One more important reason to maintain access: fraud prevention. By regularly checking your account, you can make sure no one has attempted to change your payment information. Unfortunately, Social Security fraud targeting seniors is increasingly common. The online account lets you verify that everything is still set up correctly and no unauthorized changes have been made.

As someone who works with seniors on tech issues, I'd strongly recommend restoring his access. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that having online access becomes crucial if he ever needs to appeal a decision or report changes in circumstances. The portal also lets you track the status of any requests or applications in real-time. For the recovery process, I'd suggest calling SSA early in the morning (around 8 AM) when wait times are typically shorter. If that doesn't work, the in-person office visit is definitely your best bet. Bring multiple forms of ID and any documentation related to his benefits. They can usually reset everything on the spot and help set up new security questions he'll actually remember. The peace of mind alone is worth it - especially given how difficult it can be to resolve issues without account access!

One more important tip - when you call SSA, ask them to look at your new "computation years" and how your additional earnings affect your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME). Those are the technical terms they use internally. Also have ready a list of the years you worked while on SSDI and approximately how much you earned each year. This will help them pull up the right information more quickly. And keep in mind that if your original disability began before you had 35 years of earnings, these additional work years might be particularly valuable in increasing your benefit.

Just want to add that you should also ask SSA for a copy of your updated benefit computation when they do the recalculation. They can provide a breakdown showing exactly which years of earnings they used and how your new earnings affected the calculation. This documentation is helpful for your records and can also help you understand whether the recalculation gave you the maximum possible benefit increase. Sometimes people are eligible for additional adjustments they weren't initially given.

i just wanna say ur inspiring me! im 58 and on disability and always wanted to finish my degree. maybe its not too late for me either

This thread has been so helpful! I'm 64 and have been on SSDI for 8 years following a stroke. I've been hesitant to pursue any educational goals because I was afraid it might jeopardize my benefits or trigger unwanted reviews. Reading everyone's experiences, especially the distinction between scholarships (which don't count as income) versus work-study earnings (which do), gives me confidence to explore some online courses I've been interested in. My occupational therapist has actually been encouraging me to engage in mentally stimulating activities as part of my recovery. Ava, best of luck with your program - you're showing all of us that it's never too late to learn!

Thank you everyone for all the helpful responses! I've scheduled an appointment for next week using that Claimyr service (which worked amazingly well - took less than 10 minutes to get through to a real person). The agent I spoke with confirmed I should apply now for March benefits and gave me a list of documents to bring. She also explained the earnings limit since I still work part-time. I really appreciate all your advice and support!

Great to see you got everything sorted out! Just wanted to add that when you do go to your appointment, make sure to ask about retroactive benefits. Since survivor benefits can sometimes be paid retroactively up to 6 months before your application date (depending on your situation), it's worth asking if you're eligible for any back payments. Also, if you haven't already, consider setting up a my Social Security account online - it'll make it much easier to track your benefit statements and manage your account once everything is processed. The whole process can feel overwhelming at first, but it sounds like you're handling it perfectly!

When I went through this process, the SSA office told me they prefer appointments for survivor benefit applications because they're more complex. I tried to apply online and ended up having to go in person anyway. Just a heads up - their website says 60 days for processing but mine took almost 4 months before I saw the first payment! And they were backdated to my application date, so it was a big lump sum. Make sure you have enough savings to tide you over while waiting.

I'm so sorry for your loss, and I understand how frustrating the SSA can be to deal with during an already difficult time. Based on what you've shared, you should absolutely qualify for survivor benefits from your first husband. The key requirements are that your first marriage lasted at least 9 months (yours was 12 years), and you're currently unmarried - which you are. Your brief second marriage doesn't disqualify you at all since it ended in divorce. The SSA only cares about your current marital status when you apply, not past marriages that ended. A few practical tips from my own experience: Make an appointment rather than calling - it's much more efficient. Bring certified copies of all documents (both marriage certificates, both divorce decrees, your birth certificate). The SSA may already have your ex-husband's death information in their system, but ask when you schedule. At 62, you'll get about 71.5% of the full benefit, but given what you said about your work record, this might still be your best option. The agent can run calculations to show you different scenarios. Processing can take several months, so apply as soon as you're ready. Hang in there - you've got this!