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
u should tell him to go to ssa.gov n make an account if he doesnt have 1 already. thats the fastest way to see what options r available. the website shows u everything ur eligible for
While creating a my Social Security account at ssa.gov is definitely good advice, the website doesn't actually show all benefits you might be eligible for, particularly in complex situations involving ex-spouse benefits with PIAs and delayed retirement credits. For these specialized situations, speaking directly with an SSA representative is still the most reliable approach to explore all options.
One thing nobody's mentioned - since your ex-husband is 70 and has health problems, he might also qualify for SSI (Supplemental Security Income) depending on his total assets and income. It's meant for people with limited resources. The benefit amount isn't huge but every bit helps when someone's struggling financially with health issues.
This suggestion about SSI is technically possible but unlikely to apply in this situation. With a $19,000 annual Social Security benefit, the ex-husband would exceed the income limits for SSI eligibility (which is well below $19,000 annually for an individual). SSI is primarily for those with very limited income and resources, including those with little or no Social Security benefits based on their work record.
Join the conversation
My uncle said nobody actually reports their part-time income and SSA doesn't really check anyway lol
This is extremely bad advice. SSA has direct access to IRS earnings records and automatically checks them against what you reported. They WILL find out and you WILL get an overpayment notice, potentially years later with interest.
So after reading everyone's comments, it sounds like I should: 1) Understand it's actually $1 reduction for every $2 I earn above the limit (not $3 like I thought); 2) For 2025, they'll only count my earnings after I start benefits in July; 3) I need to report my expected earnings when I apply; 4) It's based on gross wages. Am I missing anything else important?
That's correct! And remember the earnings limit for 2025 will be announced late 2024 (it's adjusted for inflation each year). The 2024 limit is $22,320 for those under FRA. Since you're only counting July-December in 2025, you'd use a monthly limit of $1,860 (the annual limit divided by 12).
Thank you! That monthly breakdown is really helpful. I'll probably earn around $1,400/month at my part-time job, so it sounds like I'll be under the monthly limit anyway.
Join the conversation
just wondering, has ur sister checked if shes eligible for any of her late husbands Medicare?? my aunt got Medicare at 62 thru her deceased husbands benefits even tho normal Medicare age is 65. might help with her health issues
This is partially correct but needs clarification. Widow(er)s can qualify for Medicare before 65 ONLY if they also qualify for Social Security disability benefits themselves. It's not automatically available to all widows at 62. However, if the sister's disability claim is approved, she would get Medicare after 24 months of receiving SSDI regardless of her age.
WARNING ABOUT SURVIVORS BENEFITS! If your sister gets a job while collecting early survivors benefits (before her FRA), she'll be subject to the earnings limit ($22,320 in 2025) and could lose some benefits if she earns over that amount. This trips up so many people! Also, make sure she applies for the one-time $255 death benefit if she hasn't already. It's not much but every bit helps in this situation.
Thanks for mentioning the death benefit - we did apply for that right after the funeral. And good point about the earnings limit. She's not planning to work due to her health issues, but it's definitely something to keep in mind if her situation changes.
Join the conversation
My uncle was a state worker and my aunt couldn't get his SS either, something about the windfall provision I think? But she got his pension so it worked out ok. Good luck!
Just to avoid confusion: State workers who don't pay into Social Security don't earn Social Security benefits, so there are no SS benefits to claim from them. That's different from the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), which reduces your own SS benefits if you also receive a pension from non-covered work. The Government Pension Offset (GPO) reduces spousal/survivor benefits if you receive a pension from non-covered work. But in the original poster's case, if she's not receiving a pension from her third husband's state work, these provisions likely don't apply to her.
After reading through all the comments, I think your situation is actually more straightforward than it might seem. Since you were married to your first husband for more than 10 years before divorcing, and you'll be 60 when applying, you should be eligible for survivor benefits on his record now that he's deceased. The fact that you later married other people doesn't affect this eligibility since you're over 60 now. When you contact SSA, ask specifically about 'surviving divorced spouse benefits.' Also, make sure to compare this amount with what you might get on your own record when you reach 62, as you can switch to whichever is higher later.
Thank you so much for this clear explanation. I'll specifically ask about 'surviving divorced spouse benefits' when I contact them. It's a relief to know that my later marriages don't complicate my eligibility since I'm turning 60. I truly appreciate everyone's help!
Zoe Wang
You're right - widow(er) benefits are reduced if claimed before Full Retirement Age. At age 61, the reduction is approximately 28.5% from the full 100% survivor benefit. The exact reduction percentage depends on birth year and exact age when claiming.
0 coins
Aidan Hudson
I want to thank everyone for all this helpful information. I'm going to call SSA tomorrow to schedule an appointment to discuss advance planning. It's a relief to understand what to expect, even though it's hard to think about. I'll make sure to keep all the necessary documentation organized and ready. I appreciate the tip about Claimyr too - sounds like it might save a lot of frustration when the time comes to make these changes.
0 coins