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
One more thing - if your husband worked this year already before passing, make sure to bring his final paystubs. Sometimes the earnings for the current year haven't been reported to SSA yet and that could affect your benefit amount. They calculated my mom's benefit wrong initially because they didn't have my dad's last 3 months of work.
yes this happend to me too!!!! they missed almost $6000 of my wifes income and i had to go back a second time to fix it
Regarding your age - just to clarify since there seems to be some confusion in comments. For survivor benefits, you can claim as early as age 60 (50 if disabled), but with maximum reduction. At 61 and 10 months (when you'll be 62), you'll still have a reduction but not as severe as taking them exactly at 61. If you need the money now, don't let people make you feel bad about claiming early. That's exactly why the option exists.
Thank you for this reassurance. Yes, I need to claim now despite the reduction. It's good to know I'm not the only one who's had to make this decision.
Join the conversation
this is why i tell everyone to record phone calls with ss or get everything in writing!!! they mess up all the time and then we're the ones who suffer
Based on your additional information, I think you're dealing with two separate issues that might be getting confused: 1. Social Security spousal benefits: If you filed at 69, you should actually get MORE than 50% of your husband's benefit due to delayed retirement credits, not less. The 6-month retroactive payment limitation is correct, unfortunately. 2. Medicare penalties: This is likely a separate issue. The late enrollment penalty for Medicare Part B adds 10% to your premium for each 12-month period you could have had Part B but didn't. However, if you had creditable employer coverage, you should have qualified for a Special Enrollment Period with NO penalty. I suspect the $410 vs $925 difference isn't just about penalties - it might be that they calculated your benefit incorrectly or applied the wrong formula entirely. At this point, I strongly recommend requesting a detailed benefit calculation explanation from SSA in writing. Ask specifically for a breakdown of how they arrived at $410 instead of $925. Once you have that, the error might become clearer and easier to appeal.
Thank you so much for breaking this down. I think you're right that I'm dealing with multiple issues that got tangled together. I'll request that detailed benefit calculation explanation ASAP. One clarification - my husband was already receiving his benefits when I applied, so I wasn't sure if the delayed credits would apply to spousal benefits in that scenario. The SSA rep said something about my benefit being reduced because I didn't file for Medicare on time, even though I had employer coverage. This whole process has been so confusing. I really appreciate everyone's help and suggestions!
Join the conversation
I don't have advice but I'm in a similar situation. Turned 65 last month and just got laid off after 20 years with the same company. So confusing trying to figure out Medicare + Social Security + job hunting all at the same time. It's overwhelming!!! I'm leaning toward taking SS now because honestly who knows what will happen with the program in the future? Bird in hand and all that...
For someone just turning 65, you face even more complicated timing decisions with Medicare. Remember that even if you delay Social Security, you should still sign up for Medicare at 65 to avoid late enrollment penalties. You can enroll in Medicare without starting your Social Security benefits.
After reading all the comments, here's what I'd suggest based on my own experience and financial background: 1. File for benefits now to preserve your savings 2. Continue looking for work (remember, at FRA there's no earnings limit) 3. If you find work within 12 months, consider the withdrawal option if it makes financial sense 4. If your savings are in growth investments, definitely lean toward taking SS now to avoid selling investments in a down market The peace of mind of regular income shouldn't be underestimated either. Retirement is supposed to be a time of reduced stress, not increased anxiety about finances.
Thank you for this thoughtful summary. I think I'm leaning toward filing now, continuing my job search, and keeping the withdrawal option in my back pocket if I find something soon. That flexibility seems like the best approach given all the uncertainty.
Join the conversation
Has anyone else noticed that sometimes the amounts on the 1099 don't match what you actually got? My dad swears he got $245 more than what his form says. Do they take taxes out before listing the total?
The SSA-1099 shows the total benefits paid before any deductions. What your father might be seeing is the difference between gross benefits and net benefits after deductions like Medicare premiums, tax withholding, or other adjustments. Box 3 shows the total benefits, while Box 4 shows benefits repaid. The difference (Box 5) is what's reported to the IRS as taxable. He should compare his bank deposits to the monthly benefit amounts after deductions, not to the gross amount on the 1099.
Seraphina Delan
There's a special provision for divorced spouses - you can actually receive benefits on your ex's record if you've been divorced for at least two years, even if he hasn't filed yet, as long as he's eligible (62+). This is called the two-year divorce rule or "independently entitled divorced spouse" provision. Since he's 66 and eligible, you should be able to get your benefits regardless of whether he's filed yet. When you contact SSA, specifically mention this provision if they try to tell you that you have to wait for him to file. Not all representatives are familiar with this rule.
0 coins
Nia Watson
•this is why the system is so broken!!! even their own employees dont know all the rules and give wrong info all the time!! my cousin was told 3 different things by 3 different people at SSA about widow benefits!!
0 coins
Niko Ramsey
Thank you all for the helpful information! I'm going to try the Claimyr service tomorrow to actually get through to someone. Then I'll specifically ask about the "independently entitled divorced spouse" provision since we've been divorced for 7 years. I'll also look into emergency assistance through my county as a backup plan. Will update here if I make any progress. Fingers crossed I can get this resolved before the alimony stops!
0 coins
Jabari-Jo
•Good plan. One last tip - when you do speak with SSA, ask them to make a note in your file about your financial hardship due to the alimony ending. While they don't have an official "expedite" process, files with documented hardship sometimes get prioritized. Best of luck and let us know how it goes!
0 coins