One thing I wanted to mention - when I was applying for survivor benefits, my friend gave me a tip to specifically request an appointment with a claims specialist who handles survivor benefits. Not all reps are equally knowledgeable about all benefit types. It made a huge difference in my case because the specialist caught something that would have reduced my benefit that the previous person I spoke with missed completely.

This is such valuable information - thank you all for sharing your experiences! I'm a widow myself (husband passed 2 years ago) and I've been trying to navigate this maze of decisions. @PaulineW your tip about requesting a specialist is gold - I had no idea you could do that. @Josef Tearle the earnings test info is crucial too since I'm also considering some part-time work. It sounds like the key takeaway is that yes, the survivor benefit strategy can work, but there are so many variables (reduced benefits if taken early, earnings limits, whether your spouse reached FRA, etc.) that really require getting personalized advice from SSA. I think I'll use that Claimyr service @Charity Cohan mentioned to actually get through to someone knowledgeable. Has anyone else used services like that to get past the long hold times?

this happened to my neighbor too!!! her son was disabled and when her husband died the checks stayed the same. when she finally figured it out like 5 years later they gave her back pay but only for like 1 year not the whole 5 years. fight for all the back pay!!!!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - it sounds incredibly stressful to discover there might have been an error for so many years. Based on what others have shared here, it really does sound like your son should have been automatically converted to survivor benefits when his father passed away in 2012. The good news is that if SSA made an error, they are generally required to correct it and provide back payments. However, I'd suggest being prepared for the possibility that they might initially pushback or claim there's a time limit on corrections. Don't let them discourage you - if this was their administrative error, you have strong grounds to fight for full retroactive payment. When you call, also ask them to provide you with a written explanation of your son's current benefit type and calculation. Having everything in writing will be important if you need to escalate the issue or file an appeal. Document every conversation you have with them, including dates, times, and the names of representatives you speak with. Good luck - I really hope you're able to get this resolved and get your son the benefits he's entitled to!

Hi Robert, your experience is actually not uncommon and highlights a key difference in how SSDI and retirement benefits are calculated. When you became disabled at 59, SSA calculated your SSDI using your earnings record up to that point (32 years in your case). However, for retirement benefits at FRA, they can use up to 35 years of your highest earnings, including any years after your disability onset date where you may have had some earnings or zero-earnings years that get dropped from the calculation. The increase you received likely reflects this recalculation using the full 35-year computation period, which can result in a higher Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). This doesn't necessarily mean you were "underpaid" during your SSDI years - rather, the calculations use different methodologies and time periods. I'd recommend requesting a detailed explanation from SSA showing both calculations side by side. You can also request your complete earnings record to verify which years were used in each calculation. If there's still confusion, consider consulting with a Social Security attorney who can review your specific case and determine if the calculations were done correctly.

just wondering have u talked to ur mom about this yet?? my grandma got SUPER upset when we suggested someone else handle my uncle's benefits. she took it as us saying she was incompetent even tho she totally was making mistakes

I'm going through something similar with my elderly father who's been my disabled sister's payee for years. What helped me was framing the conversation around "sharing the load" rather than taking over completely. I started by asking Mom if she'd like me to help with some of the paperwork since I'm already handling the online banking anyway. Once she seemed comfortable with that idea, I suggested we visit the SSA office together to add me as a backup or co-payee (though I learned later that's not really how it works - there can only be one official payee). But it got the conversation started in a non-threatening way. The key was emphasizing that I wanted to help HER, not replace her. I also mentioned how much easier it would be for me to handle everything from one location rather than coordinating across the country. She eventually agreed it made sense, especially when I pointed out that if something happened to her suddenly, my sister would be left without access to her benefits. One thing that really helped was having her doctor's office social worker explain to Mom that planning for these transitions is just good caregiving, not admitting defeat. Sometimes hearing it from a professional makes it less personal.

My mom just got on Medicare last year and she was shocked by how the system works. She thought SS benefits would just keep up with inflation automatically but now she's learning that's not really how it works in practice. Has anyone found good ways to budget with such uncertainty around these annual changes?

I've been following this issue closely since I'm also on a fixed income. From what I've read, the 2025 COLA will likely be in the 2.5-3% range based on current inflation trends, but Medicare Part B premiums could easily eat up half or more of that increase. What really bothers me is that they don't coordinate the announcements better. We get excited about the COLA in October, then get hit with the Medicare premium news in November. It would be so much more helpful if they released both numbers at the same time so we could see the real net impact on our budgets. I've started planning for worst case scenario - assume minimal net increase after Medicare adjustments and budget accordingly. It's depressing but at least there are no surprises that way!