Social Security Administration
CommunityGovernment Services
Can't reach Social Security Administration? Claimyr calls for you, so you don't have to wait on hold.
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
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 :)
Is 67 too old for Social Security FRA? Burned out after 45 years working with no PTO
I seriously wonder if anyone else feels like the Full Retirement Age of 67 is completely unreasonable? I just hit 65 last month and I'm absolutely EXHAUSTED. Been in construction since I was 19, so that's over 45 years of physical labor with the last decade really taking a toll on my back and knees. I get zero paid time off as an independent contractor. At least I'm down to 3 days on-site and can handle paperwork from home the other days, but man, the thought of grinding through 2 more years just to avoid that early retirement penalty feels impossible some mornings. Checked my SS statement online and if I retire now I'd only get about $2,450/month versus $3,050 if I somehow make it to 67. Doesn't help that I took almost 3 years off back in the 90s when my mom got sick and I had to care for her. Those "zero earning years" are really hurting my benefit calculation. My wife's monthly benefit will be nearly $3,800 at her FRA since she worked for the state with steady income the whole time. Makes me question why I'm killing myself for these extra two years. Anyone else facing this decision? Is holding out for FRA really worth it?
Join the conversation
Social Security survivor benefits at 63 while earning $60k - worth filing before FRA?
I'm trying to decide the best approach for my survivor benefits after losing my husband three years ago. I'm currently 63 and still working full-time with an annual income around $60,000. I've been told that I could file for survivor benefits now and then switch to my own retirement benefit at my full retirement age (67). But with the earnings limit, I'm not sure if this makes financial sense. Would I even get anything from survivor benefits with my current income? Or should I just wait until 67 to file for everything? My husband's benefit would be higher than mine. I'm so confused about what makes the most sense financially. Has anyone been in a similar situation or understand how the earnings test impacts survivor benefits at my age?
Join the conversation
has anyone mentioned restricted application? my brother did that with spousal benefits but im not sure if it applies for survivors benefits the same way
The restricted application rules were phased out for most beneficiaries by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, but survivor benefits work differently. Widows/widowers still maintain the ability to choose between their own retirement benefit and the survivor benefit, and can switch between them. This is why the strategy of claiming reduced survivor benefits early and then switching to their own retirement benefit at FRA (or later) can be advantageous for some people.
After reading through all these comments, I'd recommend scheduling an appointment with SSA to get the exact numbers for your situation. The general advice here is helpful, but only SSA can tell you exactly what your benefit amounts would be with the earnings test applied. If your reduced survivor benefit after the earnings test would be at least a few hundred dollars per month, and your husband's benefit was significantly higher than your own, it might be worth applying now. You'd get some extra income for 4 years, and then switch to your own benefit at FRA. However, if the amount after the earnings test would be minimal, the paperwork and hassle of applying might not be worth it. Remember that you'll need to provide marriage certificate, death certificate, proof of your earnings, and potentially other documentation. Have you considered reducing your work hours to stay under the earnings limit? That might be another strategy worth exploring if it's feasible in your situation.
Thank you for pulling everything together. I hadn't thought about reducing my hours - that's an interesting idea, but probably not feasible with my current position. I think I'll try to reach SSA to get the exact numbers before making a decision.
Can my brother claim Social Security survivor benefits 10 years after spouse's death?
My brother (64) has been collecting regular Social Security retirement benefits since last year. His wife passed away about 10 years ago when she was 58. She had worked most of her life and had a pretty good earnings record. Someone at his senior center mentioned he might be eligible for survivor benefits even though it's been a decade since she died. Is that actually true? Can he still apply for survivor benefits after all this time? And would it even be worth it if his own benefit is already decent ($2,100/month)? Just trying to help him maximize what he's entitled to receive.
Join the conversation
my sister got survivor benefits 15 years after her husband died so yes its possible. good luck getting anyone at SS to answer the phone tho lol
One final point that might help your brother: When he speaks with SSA, he should specifically ask them to run a computation for BOTH benefits - his own reduced retirement benefit AND what he'd receive as a survivor. The higher amount is what he'll get going forward. If the survivor benefit is higher, they'll essentially switch him to that benefit and discontinue his own retirement benefit.
Thank you all for the helpful information! My brother has an appointment next week to discuss this with SSA. I'm going with him to make sure he asks all the right questions about comparing his current benefit to potential survivor benefits. I appreciate everyone's advice!
Can my disabled daughter get DAC benefits now that husband's on SSDI? Grandson benefit options?
Our family situation is getting complicated with Social Security and I need advice. My husband (55) just got approved for SSDI after becoming bedridden with a serious condition. I'm his full-time caregiver. We also have our daughter (32) who has been on SSI due to a disability that prevents her from living independently. She has an 11-year-old son who's been our dependent since birth (father not involved, not on birth certificate).I have a few questions about possible benefit adjustments:1. Can my daughter switch from SSI to Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefits now that her father is receiving SSDI? Would this be financially better for her?2. Is it possible to add my grandson to my husband's SSDI as a dependent? 3. If my grandson qualifies, would I be eligible for the child-in-care spouse benefit even though he's our grandchild?We're trying to figure out the best arrangement since I've had to reduce my work hours to care for everyone. Any advice from people who've navigated similar situations would be so helpful!
Join the conversation
That's a common misconception. DAC benefits (officially called Childhood Disability Benefits) are for adults who became disabled before age 22 (not 18). The adult child must be unmarried and have a disability that began before age 22. The parent must be either deceased or receiving retirement or disability benefits. Since OP's daughter became disabled before 22 and her father is now on SSDI, she likely qualifies.
Will my Social Security payment increase after WEP repeal for past COLAs since FRA?
Just heard the big news about WEP repeal! I've been getting reduced SS benefits since 2020 when I started collecting at my Full Retirement Age because of my pension from teaching (30 years in public schools in Texas). The Windfall Elimination Provision has been taking about $490 from my monthly check all this time. Now that Congress finally repealed WEP, I'm trying to figure out what my new benefit will be. Will they just add back the amount WEP was reducing me by, or will they also include all the COLAs that would have applied to that missing amount since 2020? In other words, will I get the original non-WEP amount PLUS all the cost-of-living adjustments I would have received on the full amount? Anyone know how SSA is handling this for people already receiving benefits? This could make a significant difference in my monthly income going forward!
Join the conversation
Has anyone actually received their adjusted payment yet? I'm seeing a lot of rumors but few confirmed cases. Also, does anyone know if we need to file anything or provide documentation, or is SSA handling this entirely on their end?
My dad called yesterday (finally got through after trying for a week) and the agent told him they're not accepting any documentation or applications for the WEP adjustment. She said everyone affected will get a letter with their specific timeline and all changes will be automatic. But she couldn't give any dates.
UPDATE: I just checked my my Social Security account online and there's a new notice posted! It says my benefit recalculation is scheduled for next month and explains that I'll receive two separate deposits: one for the ongoing adjusted amount and another for retroactive payments going back to my original application date. They're calculating everything with all applicable COLAs! So excited to finally get the full amount I earned after paying into the system for 22 years alongside my teaching career. For those still waiting, keep checking your online account - seems they're updating information there before sending physical notices.
That's fantastic news! I just checked mine and don't see anything yet, but this gives me hope. What day did the notice appear? I wonder if they're rolling them out gradually throughout the month.
Madison Allen
My neighbor was in construction too, waited til 67 to retire and had a heart attack 3 months later!!! Spent his last year in and out of hospitals. What good did those extra dollars do him? NONE. The system is rigged to make us work ourselves to death.
0 coins
Victoria Scott
I'm very sorry about your neighbor. While anecdotes like this are powerful, it's important to balance them with comprehensive planning. Each person's health situation, financial needs, and family longevity is different. That said, quality of life considerations should absolutely factor into retirement timing decisions. A balanced approach considers both financial security and well-being.
0 coins
Katherine Harris
One thing no one's mentioned yet - have you considered the impact on your spouse if something happened to you? If you claim early and pass away before her, her survivor benefit would be based on your reduced amount (though there are some special rules that might apply). If you think she might rely on your benefit as a survivor someday, waiting for a higher amount might be worth considering. On the other hand, if she'll always use her own higher benefit amount, then this is less of a concern. Just something else to factor into your decision.
0 coins
Sophia Clark
AuthorThat's a really important point I hadn't thought about. Given the health issues in my family history, the survivor benefit could matter. Though as you said, her own benefit is substantially higher than mine would be even at FRA, so she'd probably continue on her own benefit if I passed first. But definitely something to consider in the overall picture.
0 coins