This thread has been absolutely incredible to follow! I've been dealing with the exact same MySocialSecurity login loop for the past 2 weeks and was starting to feel completely defeated. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both validating and incredibly helpful - it's clear this is a systemic issue with their website, not something we're doing wrong. I've been making pretty much every mistake mentioned here: trying multiple times per day, using my bookmarked login page, not waiting before entering verification codes, and I had absolutely no idea there was a difference between regular authorization codes and "MYSSA portal reset" requests. Based on all the fantastic advice shared here, I'm going to try the comprehensive approach that's emerged: complete 24-hour break from the site (going to be the hardest part for someone as impatient as me!), then attempt login using incognito mode, navigate from the main SSA.gov homepage, disable autofill, and wait 45+ seconds before entering verification codes. If that doesn't work, I'll head to my local office first thing in the morning and specifically ask for a "MYSSA portal reset." What really amazes me about this thread is how you've all collectively created a better troubleshooting guide than anything the SSA provides officially. This is exactly what online communities should be - people helping people navigate bureaucratic nightmares with real, tested solutions. Thank you all for turning my frustration into hope and a concrete action plan!

I've been quietly following this thread for a while now and finally decided to jump in because this has become such an incredible resource! I'm currently on day 4 of my own MySocialSecurity login loop nightmare and was feeling pretty hopeless until I found this discussion. What's really struck me is how this community has essentially reverse-engineered solutions to what is clearly a widespread systemic problem with the SSA website. The fact that so many people are experiencing the exact same issue, yet there's no official acknowledgment or clear guidance from SSA themselves, is honestly pretty frustrating. I'm definitely going to try the comprehensive protocol that's emerged here: the 24-hour cooling off period (which will be torture for my impatient personality!), followed by incognito browsing from the main SSA homepage with autofill disabled, and that crucial 45-second wait before entering verification codes. If that doesn't work, I now know to specifically ask for a "MYSSA portal reset" rather than a generic authorization code at my local office. Thank you all for creating what is genuinely the most helpful government website troubleshooting guide I've ever seen. It's amazing how much more effective community knowledge-sharing can be than official support channels. I'll definitely report back with my results!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually in a very similar situation - turning 66 in August and was planning to apply in May for benefits to start in August. Reading all these responses, especially the real-world experiences from people like CosmicCaptain and Malik Johnson, has given me the confidence to move forward with early application. It's reassuring to know that the benefit calculation is definitely based on the start date, not the application date. I was particularly worried about missing out on any COLA increases, but Emma Davis's explanation about automatic inclusion of cost-of-living adjustments between application and start date cleared that up perfectly. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise!

As someone who recently went through this process at my FRA, I can confirm what others have said - your benefit amount is definitely calculated based on your chosen start date, not your application date. I applied 3 months early and specifically selected my birthday month as the start date. The SSA representative I spoke with explained that the early application window exists precisely so they have time to process everything while still calculating your benefits based on when you actually want them to begin. One thing I'd add is to make sure you have all your documents ready when you apply - W-2s, tax returns, etc. Even though you're applying early, having everything organized will make the process smoother. And don't worry about the COLA - if there's an adjustment between now and July, it will automatically be included in your benefit calculation. You're smart to plan ahead!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Samantha. Losing a spouse is incredibly difficult, and dealing with Social Security benefits on top of grief is overwhelming. Everyone here has given you great information about the 100% vs 50% - they're absolutely right that survivor benefits are 100% of your husband's benefit at his full retirement age, not the 50% spousal benefit for living spouses. Since you're 60 now, I'd strongly recommend making an appointment at your local SSA office soon. Don't try to do this over the phone - the wait times are brutal and you often get disconnected. In person, they can pull up both your records and your husband's records and show you exact dollar amounts for different claiming strategies. One thing I haven't seen mentioned is that you might also want to check if you're eligible for any survivor benefits from your own work record versus your husband's. Sometimes people have multiple options and don't realize it. The SSA representative can run scenarios showing your monthly benefit amounts if you claim now at 60 (reduced), at your full retirement age of 67 (100%), and also what your own retirement benefit would be if you waited until 70. This will help you make the best financial decision for your specific situation. Don't feel pressured to decide immediately, but do get the application process started so you don't lose any retroactive benefits. You've got this!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Samantha. This is one of the most confusing aspects of Social Security, but you've come to the right place for help. Just to reinforce what others have said - you ARE entitled to 100% of your husband's benefit amount, not 50%. The confusion comes from spousal benefits (50% while both spouses are alive) versus survivor benefits (up to 100% after one spouse passes). Since your husband died at 63 before claiming, your survivor benefit will be based on what he would have received at his full retirement age of 67 - his full Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). A few additional points that might help: - You can claim reduced survivor benefits as early as age 60 (you're there now), but they'll be permanently reduced to about 71.5% - If you wait until your FRA of 67, you'll get the full 100% - You mentioned working part-time - make sure your earnings stay under the annual limit ($21,240 for 2025) to avoid benefit reductions For your divorced friend - yes, she qualifies! 10+ year marriage, neither remarried, and the same 100% survivor benefit rules apply to her. My suggestion: make an in-person appointment at your local SSA office ASAP. They can run actual numbers for your specific situation and help you decide the best claiming strategy. Don't lose any more months of potential benefits while you're figuring this out. You've got this, and you're not alone in feeling overwhelmed by this process!

Hi! I'm new to this community and wanted to add my perspective as someone who just went through a very similar situation. I received an unexpected SSA payment about 6 weeks ago and was absolutely terrified it was an error that they'd want back. After reading through all these incredibly detailed and helpful responses, I'm amazed at how common these legitimate adjustments actually are! Mine ended up being related to some W-2 corrections from a previous employer that took SSA several years to process and apply to my record. What really stands out to me from everyone's experiences is that the vast majority of these unexpected payments seem to be genuine corrections rather than mistakes - and often result in both the retroactive payment AND a small ongoing increase to monthly benefits. That's such encouraging news for anyone dealing with this anxiety! The practical advice here has been invaluable - especially about requesting the Manual Explanation of Benefits form (SSA-L8151), documenting everything during calls, and being persistent about getting written confirmation. I ended up using some of the callback services mentioned here when I couldn't get through on the regular SSA line, which saved me hours of frustration. For what it's worth, my situation took about 4 weeks from initial call to receiving the written explanation, and it was such a relief to finally understand what the payment represented. Don't spend it until you get confirmation, but try not to lose sleep over it - based on all these stories, there's a very good chance this will turn out to be legitimate back pay you're actually entitled to!

Hi everyone! I'm brand new to this community and just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire discussion has been to read through. As someone who's still learning about Social Security benefits and how the system works, seeing all these real-world experiences with unexpected payments has been so educational. What really strikes me is how what initially seems like a scary situation (getting unexpected money from the government) actually reveals how SSA works behind the scenes to correct errors and update records. The stories about international work history corrections, military service adjustments, employer W-2 fixes, and earnings record updates really show that these agencies are actively working to make sure people get what they're entitled to. I'm taking notes on all the practical advice here - the Manual Explanation of Benefits form (SSA-L8151), calling during off-peak hours, documenting everything, getting written confirmation, and using callback services when the regular lines are jammed. Even though I'm not dealing with this issue right now, I feel so much more prepared if something similar ever happens to me. The consistent pattern of these payments turning out to be legitimate adjustments (often with ongoing benefit increases!) rather than errors is really reassuring. It's clear that while SSA's phone system can be frustrating, persistence pays off and people do get the answers and documentation they need. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their detailed experiences - this kind of community knowledge-sharing is exactly what makes these complex government systems more manageable for all of us!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to add my voice to this incredibly helpful discussion! My 26-year-old nephew receives DAC benefits, and we just went through this exact same scare when he received a modest inheritance from our grandmother's estate. A caseworker at our local benefits office confidently told us he'd need to report the inheritance and stay under the $2,000 limit or risk losing his benefits. We spent sleepless nights trying to figure out how to "spend down" the money responsibly before I found this thread and realized we'd been given completely wrong information! Reading through everyone's experiences has been such a relief and so educational. It's clear that DAC benefits fall under Title II (SSDI rules) with absolutely NO asset limits - my nephew can keep his inheritance without any impact on his monthly payments. The distinction between SSI and DAC/SSDI seems to be the source of so much confusion, even among people who work directly with these programs. What really strikes me is how many families here have similar stories about getting incorrect advice from SSA employees and other benefit workers. It's honestly scary how confidently wrong information can be delivered by people in official positions. Thank you all for sharing your real-world experiences - this community is providing the accurate guidance that the official channels often fail to deliver! I'm definitely going to look into an ABLE account for my nephew as extra protection for any future state benefits, and I'll be recommending this community to other families dealing with similar confusion.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so grateful to have found this incredibly detailed and helpful discussion! My 25-year-old brother receives DAC benefits, and we recently went through this exact same panic when he received a small inheritance from our aunt's estate. A friend who works with disability services insisted that he needed to immediately report the money and stay under asset limits or he'd lose his benefits. We were frantically researching how to "spend down" about $12,000 before I stumbled across this thread and learned we'd been given completely incorrect advice! Reading through everyone's experiences has been such a huge relief. It's now crystal clear that DAC benefits are Title II (SSDI) programs with NO asset limits whatsoever - my brother can keep his inheritance without any impact on his monthly payments. The confusion between SSI rules (with the $2,000 limit) and DAC/SSDI rules seems to be incredibly widespread, even among professionals who work in disability services. What really stands out to me is how many families here have similar stories about getting wrong information from SSA employees, caseworkers, and other people who should know these distinctions. It's honestly frightening how confidently incorrect advice gets delivered by people in positions of authority. The practical tips throughout this discussion have been invaluable - especially the ABLE account recommendations and the Claimyr service for actually reaching SSA representatives. I'm definitely going to help my brother set up an ABLE account for extra protection with any future state benefits. Thank you all for creating such a supportive community where families can get accurate, real-world guidance on these complex benefit systems. This thread is going to save so many families from unnecessary panic and poor financial decisions based on widespread misinformation!