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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!
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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!
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my cousin in florida just used some website to figure it all out... i think its called maximize my social security or something
You're probably referring to Maximize My Social Security. It's one of several good software tools (along with Social Security Solutions and others). These can be helpful, but often work best when combined with professional guidance, especially for complex situations like the OP described with pension offsets.
I forgot to mention - make sure whoever you work with understands the implications of the teaching pension. Georgia is one of those states where some teachers didn't pay into Social Security, which triggers the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and possibly the Government Pension Offset (GPO). These can significantly reduce your benefits, and many advisors don't have experience with these provisions.
This is really important - thank you! I did pay into Social Security for my teaching years (I was in a different state back then), but I definitely want someone who understands all these special provisions.
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Wait I'm confused... You said your son gets benefits but then said daughter... which one is it?
Sorry for the confusion. I have a daughter who receives the survivor benefits. I was typing quickly and mixed up the details. Thanks for catching that.
One other thing to keep in mind - if you start receiving survivor benefits now and then find a new job, you'll need to be careful about the earnings test if you're working before your FRA. But since you mentioned you're 67 already, the earnings test no longer applies to you! You can earn any amount without reduction of benefits. That's another reason why taking survivor benefits now while continuing your job search could be advantageous.
That's a huge relief! I was worried about the earnings test because I've heard about benefit reductions if you work. I didn't realize that once you hit FRA, that no longer applies. So if I find a new job after starting survivor benefits, I can keep everything? That's really good to know.
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hey does anyone know how long her grandkids can keep gettin there benifits? my neice is turning 18 soon and i'm worried about her payments stopping
Generally, children can receive survivor benefits until they turn 18, or 19 if they're still attending high school full-time. If a child is disabled before age 22, they may qualify for benefits indefinitely. Your niece should receive a notice a few months before benefits are scheduled to end, and if she's still in high school, she should complete the form they send to extend benefits until graduation or age 19, whichever comes first.
Thank you all so much for the helpful responses! I just talked to my niece and she's so relieved to know that her applying won't hurt the kids' benefits. She's going to look into that Child-in-Care benefit that was mentioned and will try using that Claimyr service to get through to SSA since she's been trying to call for weeks. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to share your knowledge and experiences!
Glad we could help! Just as a final point - make sure she asks about potentially claiming on her ex-spouse or deceased spouse's record too if she was married for at least 10 years. Sometimes that provides a higher benefit than her own record, especially if she had those 10 years out of the workforce.
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Another important point - since your husband's benefit is only about 40% of yours, you should definitely consider how his filing decision impacts potential spousal benefits. While he's alive, he wouldn't qualify for spousal benefits on your record until you file for your own benefits. After you file at 70, he could potentially receive a spousal supplement if 50% of your PIA exceeds his own benefit (including reductions for early filing). This gets complicated, but it's worth understanding the full picture. The timing of both your claims can have significant impacts on your combined lifetime benefits.
i get so confused with all this PIA and FRA and spousal stuff. wish they made it simpler!!
Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! We definitely have more to consider than I initially thought. I'm going to talk with my husband about possibly waiting until his FRA after learning about the survivor benefit implications and the hassle of dealing with the earnings test. Seems like the small amount he'd get now (after reductions) might not be worth the permanent cut to his benefit. Really appreciate all your insights!
Sounds like a wise approach. If you have any specific questions as you continue planning, don't hesitate to ask. The rules can be complex, but taking time to understand them now can make a significant difference in your combined lifetime benefits.
StarStrider
OK I'm a little confused here. Isn't SSI different from retirement benefits? I thought the earnings limits only applied to disability? Also doesn't SS check with IRS anyways so they know what you make?
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Chloe Taylor
•You're mixing up several different programs. SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is needs-based and has very strict income and resource limits. Retirement benefits and SSDI (disability) both have the earnings test that applies before FRA, but the rules are different for each. And yes, SSA does eventually get information from the IRS, but that's after tax returns are filed and processed - which could be more than a year later. That's why they ask for estimates and why they sometimes have to send overpayment notices later if your actual earnings were higher than estimated.
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GalacticGladiator
Thank you all for the helpful information. I think I understand better now. I'll probably apply in April but request benefits to start in January (a few months after I turned 62). And I'll make sure to be totally clear about my earnings for 2025 so I don't get surprised with an overpayment notice. I'm going to call SSA next week to confirm all this. If I can't get through, I might try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. I really want to make sure I'm doing this correctly.
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