Thank you all for the advice! I think I'll try the online application since my situation seems simple enough, but I'll make sure to double-check everything carefully, especially my earnings record. If I run into any issues, I might try that Claimyr service to get through to someone by phone. I appreciate all your help!

As someone who recently went through this process, I'd recommend starting with the online application since your situation does sound straightforward. However, I'd suggest doing a thorough review of your my Social Security account first - check your earnings history going back to your early working years, not just recent ones. Sometimes there are small discrepancies that can add up over time. One thing that might be worth considering: since you stopped working 6 years ago, make sure those zero-earning years aren't negatively impacting your benefit calculation more than necessary. The SSA uses your highest 35 years of earnings, so if you have more than 35 years of work history, those recent zeros might not matter. But if you're close to 35 years, it could be worth double-checking. Also, keep in mind that you can always start online and call if you hit any snags. The online system will save your progress, so you're not locked into finishing it in one session. Good luck with your application!

Just realized something - check your Medicare Summary Notices from the past few months! My uncle had a similar situation and they actually had a tiny note at the bottom of page 3 on his Medicare Summary Notice that mentioned the premium adjustment. Most people never read those things all the way through! Might be worth digging through your mail or logging into your Medicare.gov account to check your recent MSNs.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! Got about $8,500 deposited last month with zero explanation, also related to Medicare Part B premiums. Like you, I called multiple times and everyone says it's mine but won't put anything in writing. What I ended up doing was creating my own paper trail - I've been keeping detailed notes of every phone call (date, time, representative name or ID number, exactly what they told me). I also screenshot my MySocialSecurity account daily to show the deposit is still there and hasn't been flagged as an error. I'm planning to wait about 60 days before spending most of it, but I did use a small portion ($500) for urgent medical expenses to test the waters. No clawback so far. The anxiety is real though - I completely understand your fear about touching the money. You're definitely not alone in this frustrating situation!

I'm so sorry for your loss. This is unfortunately a common issue right now. When my grandmother passed away last year, we had a similar experience - SSA continued payments for about 4 months despite multiple reports of her death. Here's what I learned: SSA has been severely understaffed and their death reporting system has major delays. The payments you're seeing are considered "overpayments" and yes, they will eventually demand every penny back. However, they typically don't charge interest if you cooperate and return the funds promptly once they officially notify you. My advice: 1) Keep detailed records of every attempt to contact them, 2) Try visiting your local SSA office in person with the death certificate - this often works better than calling, 3) Set aside all those benefit payments in a separate account so you're ready to return them when asked. The good news is they usually offer payment plans if returning everything at once would cause financial hardship. Hang in there - this bureaucratic nightmare will eventually get resolved.

I went through this exact situation when my father passed away two years ago. The SSA kept depositing his benefits for nearly 6 months despite multiple death reports! What finally worked was going to the local SSA office in person with his death certificate, my ID, and a written timeline of all my previous attempts to report his death. The key things I learned: 1) Always ask for a receipt number when reporting a death - if they can't provide one, the report likely wasn't processed, 2) Keep a detailed log of every phone call, date, time, and who you spoke with, 3) Don't touch those funds - put them in a separate savings account immediately. When SSA finally caught up, they sent an overpayment notice for about $8,000. I was terrified, but they were actually pretty reasonable. They let me return it over 12 months with no interest since I had documented proof I'd been trying to report the death for months. The agent even apologized for their system failures. One tip: if you can get to your local office right when they open (usually 9 AM), you'll avoid the worst of the crowds. Bring multiple copies of everything. Good luck, and I'm sorry for your loss.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Javier. This is such a difficult situation to navigate while you're grieving. From what you've described, it sounds like there may be a disconnect between different departments at SSA. The "abated" language typically refers to stopping his individual claim processing due to death, but shouldn't affect your eligibility for survivor benefits based on what his disability amount would have been. Since he was fast-tracked due to his terminal diagnosis and you mentioned SSA initially told you about the higher survivor benefit amount, there's a good chance his medical approval was completed or very close to completion before he passed. At your appointment, I'd also suggest asking them to check the "remarks" or "notes" section of his file - sometimes there are internal comments that clarify the status of pending approvals. Also ask if they can provide you with a timeline of exactly what happened with his claim between November and February. The $425 monthly difference you mentioned is significant, and you deserve to get the correct amount. Don't be afraid to advocate for yourself - you have every right to understand exactly how your benefits were calculated and to challenge it if something seems wrong.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Javier. Losing your husband and then having to navigate these confusing SSA communications must be incredibly overwhelming. Based on what you've shared, it really sounds like there's a miscommunication or processing error happening. The fact that SSA fast-tracked his disability claim due to his terminal diagnosis is actually a positive sign - they typically only do this when they expect to approve the claim. The "abated" letter likely just means they stopped processing his individual payments since he passed away, but that shouldn't prevent you from getting survivor benefits calculated on his disability amount if he was medically approved. Here's what I'd recommend for your Tuesday appointment: 1. Bring that abatement letter and ask them to explain exactly what it means for YOUR survivor benefits (not just his claim) 2. Ask to see his claims file or at least get a summary of all actions taken on his disability claim from November through February 3. Specifically ask: "Was my husband's disability claim medically approved before he died on [date]?" 4. If they say no or seem unsure, ask them to double-check with their technical unit or disability processing center 5. Request everything in writing - don't leave without documentation of their explanation The $425 monthly difference is substantial and worth fighting for. Trust your instincts that something seems off here. You deserve clear answers and the correct benefit amount. Good luck on Tuesday!

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I think I'm going to go ahead with my plan to claim survivors benefits at 64 while continuing to work, understanding that: 1) Yes, they'll reduce my benefit now due to early claiming and the earnings test 2) The earnings test will completely disappear at my FRA 3) I'll get some adjustment at FRA for completely withheld months, but not a full payback 4) I can let my own retirement benefit grow until 70 which might be the better long-term strategy I really appreciate all the insights and personal experiences shared here. Social Security decisions are so complicated, and it helps to hear from others who've been through it!

Great summary of your plan! Just wanted to add one more consideration that might help with your budgeting - make sure to factor in that your survivor benefits will be subject to federal income tax if your combined income (adjusted gross income + nontaxable interest + half of your Social Security benefits) exceeds certain thresholds. Since you're continuing to work full-time, you'll likely hit those thresholds. This doesn't change the math much, but it's good to plan for the tax implications when budgeting for the next few years. The earnings test and tax on benefits are separate issues that both affect your net income from Social Security.