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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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Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
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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!
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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.
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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!
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theres a place on the application where it asks if u applied before so u have to say yes
Thanks for mentioning this - I was wondering about that. I'll definitely answer honestly about my previous application. I'm just hoping they'll focus more on how my condition has changed rather than just seeing the previous denial.
Has anyone here successfully gotten approved after being initially denied for MS specifically? I'm curious how long it took and what evidence made the difference. My sister's facing a similar situation with her SSDI application for MS.
While I can't speak to MS specifically, I've seen many clients with progressive neurological conditions succeed on subsequent applications. The key differences in successful cases typically include: 1. More detailed functional assessments (not just diagnosis but specific limitations) 2. RFC forms completed by specialists (Residual Functional Capacity) 3. Evidence of failed work attempts or work accommodations that weren't sufficient 4. Documentation of cognitive impacts, not just physical limitations 5. Testimony from caregivers about assistance needed with daily activities The SSA Blue Book listing for MS (11.09) requires evidence of significant and persistent disorganization of motor function, significant fatigue, or cognitive limitations - having documentation that specifically addresses these areas is crucial.
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My friend just went thru this. Her benefit went up when hubby filed but not by as much as she thought. They take your wifes FRA benefit subtract it from half of your FRA benefit. If thats a positive number she gets an addition. If its negative she just keeps hers. Thats my understanding anyways.
That's partially correct. The calculation is more complex when someone has filed early. When your wife took benefits at 62, she accepted a permanent reduction. When calculating potential spousal benefits, SSA will compare her reduced benefit to her potential reduced spousal benefit (which is less than 50% of his PIA because she took benefits early). She'll receive whichever amount is higher, not an addition of the two.
I appreciate all the responses. This is much more complicated than I thought! So basically, since my wife took her benefit early at 62, she'll always have some kind of reduction applied, and the best we can hope for is that she might get some additional amount on top of her current benefit if half of my FRA amount (reduced for her early filing) is more than what she gets now. I think I'll need to talk directly with SSA to get exact numbers. Really wish they made this clearer on their website.
That's exactly right! And don't feel bad - almost NOBODY understands how this works until they're in the middle of it. Even some SSA reps get confused about the details. If you do talk to them, make sure to ask specifically for the spousal benefit calculation with the early retirement reduction factor applied. Good luck!
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I forgot 2 mention that if your sister already submitted her Rrequiest for benefits & wants to change her mind, she only has 12 MONTHS to withdraw the application and it REQUIRES PAYING BACK any benefits she recieved!!! Important to know this before she does anything!!!
Good point about the 12-month withdrawal window. However, in this specific scenario with earnings limit withholding, she might not receive any benefits to pay back if her earnings are high enough to cause 100% withholding. But you're absolutely right that understanding the withdrawal rules is critical before making any filing decision.
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Thanks everyone for the helpful replies! I'm going to gather my DD-214, recent W-2s, and tax returns from the last few years. I'll also prepare a list of my employers for the past 15 years and make sure my bank account info is handy for direct deposit. I'm a bit worried about the phone system issues some of you mentioned. I might try the online application instead, but I have a few complicated questions about my pension that I was hoping to discuss with a representative. I'll definitely get confirmation numbers and names for everyone I speak with. And I'll decide on the tax withholding beforehand - probably going with 10% federal withholding to be safe.
If you have pension questions, specifically ask for a claims specialist rather than a general representative. They have more technical knowledge about how pensions interact with Social Security benefits, especially if you're potentially subject to the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or Government Pension Offset (GPO).
Just thought of something else - if you're planning to continue working, make sure you understand how your earnings might increase your future benefit amount. Even after you start receiving benefits, SSA will automatically recalculate your benefit amount annually if your recent earnings are higher than one of the 35 highest years used in your original calculation. And since you mentioned being a veteran, be sure to check with the VA about any additional benefits you might qualify for. Many veterans don't realize there are pension benefits available through the VA that are separate from Social Security.
I hadn't thought about the recalculation aspect! That's encouraging since I'll be replacing some lower-earning years from the 1980s with my current higher salary. And good point about the VA benefits - I'll look into that separately.
Elin Robinson
Regarding your most recent question: SSA should have all your earnings history in their system. When you apply, make sure to mention you have a government pension (or will have one) AND that you believe you have 30+ years of substantial covered earnings under Social Security. They should calculate everything correctly, but it doesn't hurt to specifically bring it up. Based on everything you've shared: 1. With 32 years of substantial earnings, you might escape WEP reductions entirely 2. Given your break-even calculation and life expectancy estimate of 82, claiming at 67 is reasonable 3. The zeros on your record from recent years won't negatively impact your benefit (they just don't help increase it) I recommend applying soon if you've done your calculations carefully. Each month you wait past FRA increases your benefit by about 0.67%, but if your break-even math shows claiming now makes sense, then follow your analysis.
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Juan Moreno
•Thank you so much for this thorough advice! I think I'm going to go ahead and file next month when I turn 67. I've been so confused about this decision for months, but I feel much more confident now. I'll definitely mention both the government pension and my 32 years of substantial earnings when I apply.
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Esteban Tate
Don't forget about taxes! If your pension + SS puts you in a higher tax bracket, part of your SS benefits might be taxable. Up to 85% of SS can be taxed depending on your combined income. Did you factor that into your break-even analysis?
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Alice Pierce
•this is such a good point!! i totally forgot about taxes in my calculations and got a nasty surprise at tax time last year. now i have to make quarterly estimated payments which is a huge pain
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