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.

one more thing - they only withhold whole percentages (7%, 10%, 12%, 22%) nothing customized so you might still owe some or get refund

Just wanted to share my recent experience since I went through this exact same situation a few months ago. I also didn't see any tax withholding options during my online SS application and was confused about it. I ended up calling the SSA directly and they confirmed that you have to submit the W-4V form separately - it's not part of the initial application process at all. The representative I spoke with was actually pretty helpful and explained that they can't process tax withholding requests until your benefits are officially approved and set up in their system. I submitted my W-4V form about 2 weeks after my application was approved, and the withholding started with my third payment. So there was about a 2-month gap where I had to handle the taxes myself. I'd recommend getting that form ready now so you can submit it as soon as you get your approval notice. Also, if you're tech-savvy, you can actually submit the form electronically through your my Social Security account once your benefits are active, which might be faster than mailing it in. Hope this helps!

I was in a somewhat similar situation last year. I found that the local Social Security office was actually more helpful than trying to call. I made an appointment (still had to wait a few weeks) but the in-person meeting was so much more productive than trying to get answers on the phone or online. The rep pulled up both my record and my ex's and showed me exactly what I'd get under different scenarios. Just sharing in case that's an option for you. The online appointment system was relatively painless compared to the phone nightmare.

Welcome to the community! I've been following Social Security topics here for a while and wanted to share something that might help with your decision-making process. One thing I don't see mentioned yet is that you should also ask SSA about the "restricted application" rules that might still apply in certain situations, even though most of those strategies were eliminated. Since you're dealing with divorced spouse benefits and you were born before 1954, there might be some nuances worth exploring. Also, when you do get your benefit estimates, make sure to ask them to run the numbers assuming your ex-husband claims at different ages (62, FRA, age 70) if he hasn't filed yet. His claiming decision won't affect your divorced spouse benefit amount, but it's good to understand the full picture. One more tip from my own experience: when you call or visit SSA, have all your documentation ready - marriage certificate, divorce decree, your Social Security statement, etc. It speeds up the process significantly and helps ensure they can give you the most accurate estimates possible. Good luck with your decision! The fact that you're taking time to research and ask questions shows you're approaching this thoughtfully.