Can't reach Social Security Administration? Claimyr connects you to a live SSA agent in minutes.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the SSA
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the SSA drops your call
If I could give 10 stars I would
If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
Really made a difference
Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
Join the conversation
Join the conversation
we got a letter from ssa about the taxes thing. u can choose to have federal taxes withheld from ur ss payments if u want. i think its 7%, 10%, 12% or 22% options. might be easier than messing with his work withholding
I didn't know that was an option! That might be easier than adjusting his work withholding. I'll look into that form when we apply. Thanks for mentioning it!
This is such a helpful thread! My husband is in a similar situation - he'll be 67 next year and we've been going back and forth on this decision. Reading everyone's experiences with the tax implications is really eye-opening. I had no idea about the automatic benefit recalculation that @StarStrider mentioned - that's actually a nice bonus! One thing I'm curious about - for those who started collecting while working, did you notice any changes in how your coworkers or management treated you? I know legally there's no requirement to disclose, but I'm wondering if there are any subtle workplace dynamics to consider. My husband is in a pretty competitive field and I worry that even the perception that he might be "one foot out the door" could affect opportunities. Also, does anyone know if there are any advantages to applying online versus in person? We're pretty tech-savvy but want to make sure we don't miss anything important in the process.
Great questions! Regarding workplace dynamics, I haven't experienced any issues personally. Since there's no requirement to disclose and most employers don't know unless you tell them, it really shouldn't affect how you're treated. The key is just continuing to perform at the same level and showing the same commitment to projects and responsibilities. As for the application process, I'd definitely recommend applying online if you're comfortable with technology. It's much faster and you can do it at your own pace. The online application walks you through everything step-by-step, and you can save your progress if you need to gather documents. Plus, you avoid the long phone wait times that others have mentioned. You can always call if you run into issues during the online process, but most people find it pretty straightforward. One tip: have your Social Security statement handy when you apply so you can verify the benefit estimates match what you're expecting. Good luck with the decision!
Join the conversation
Just wanted to update - I called the SSA this morning using that Claimyr service I mentioned, got right through to an agent who confirmed that the husband should absolutely receive those 6 months of retroactive benefits! She said it happens all the time that people don't know to ask, and that's why it's so important to have all your questions ready before you apply. Hope this helps!
Thank you so much for checking! That makes me feel even more confident about calling them. Really appreciate everyone's help with this!
I'm a new member here but wanted to share my experience since this exact thing happened to my mom last year! She filed 9 months after her FRA and we had no idea about the retroactive benefits either. When we called SSA, they were actually very helpful and processed the adjustment quickly. The key is to be persistent but polite - sometimes you get different answers from different representatives, so if the first person says no, politely ask to speak with someone else or call back later. My mom received about $8,500 in back payments about a month after we made the request. Don't give up on this - it's money you've already earned! Also, make sure to ask them to confirm the exact date they're using as the start of benefits so you know you're getting the full 6 months.
Join the conversation
i applied online last year it was ok but then they needed more info and i had no idea until i checked my account a month later. they dont always email you so make sure you keep checking your mySS account every few days after you apply!! they put messages in there that you'll miss if you don't login
This is excellent advice! The SSA communication system isn't perfect. They should send you emails when there are account notifications, but the system sometimes fails. Checking your mySocialSecurity account regularly after applying is very important. Also, make sure your contact information is up to date in your mySocialSecurity profile before you apply. Double-check that your email address and phone number are current so they can reach you if needed.
As someone who just went through this process myself at 67, I can confirm that the online application really is the way to go! A few additional tips from my experience: 1. Make sure you have your most recent tax return handy - they may ask about your previous year's earnings 2. If you're married, they'll ask about your spouse's work history too, even if they're not applying 3. The system will save your progress if you need to take a break, so don't feel pressured to complete it all in one sitting 4. After you submit, you should get an email confirmation within 24-48 hours. If you don't, definitely log back into your account to check The hardest part for me was just getting started! Once I began the application, it really did guide me through each step clearly. You've got this - and starting your benefits at 69 means you'll be getting those maximum delayed retirement credits. Smart move!
Join the conversation
WEP and GPO are the two WORST rules in social security!!! teachers and other public servants get totally screwed by these rules. call your congressperson and tell them to support the Social Security Fairness Act to repeal both these unfair penalties!!!
You're so right about these rules being unfair to teachers. My sister taught elementary school for 22 years and her Social Security benefit is tiny because of WEP. I had no idea there was legislation to address this - we'll definitely contact our representatives.
I'm new to this community but wanted to share some additional resources that might help your sister. The SSA has a specific publication (SSA-05-10084) called "Government Pension Offset" that explains exactly how GPO affects survivor benefits. You can find it on their website under publications. Also, many local libraries have AARP tax volunteers during tax season who are trained on Social Security issues - they might be able to help walk through the calculations for free if she can't afford a financial advisor right now. The key thing everyone here is right about is don't wait to apply - even if the amounts need to be adjusted later, getting the application in starts the clock for those retroactive payments. One more tip: when she calls or visits SSA, ask them to provide the calculation in writing. Sometimes seeing the numbers broken down step by step makes it easier to understand and catch any errors.
Ravi Patel
my neighbors ex died too and she got his benefits and bought a new car with the backpay lol
0 coins
Ella Knight
That's such great news! $530 extra per month is a significant increase. Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this thread - it's worth noting that if you remarry before age 60, you would lose eligibility for these surviving divorced spouse benefits. But since you're already 70, that restriction no longer applies to you. Also, this won't affect any benefits your ex-husband's current spouse (if he had remarried) might be entitled to - multiple people can collect survivor benefits from the same deceased worker's record. Really glad you were able to get through to SSA and get this sorted out!
0 coins