One thing to know is that withholding changes can actually be made a few different ways: 1. You can submit a W-4V form by mail or at a local office 2. You can request the change through your MySocialSecurity account online 3. A legal garnishment order can be applied (tax levy, child support, etc.) 4. Medicare premium changes can affect your net payment If someone accessed your online account, definitely report that as potential identity theft. SSA can see the IP address of whoever made the change. If it was a simple mistake, they can usually fix it within one payment cycle. Please update us when you get this resolved! It would help others who might face the same issue.

Wow, I'm so glad you got this resolved Grace! This is exactly why I always tell people not to give up when dealing with SSA - these administrative mix-ups happen more often than they should. It's honestly pretty concerning that they can accidentally apply one person's withholding request to someone else's account just because of similar names or numbers. Makes me wonder how often this happens without people noticing right away. Thank you for following up with the resolution - it's really helpful to know that local offices can fix these errors and get the money returned relatively quickly. I'm definitely saving this thread in case I ever run into something similar!

I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm in a similar situation - lost my husband at 64 two years ago and I'm now 59. I've been researching this exact strategy and wanted to share what I've learned from meeting with SSA and a financial planner. The key thing I discovered is that even if most of your survivor benefit gets withheld due to the earnings test, you're still establishing your "benefit start date" at 60. This matters because any benefits withheld get added back to your monthly payment once you hit your FRA, essentially giving you a permanent increase. Also, make sure to factor in Medicare timing. If you're planning to work until 65, you'll want to coordinate when to apply for Medicare Part A (which is automatic if you're receiving SS benefits) versus staying on your employer's health plan. One practical tip: I set up a my Social Security account online and requested my benefit estimates there. Much easier than calling! The survivor benefit estimate tool is pretty accurate once you input your husband's earnings record. Have you thought about doing a "practice run" with reduced hours when you turn 60 to see how the earnings test affects you in real time? That's what I'm considering.

I'm really sorry for your loss. I went through something very similar when my wife passed at 58 and I was 61. Just wanted to share a few things I learned that might help: First, definitely apply for the survivor benefits at 60 even if you're working. Yes, the earnings test will reduce what you receive, but like others mentioned, those "lost" benefits aren't really lost - they get added back to your monthly amount when you reach FRA. Plus you're locking in your filing date which matters for the calculations. One thing I wish I'd known earlier - you can actually withdraw your application within 12 months if you change your mind about the strategy. It's called a "withdrawal of application" and you'd have to pay back what you received, but it gives you flexibility if your work situation changes. Also, don't forget about the lump sum death benefit ($255) if you haven't claimed it yet. It's not much but every bit helps during this difficult time. The online tools at ssa.gov have gotten much better in recent years. The benefit calculators there gave me pretty accurate estimates, and you can model different scenarios without having to call and wait on hold for hours. Hang in there - navigating all this paperwork and financial planning while grieving is exhausting, but you're asking all the right questions.

My aunt went thru something similar with federal workers comp after my uncle died. The WC people kept talking about "retirement age" but what they really meant was that the CALCULATION for the offset changes, not that your benefits automatically switch to something else. Its super confusing and the WC people dont explain it very well!!! Your survivor benefits keep going as long as you dont remarry (at least that was true for my aunt).

I'm in a similar situation but just starting this process - my husband was also a federal employee who passed from work-related injuries. I'm not yet at the age to collect survivor benefits, but reading through all these responses is really eye-opening about how complicated the interaction between Workers' Comp and Social Security can be. It sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Survivor benefits don't automatically convert to retirement benefits at any age, 2) The Workers' Comp offset calculation method changes at retirement eligibility age (not the benefits themselves), and 3) Getting everything in writing from both SSA and OWCP is crucial because phone representatives often give inconsistent information. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world insight that's so hard to find elsewhere. I'm going to save this thread to reference when I get closer to filing for my benefits.

I went through this exact same process last year! Applied online in August for September benefits, and like you, heard absolutely nothing for weeks. The silence was nerve-wracking, but my first payment showed up right on schedule in October on the third Wednesday (my birthday is the 15th). The online portal never updated either - it just said "pending" until suddenly one day it switched to showing my payment history. Since your situation sounds straightforward and you already set up direct deposit, I'd expect your November payment to arrive without any drama. The SSA's communication is terrible, but their payment system is actually pretty reliable once everything is processed. Try not to stress too much - no news really is good news with them!

Just wanted to add that if you're really anxious about the status, you can also try visiting your local SSA office if there's one nearby. I know calling is a nightmare with the wait times, but sometimes the in-person folks can give you a quick status update without the phone hassle. I did this for my mom's application and they were able to confirm everything was processing normally even though the online portal hadn't updated. Just bring a photo ID and your confirmation number from when you applied. Worth considering if you need peace of mind before that November payment date!

Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - since you mentioned your work record is solid, make sure to check if you might qualify for delayed retirement credits by waiting past your full retirement age to claim. If you're the higher earner between you and your fiancé, maximizing your benefit through delayed credits (up to age 70) could really boost the survivor benefit he'd eventually receive. It's worth running the numbers to see if delaying your claim makes sense for your overall household strategy, especially with that 7-year age gap!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the importance of keeping good records of your marriage date once you do get married. SSA will need proof of your marriage for any spousal or survivor benefit claims, and having your marriage certificate readily available will make the process much smoother down the road. Also, if either of you has children from previous relationships, getting married could potentially affect their ability to claim benefits on your records in certain situations (like if they're disabled adult children). It's probably worth asking SSA about that specific scenario if it applies to your situation. Overall though, it sounds like marriage won't negatively impact your Social Security benefits - just make sure you both understand the timing of when different benefits become available!