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 :)
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To the person who asked if Claimyr works - yes, it definitely did for me. After weeks of frustration trying to get through to SSA about my WEP calculation, I was connected in about 15 minutes. The agent was able to pull up my record and give me exact benefit amounts with WEP reductions for ages 62, FRA, and 70. Made my decision so much clearer having the real numbers. For the original poster, having those exact figures from SSA is really valuable for WEP situations since the reductions can vary based on your specific earnings history.
Thanks for confirming that Claimyr works! I'm going to try it tomorrow. I really need to speak with someone who can explain exactly how much my WEP reduction will be at different ages. Getting the actual numbers will help me make this decision with confidence instead of guessing.
my moms friend waited til 70 to get the maximum and said its the best decision she ever made. but she didn't have WEP so idk if that applies to you
The decision calculation is similar with WEP, just with lower overall benefit amounts. The percentage increases for waiting are the same: - Filing 36 months early reduces benefits by about 20% - Each year you delay past FRA increases benefits by 8% So the relative advantage of waiting vs. claiming early is consistent, regardless of whether WEP applies. The key difference is that when your starting amount is lower due to WEP, you need to consider whether the absolute dollar increase (not just the percentage) is worth waiting for.
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Since you're turning 63 next month, I want to make sure you understand that you're filing for early retirement benefits. Your Full Retirement Age (FRA) is likely 67 depending on your birth year, so filing at 63 means you'll receive approximately 75-80% of your full benefit amount permanently. This reduction applies whether you're collecting on your own record or your ex-spouse's. Just want to make sure you're aware of this since it's a lifetime decision.
Yes, I know about the reduction. I've done the calculations and with my health issues and current financial situation, taking reduced benefits now makes more sense for me than waiting. I appreciate your concern though!
If I were you I'd just go INTO THE OFFICE if possible. Phone is useless, online is confusing, but face-to-face they have to help you! Bring ID and all your paperwork.
That's a good idea. I'll check if my local office takes appointments or if it's walk-in only. Sometimes talking to a real person is the best approach.
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Don't forget that if you're still working while collecting survivor benefits before FRA, you'll be subject to the earnings test! They'll deduct $1 for every $2 you earn above $22,320 (for 2025). I learned this the HARD WAY and had to pay back thousands!!! Make sure you understand ALL the rules before making any decisions!
Oh wow, I hadn't even thought about that. I'm still working full-time and make about $48,000 a year. Sounds like I need to factor that in when deciding when to apply. Thank you for the warning!
Just wanted to add - when you do apply for survivor benefits, bring every document you can think of: marriage certificate, his death certificate, his social security number, birth certificates, etc. I made the mistake of not bringing everything and had to make another appointment. Also request an appointment rather than just showing up at your local office.
That's great practical advice. I have most of those documents already gathered for other paperwork after his passing. I'll double-check I have everything before making an appointment.
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Has anyone here successfully appealed an SSA calculation? We're considering it because we still think there's an error in how they calculated our benefits with GPO and early filing reductions. The amounts just don't add up no matter how we do the math.
I requested a reconsideration of my benefit calculation last year. It took about 4 months to process, but they did find an error and adjusted my payment. The key was having all my documentation organized and being very specific about what I thought was wrong with the calculation. In my case, they had used the wrong pension amount for my GPO reduction. Definitely worth trying if you think there's a mistake.
One other factor to consider: if your wife's FRA is 67 (born in 1960 or later), filing at 62 means a 30% reduction to benefits. But the spousal benefit reduction is actually calculated differently and can be higher - up to 35% if claimed at 62. So the full calculation is: 1. Take 50% of your PIA 2. Subtract 2/3 of her non-covered pension (GPO) 3. Apply the appropriate early filing reduction percentage based on her age when she filed 4. Factor in any COLA adjustments between her filing date and when spousal benefits began It's one of the most complex calculations in the Social Security system, and unfortunately, not all SSA representatives fully understand it. If you get your questions answered by someone knowledgeable, please share what you learn - it would help others in similar situations!
I will definitely update once we get this resolved! You're right that her FRA is 67 (born in 1962), so the reduction is substantial. Between GPO and early filing, it's taking a huge chunk of the potential spousal benefit. I appreciate everyone's insights - this community has already been more helpful than hours on the phone with SSA.
Jade O'Malley
One important thing to note: You should receive Form SSA-L9790 every December. This is your annual GPO/WEP notice that shows how your benefits will be calculated for the coming year. It will include your reported pension amount, the 2/3 offset calculation, and the resulting SS benefit amount. This form is your opportunity to verify SSA has the correct pension amount. If there's an error, contact SSA immediately. Filing it away without checking can lead to those overpayment situations others mentioned. You can also check your current calculation anytime in your my Social Security account.
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Caleb Stark
•Thank you for this information! I didn't know about this form - that will be really helpful for tracking how they're calculating everything. I'll make sure to create a my Social Security account too so I can monitor everything online.
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Andrew Pinnock
One more thing - don't assume SSA gets automatic pension updates from your pension system. Some pension systems report regularly to SSA, but many DON'T! In my case, my state teacher retirement system doesn't report to SSA at all. I have to report any pension changes myself by calling SSA or visiting the office. If you don't report increases and SSA finds out later (which they eventually will), you'll face an overpayment situation. They can take your entire SS benefit until it's repaid!
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Caleb Stark
•Thanks for this warning! I'll make sure to report any pension changes myself. My state teachers' retirement system might be the same way. Better safe than sorry with these things.
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