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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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Definitely try to get that 20th year if you can! And remember that WEP only applies to the retirement benefit based on your own record. If you're eligible for spousal benefits or survivor benefits based on someone else's record, those aren't affected by WEP (though they might be affected by GPO - Government Pension Offset - which is different).
i thought SS retirement estimates already factor in WEP???? mine does i think, it says something about 'modified formula used' on my statement
@casual_commenter - No, the Social Security Statement estimates do NOT automatically factor in WEP. The statement explicitly says this in the fine print. The only way to get an accurate WEP calculation is to contact SSA directly. Online estimates don't have access to information about non-covered pensions, which is necessary to calculate WEP.
I just checked my statement again and you're right - there's a note that says the estimate doesn't account for WEP or GPO. I completely missed that before. I'll definitely work to get that 20th year of substantial earnings and then try to get an accurate calculation. Thank you all for the helpful information!
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Another important difference: If your father ever wants to try working again (even part-time), SSDI and SSI have COMPLETELY different rules about earnings. SSDI has a Trial Work Period where he could test his ability to work for 9 months while keeping full benefits. SSI reduces benefits gradually based on earnings. It's really important to know which one he has before he earns any income.
That's good to know. His doctors think some part-time work might actually help with his recovery, so I'll look more into the SSDI trial work period rules.
The WHOLE SYSTEM is designed to be confusing!!! They make it complicated on purpose so people don't get all the benefits they deserve! I've been fighting with them for YEARS about my benefits. Every time I call I get different answers!!!!!
While the system can certainly be confusing, the differences between SSI and SSDI actually serve different purposes. SSDI is insurance-based (you pay in through FICA taxes while working) and SSI is needs-based (for those with limited income and resources). But I agree the terminology and paperwork could be much clearer.
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In my experience, yes, it worked great. I was skeptical too but was desperate after trying for days to reach someone. Got connected in about 15 minutes when I'd been unable to get through at all on my own.
Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! I've decided to go ahead with my phone interview as scheduled rather than postponing it. I'll make sure to mention the WEP situation during the call so it's documented, but won't expect them to process that adjustment manually. I'm a bit nervous about the overall confusion at SSA with all the WEP adjustments happening, but it sounds like delaying would just put me further back in line for the divorced spousal benefit without actually helping the WEP situation. I'll update after my February appointment if anything interesting comes up!
That's definitely the right approach. One final tip: During your phone interview, request an email confirmation of what was discussed and what next steps are expected. This creates a paper trail that can be valuable if there are any issues later. Good luck!
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My neighbor said her daughter had to call the SS office like 20 times before they even looked at her application last month. Something about them being super understaffed right now???
Kara Yoshida
I started receiving my deceased husband's benefits right after he died but i was already 68 so no issues with working. The whole process took about 45 days from application to first deposit. Make sure u have certified copies of everything they ask for.
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Cynthia Love
One more important point - you mentioned your HR department is pressuring you about retirement plans. Just to be clear, collecting Social Security survivor benefits doesn't require you to retire from your job. You can work indefinitely while collecting survivor benefits once you reach your FRA of 66 and 8 months. Also, when you apply, make sure SSA compares your own benefit amount to your wife's. They should pay you the higher of the two. And if you delay your own retirement benefit until 70 while collecting survivors now, be aware that you'll need to proactively apply for your retirement benefit when you reach 70 - the switch isn't automatic.
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Naila Gordon
•This is really helpful, thank you. I'm going to make an appointment with HR to clarify that I plan to continue working even after I start collecting survivor benefits. And I'll definitely mark my calendar to apply for my own benefits at 70 if that ends up being the better option.
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