mentioned, it's definitely because of Presidents Day. I've learned to check the SSA payment calendar at the beginning of each year - it shows all the adjusted dates when holidays fall near regular payment dates. It's actually pretty convenient when you think about it, since we get our money sooner rather than having to wait until after the holiday. Just wanted to add my experience to confirm this is totally normal!

One more thing to consider - since you're retiring at 64, have you thought about health insurance coverage? Medicare doesn't start until 65, so you'll need to bridge that gap somehow. Some options: 1. COBRA from your employer (expensive but straightforward) 2. ACA marketplace plan (might qualify for subsidies) 3. Spouse's insurance if applicable This isn't directly related to your Social Security application timing, but it's a critical piece of early retirement planning that catches many people by surprise.

I went through this exact process two years ago when I retired at 64! Here's what I learned from my experience: Apply in September 2025 (4 months early) rather than October. I applied exactly 3 months early and it was cutting it close - any small delay could have pushed my first payment back a month. The extra month buffer gave me peace of mind. When you apply online, you'll see a question asking when you want benefits to start. Select January 2026. The system will automatically calculate your reduced benefit amount based on taking it 32 months before your FRA. Regarding the earnings test - since you're making $72k annually, you'll definitely exceed the 2025 limit. But the good news is that the "special rule" for your first year of retirement will apply. As long as you don't perform any substantial work in January 2026 (and beyond), you'll get your full monthly benefit starting then, regardless of what you earned earlier in 2025. One tip: when you submit your application, screenshot every page and keep confirmation numbers. Also, set up your my.ssa.gov account if you haven't already - you'll be checking it frequently to track your application status. The gap between your last paycheck and first SS payment is unavoidable, but at least you know to budget for it. Good luck!