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ALSO!!! don't forget bout TAXES!! up to 85% of ur SS benefits can be taxable depending on ur other income. we didnt realize this and ended up owing a bunch at tax time that first year 😠
Oh no! Thanks for the warning. I'll definitely talk to our tax person before making a final decision. This is getting more complicated than I thought!
As someone who just went through this decision process last year, I'd recommend using the Social Security benefits calculator on their website (ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/estimator.html) to run the numbers for your specific situation. You can see exactly what your benefits would be at different ages. Also consider your health and family longevity - if you're in good health and have parents/grandparents who lived into their 90s, waiting might make more financial sense in the long run. But if you need the income now or have health concerns, taking it early could be the right choice. One thing that helped me was calculating the "break-even" point - basically how old I'd need to be for the total benefits received by waiting to exceed what I'd get by taking it early. In my case it was around age 78-79. Since I'm healthy and my mom is 92, I decided to wait.
This is such great advice! I never thought about calculating the break-even point - that's a really smart way to think about it. My family does tend to live long (my grandmother is 89 and still going strong), so maybe waiting would pay off in the long run. I'm going to try that calculator on the SSA website and see what the numbers look like for my situation. Thanks for sharing your experience and decision-making process!
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Unpopular opinion: maybe if we all stopped relying on government handouts, we wouldn't have to deal with this bs 🤷♂️
Bruh, you're gonna get downvoted to oblivion with that take 💀
The benefits system is there for a reason. It’s a safety net for those who need support, not a handout.
I completely understand your frustration! I went through a similar ordeal last year. Here's what finally worked for me: 1) Call the main SSA number (1-800-772-1213) at exactly 8:00 AM when they open - your chances are much better then. 2) When you get through the automated system, press 0 multiple times to try to reach a human faster. 3) If you keep getting disconnected, try calling your local SSA field office directly - they often have shorter wait times. 4) Have your Social Security number, birth date, and all relevant documents ready before calling. 5) Be prepared to wait on hold for 1-2 hours even if you get through. Also, if you're able to visit in person, that might be faster than phone calls. Bring all your paperwork and get there early! The whole system is definitely broken, but persistence pays off. Good luck - you've got this! 💪
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The WHOLE SYSTEM is designed to pay you LESS than you deserve!!! I've been fighting with them for 2 YEARS about my benefit calculation and they keep giving me the runaround. They're HOPING you won't notice or follow up so they can keep underpaying you. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING and keep calling until they fix it!!!
While I understand your frustration, this specific situation is actually a normal part of SSA's annual processing cycle. They're not intentionally underpaying - they simply can't include earnings that haven't been reported and processed yet. The system is designed to automatically adjust benefits once those earnings are processed, typically in the latter part of the following year.
Just want to add another perspective - I'm a retired federal employee who dealt with this same issue. The timing can vary slightly depending on how your employer submits their W-2 data to SSA. Large employers typically submit electronically earlier in the year, while smaller companies might take longer. If you're really concerned about the timeline, you can also check your online Social Security account (my.ssa.gov) periodically to see when your 2024 earnings appear in your record. Once they show up there, the benefit recalculation usually happens within 30-60 days. Also worth noting - if your 2024 earnings are significantly higher than your previous years, the increase in your monthly benefit could be quite substantial since it's calculated over your lifetime. Good luck!
That's really helpful advice about checking my.ssa.gov to monitor when the 2024 earnings appear! I didn't realize I could track the progress that way. Since I worked for a mid-size company that usually handles things pretty efficiently, hopefully they submitted everything on time. I'll definitely keep an eye on my online account - that seems like a much better approach than trying to call and wait on hold for hours. Thanks for the tip about the 30-60 day timeframe after earnings appear too!
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Mine was late too but just showed up. I bet they're doing some kind of verification process. Last time this happened to me (about 2 years ago), I called and they said something about random verification checks on direct deposits. Just government bureaucracy doing its thing, I guess. Glad yours finally arrived!
yeah they should TELL US when theyre going to be late!!! gave me a heart attack!!!
I'm new to Social Security benefits and this thread is making me nervous about what to expect! I just started receiving my first payments last month on the 2nd Wednesday schedule. Should I be worried that this kind of delay might happen regularly? Is there any way to get notified in advance when SSA is doing system upgrades or processing delays? I'd rather know ahead of time than have a panic attack when my rent money doesn't show up on schedule like you all experienced.
Welcome to the SSA benefits world! Don't worry too much - these delays are pretty rare. In my experience over the past few years, maybe 2-3 times per year max. The frustrating part is SSA doesn't really have a great notification system for these delays. Your best bet is to check their main website occasionally (ssa.gov) as they sometimes post notices about system maintenance. Also, I'd recommend keeping a small buffer in your account if possible since the "early" deposits aren't guaranteed - they're just a nice bonus most banks provide. The official payment date is what matters, and that's almost always reliable.
TillyCombatwarrior
Im sorry but i think you need to just apply now!!! My neighbor was in similar situation and SSA told her she needed to apply within 6 months of death or she would loose some backpay. I dont know if thats still true but better safe than sorry!! Even though you cant get payments until 60 you should apply now to protect your filing date!!
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Jungleboo Soletrain
•This isn't accurate. For survivor benefits, you generally must apply within 6 months to receive retroactive benefits back to the month of death. However, since the original poster isn't eligible for payments until age 60 (still 5 years away), there's no advantage to applying now. SSA won't even process an application this far in advance. The correct approach is to apply a few months before turning 60. If she wants to delay benefits past 60 for a higher monthly amount, she can specify that in her application.
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GalaxyGlider
I'm so sorry for your loss, Kendrick. Losing an ex-spouse, especially at such a young age, can be emotionally complicated even years after divorce. Based on what others have shared, it sounds like contacting the Federal Benefits Unit in London (which serves Portugal) might be your best bet rather than trying to call the main SSA line. Email might work better for you given the time zone differences. One thing I wanted to add that I haven't seen mentioned - since you only have 5 years of US work credits, you definitely want to look into the US-Portugal totalization agreement that someone briefly mentioned. This could potentially help you qualify for some benefits on your own record by combining your US and Portuguese work history. It might not be much, but every bit helps, especially if you're planning to stay in Portugal long-term. Also, even though you can't claim survivor benefits until 60, it might be worth starting to organize your paperwork now. Get certified copies of your marriage certificate, divorce decree, and his death certificate while they're still relatively easy to obtain. Having everything ready will make the process smoother when the time comes. The Federal Benefits Unit should be able to give you a better idea of what documentation you'll need and how the process works for US expats in Portugal.
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Omar Farouk
•Thank you so much for the kind words and practical advice. You're right that it's emotionally complicated - even though we were divorced, 18 years together was a big part of my life, and 49 is just so young. I really appreciate you mentioning the totalization agreement again. I worked in Portugal for about 8 years before moving there permanently, so combining those credits with my 5 US years might actually help. I had completely forgotten about that possibility. You're also absolutely right about getting the paperwork organized now. I've been putting it off because it feels overwhelming, but having everything ready in advance will definitely make things easier when I turn 60. I'll start with getting multiple certified copies of everything while I'm thinking about it. The Federal Benefits Unit in London sounds like the way to go. Much better than trying to navigate international calling during US business hours from Portugal!
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