My sister applied for her SS retirement last year and she said they asked her a bunch of questions about whether she ever had a different SSN or if she'd ever used another name that wasn't from marriage. Just something else to be prepared for! Also they wanted to know about any pensions from jobs that didn't pay into Social Security (for WEP calculation I guess).

I'm new here but wanted to share my recent experience since it might help! I just went through this exact process last month - had my phone appointment in early October for December benefits after my November FRA. The timing worked out perfectly and I received my first payment right on schedule in January. A couple of things that really helped me: I created a simple checklist of all my documents beforehand and had them spread out on my desk during the call. Also, when they asked about my desired start date, I was very clear that I wanted benefits to begin the month AFTER my FRA to get the full amount. The representative was really helpful and walked me through everything step by step. Your January 10th appointment should give you plenty of time for April benefits. Good luck with your retirement!

UPDATE: You were all right! I finally got the letter today (7 business days after the deposit). It was indeed a Medicare IRMAA adjustment based on my 2024 tax return showing lower income. They refunded me for the higher premium I'd been paying since January. Mystery solved! Thanks everyone for your help and reassurance.

Glad you got it sorted out! Your experience is a perfect example of why it's so important not to panic when you see an unexpected deposit. IRMAA adjustments are actually pretty routine - SSA processes thousands of these every month when people's income situations change. For future reference, you can also check your Medicare.gov account to see your current IRMAA status and any recent adjustments. It's usually updated faster than the paper letters arrive. Thanks for following up with the resolution - it'll definitely help others who find themselves in the same situation!

Thank you everyone for your helpful responses! I'm disappointed that the SSA rep gave me completely wrong information, but at least now I know I need to call again. I'll try the early morning trick and if that doesn't work, I might try that Claimyr service or just visit the office in person. I really appreciate knowing I'm not alone in this frustration. Planning for retirement is stressful enough without getting the runaround from SSA. I'll update if I learn anything new when I finally get through to someone.

I'm so sorry for your loss and the frustrating experience you've had with SSA. As someone who went through a similar situation when my spouse passed away last year, I can tell you that the misinformation from representatives is unfortunately common. What helped me was actually requesting to speak with a "claims specialist" rather than just any representative when I called. These specialists tend to be more knowledgeable about survivor benefits. Also, I found that calling right at 8am EST when they open gave me the shortest wait times - usually under 30 minutes versus hours later in the day. One thing that might help while you're waiting: gather all your husband's employment records and your marriage certificate ahead of time. When you do get through, having these documents ready will make the conversation much more productive. The specialist can walk through different claiming scenarios with you since you have that important decision point coming up at 60. Hang in there - it's worth the hassle to get accurate information about your benefits!

btw you dont have to wait til 67 if you dont want to. you can take reduced benefits at 60 if you need the money now. its like 70% of the full amount i think

I went through a similar situation when my husband passed after receiving disability benefits. One thing that really helped me was calling the SSA first thing in the morning (around 8 AM) when they open - I had much better luck getting through than calling later in the day. Also, if you happen to have a local SSA office nearby, sometimes scheduling an in-person appointment can be easier than trying to get through on the phone. They were very patient with me during the application process and walked me through everything step by step. The most important thing is having all your documents ready beforehand. Good luck with your application - you've got this!

I appreciate the clarification on how the payment works. I'll check with his therapist first to see if they have recommendations for attorneys who specialize in mental health disability claims. Thank you!

I went through a similar situation with my adult daughter who has severe anxiety and depression. One thing that really helped was having her sign a HIPAA release form for me so I could speak directly with her doctors about her condition and get copies of all medical records without having to go through her each time. This made the whole process much smoother since she was often too overwhelmed to handle these communications herself. Also, keep detailed notes of every phone call, form submission, and interaction with SSA - dates, times, who you spoke with, and what was discussed. This documentation became invaluable when we had to reference previous conversations. The process is definitely overwhelming, but having someone like you advocating for your brother makes such a difference. You're doing the right thing by stepping in to help him.