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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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@original poster - Did you get a letter from SSA explaining the adjustment at any point? I never did, and that's what made me so mad! They should at least TELL US when they're making these adjustments!
Chloe Zhang
•No, I never received any explanation letter! That's exactly why I was so confused when I got the 1099. I would have understood if they'd just sent a notice explaining what they were doing and why. Communication would make this whole process so much easier.
Eva St. Cyr
For future reference, you can request a detailed explanation of benefit calculations by visiting your local SSA office in person or by calling to request a BOAN (Benefit Overpayment Action Notice) explanation if you suspect there was an overpayment adjustment. They should be able to provide a month-by-month breakdown of the calculations. As others have said, this is standard procedure when transitioning between benefit types, especially with spousal to survivor transitions. The system has to reconcile the different benefit calculations and payment schedules.
Chloe Zhang
•Thank you for letting me know about requesting a BOAN. I think I'll do that just for my own understanding and peace of mind. I like to have documentation explaining these things, especially when it affects my taxes.
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Based on your follow-up comments, here's what I suggest for your specific situation: 1. Complete your divorce first 2. Request your own Social Security Statement through your my Social Security account online 3. Contact SSA specifically requesting: - Verification of your deceased former husband's PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) - Calculation of your widow benefit at age 60 (71.5% of his PIA) - Calculation of your own retirement benefit at FRA With these three figures, you can work with a financial advisor to determine whether keeping your house is financially viable. The most accurate calculation will include both your reduced widow benefit at 60 and how it compares to your own benefit at your FRA. This information is essential for making informed long-term financial decisions.
Keisha Brown
•Thank you so much! I'll follow this exact plan. I do have my my Social Security account set up already, so I'll start there once the divorce is finalized. Would a financial advisor at my bank be knowledgeable about Social Security, or should I look for a specialist?
Oliver Weber
DON'T go to a bank financial advisor!!! They don't know SS rules AT ALL and just want to sell you products!!! I learned this the hard way when mine told me completely wrong information about survivor benefits and almost cost me THOUSANDS!!! Find someone who specializes in Social Security claiming strategies - there are actual consultants who ONLY do this!
This is good advice. Look specifically for a financial advisor who has the RSSA (Registered Social Security Analyst) or NSSA (National Social Security Advisor) certification. These advisors have specialized training in Social Security claiming strategies and how they integrate with overall retirement planning.
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Ava Harris
WAIT A MINUTE - are you getting YOUR OWN Social Security now? Because if you're not, you should consider filing for JUST Medicare at 65 but WAITING to file for Social Security!!! Every month you wait past FRA adds to your benefit amount! Don't leave that money on the table!!!
No, I haven't filed for SS yet - just Medicare. I'm hoping to hold out until 70 for the increased benefits, unless my financial situation changes. Right now I'm living off savings and a small pension from a previous employer.
Jacob Lee
Since we've confirmed you don't qualify for ex-spouse survivor benefits due to the 7-year marriage duration, let me offer some constructive advice for maximizing your own Social Security: 1. If you can wait until 70 to claim, your benefit will be 132% of your FRA amount 2. Make sure SSA has all your correct earnings history - check your earnings record online through your my Social Security account 3. If you're still working, even part-time, higher earnings now could potentially increase your benefit calculation 4. Consider whether filing a restricted application might benefit you if you were born before January 2, 1954 These strategies can help compensate for not qualifying for ex-spouse benefits. The 10-year marriage rule is indeed strictly enforced for divorced spouse benefits with essentially no exceptions for marriages that ended in divorce.
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Mei Zhang
I had a question about your sister's situation - since she's 63, is she getting reduced benefits by claiming before her FRA? I'm trying to decide whether to take my spousal benefits at 62 or wait until my full retirement age at 67 to get the full 50%. Did your sister consider waiting?
Yes, she is getting somewhat reduced benefits by claiming at 63 instead of waiting until her FRA (which would be 66 and 8 months for her). She calculated that she'd need to live past 78 for waiting to be worth it financially. Plus, her financial situation didn't really give her the option to wait - she needed the income now. It's really an individual decision based on health, finances, and other factors.
NeonNomad
•This is an important calculation everyone should do. Taking benefits at 62 gives you about 32.5% of your ex's PIA instead of 50% at FRA. However, you're collecting for 60 extra months. The breakeven age varies based on benefit amounts and life expectancy. For many people with immediate financial needs, taking reduced benefits makes sense despite the permanent reduction.
Amara Eze
Thank you for sharing this success story! I've been so discouraged lately with my own SSA issues. This gives me hope. Did you need to involve a lawyer at any point in the process? I'm wondering if I should hire one for my case.
We actually consulted with a lawyer who specializes in Social Security cases after the second denial. They gave us some helpful guidance on what specific documentation to emphasize, but we didn't formally hire them to represent us. If we'd gotten to the hearing stage, we probably would have hired them. For complex cases or disability claims, a lawyer can be really valuable, but for straightforward benefits like divorced spouse benefits, persistence and good documentation can often be enough.
Fatima Al-Qasimi
I really appreciate everyone's help! It sounds like since my husband's SSDI is already higher than what he'd get as a spousal benefit (half of my amount), there's no additional money available to him right now. I'm glad I asked because now I understand how the system works. And I learned about survivor benefits too, which is important for our future planning.
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Dmitry Volkov
•Exactly right! And don't feel bad - Social Security has so many complicated rules. I've been married twice and the spousal benefit calculations get even MORE confusing with multiple marriages. Just be thankful you have a straightforward situation! 😊
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Sofia Ramirez
does anyone know if this works the same if ur collecting a government pension? my wife gets teachers pension and i heard theres some offset or something
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Dylan Cooper
•You're thinking of the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). These are completely different rules that can reduce Social Security benefits for people who receive government pensions from jobs where they didn't pay into Social Security. This would be a good topic for your own separate post since it's a complex issue not related to the original question about SSDI and spousal benefits.
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