I just wanted to update you - I checked with my mother-in-law and she said using Claimyr was actually what finally got her issue resolved. After weeks of getting nowhere with the office visits, we used that service my husband found online, got through to a real person at SSA in about 15 minutes, and that rep was able to flag her case for expedited review. Within 48 hours she got a call from a supervisor who fixed the payment. Just wanted to share what finally worked for us after all the frustration.

That's such great news that you found the issue! An overpayment recovery from someone else's record being applied to yours - that's exactly the kind of system error that seems to be happening more frequently. I'm glad Claimyr worked for you too. For anyone else reading this thread with similar issues, it really seems like getting to an actual SSA representative who can look at your account details is the key. The automated systems and even some field office staff don't always have the access or training to spot these kinds of database errors. Definitely keep us posted when the funds arrive - it'll give hope to others dealing with similar situations!

Regarding your appeal options if denied: 1. Request for Reconsideration: This is the first level of appeal. You'd submit form SSA-561. 2. Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Hearing: If the reconsideration is denied, you can request a hearing. 3. Appeals Council Review: If the ALJ denies your claim, you can request the Appeals Council to review it. 4. Federal Court Review: The final level would be filing a civil action in Federal District Court. However, I want to set realistic expectations. For retroactive benefits beyond the standard 6-month period, the success rate is extremely low unless there was documented misinformation or you can prove you attempted to file earlier. Regarding your ex-husband's age affecting eligibility: You're onto something important. If he wasn't yet receiving benefits or eligible for benefits when you applied for SSDI, that could explain why you weren't informed initially. The divorced spouse benefit rules require the ex-spouse to be entitled to benefits (though they don't have to be claiming them if you've been divorced for at least 2 years).

I'm so sorry this happened to you! As a newcomer here, I'm learning how common this issue is from reading everyone's responses. It's really eye-opening and honestly pretty scary that SSA doesn't proactively inform people about benefits they're eligible for. I'm curious - when you initially applied for SSDI in 2017, did they ask you about your marriage history at all? Or was the application process focused only on your disability claim? I'm wondering if there's any documentation from that initial application that might help support a "good cause" argument, even though it sounds like the chances are slim. Also, has anyone here had success working with a disability attorney or advocate for situations like this? I know they typically work on contingency for initial claims, but I'm not sure if they'd take on retroactive benefit cases.

I'm in a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly informative! I'm planning to retire at 65 in late 2025, also below my FRA of 67. One additional consideration I've been researching is how the timing affects your benefit calculation itself, not just the earnings test. Since you're retiring before your FRA, your benefits will be permanently reduced by the early retirement penalty (about 13.3% reduction for retiring 2 years early). But I wanted to confirm - this reduction is separate from any temporary reductions due to the earnings test, right? So even if you pass the earnings test perfectly, you'll still have the early retirement reduction for life, but at least you won't have additional penalties from the earnings limits. Just wanted to make sure I understood the difference between these two separate issues!

This has been such a comprehensive discussion! I'm also planning to retire at 65 in 2025 and this thread answered so many questions I didn't even know I had. Just wanted to add one resource that helped me - the SSA website has a retirement estimator tool that lets you model different retirement scenarios, including how the earnings test would affect your specific situation. It's at ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/estimator.html. You can input different income levels and retirement dates to see projected benefit amounts. While it doesn't replace talking to an actual SSA representative, it's been helpful for my initial planning. Also, if anyone is considering working part-time after retirement instead of stopping completely, the tool shows how that would impact benefits under the earnings test. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's made me much more confident about my own retirement timing!

I'm really sorry your friend is going through this difficult situation. Just wanted to add one more practical tip - when she goes to the SSA office, she should ask specifically about the "protective filing date." If she calls SSA first to report the death and express intent to file for benefits, they can establish that date even if she can't get in for an appointment right away. This can help protect the retroactive benefit date while she's gathering all the required documents. Also, she might want to bring a trusted family member or friend with her to the appointment - having emotional support during these meetings can be really helpful, and an extra set of ears to catch important details when you're grieving and overwhelmed.

I'm so sorry for your friend's loss - what an incredibly difficult and overwhelming situation to navigate while grieving. Just to add to all the excellent advice here: your friend should also be aware that if she remarries before age 60, she would lose her widow's benefits (though the children's benefits would continue unaffected). Also, once the children turn 16 and she's no longer eligible for mother's benefits, she may be able to receive widow's benefits starting at age 60 (or earlier if disabled) based on her own situation. It's worth asking the SSA about all potential future benefit scenarios during her appointment so she can plan accordingly. The most important thing right now though is getting that initial application filed ASAP to protect those retroactive benefits. Sending strength to your friend during this heartbreaking time.

Another consideration for your sister: if she's struggling financially while waiting to turn 60, she might want to look into whether she qualifies for any state-level widow assistance programs. These vary by state but can sometimes provide temporary support. Also, if her husband had a pension, life insurance, or other retirement accounts, make sure she's explored all those potential income sources while waiting for Social Security eligibility.

I'm so sorry for your sister's loss. This is such a difficult time to be navigating these complex benefits questions. Based on what everyone has shared here, it sounds like the consensus is that she'll need to wait until she turns 60 in December to apply for survivor benefits, unless she qualifies for one of the specific exceptions (disability or caring for a child under 16/disabled). Since December isn't too far away, I'd recommend she use this time to gather all the necessary documents she'll need for the application - things like her marriage certificate, her husband's death certificate, both of their Social Security cards, and any relevant tax returns. Having everything ready will make the process smoother when she can finally apply. Also, given that she worked part-time, it might be worth getting an estimate of what her own retirement benefits would be at different ages versus the survivor benefits, so she can make the most informed decision about timing. The SSA website has benefit calculators that can help with this planning.