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if its at the payment center already they probably caught the mistake themselves. thats what that dept does - checks applications for errors. thats probably why its in review. i wouldnt worry too much
UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at SSA! I took the advice about using Claimyr, and it worked perfectly - got a callback with an agent on the line within 20 minutes. The agent confirmed they had already flagged the Medicare eligibility issue for correction (someone at the payment center caught it). She added notes to my file with the correct information and said my application should be processed within the next 7-10 business days. She also confirmed my benefit amount with the GPO reduction will be $892/month, and I'll receive back payments for the two months since my FRA. Thank you all for your help and suggestions! Such a relief to have this resolved.
btw dont forget about taxes!!!! when my wife took SS and was still working we got hit with a big tax bill that april, almost 30% of her SS was taxed!
Can I just say how frustrating it is that we have to make these complicated financial decisions? The whole system is designed to confuse seniors imho
One additional tip since you mentioned maximizing your benefits - make sure you're taking advantage of all the tax strategies available to you. Up to 85% of your Social Security benefits can be taxable if your combined income is high enough. Since you're working part-time, you might want to look into whether contributing to a traditional IRA (if eligible) could help reduce your overall taxable income. There are specific thresholds where Social Security taxation kicks in, and staying under those can sometimes save you money overall.
That's excellent advice I hadn't considered! My gallery recently started offering a 401(k), so I should probably increase my contributions there to reduce my taxable income. Do you know if there are any special tax considerations when switching from survivor to retirement benefits midyear?
Great question about midyear switches. There's no special tax treatment specifically for switching benefit types midyear. The IRS will treat all Social Security benefits the same for tax purposes regardless of whether they came from survivor or retirement benefits. You'll receive one combined SSA-1099 for the year showing your total benefits. However, planning your switch to minimize your overall taxable income for the year is smart financial planning!
My aunt was in the exaact same situation as you & the thing no one told her was that you HAVE to specifically REQUEST to switch from survivor to your own benefits!!! Social Security doesn't automatically give you the higher amount, you have to apply for it. She missed out on like a year of higher payments bc no one told her.
Miguel Silva
Thank you all so much for these detailed responses. I'm going to keep my phone appointment and come prepared with questions about both benefit types. I'll also write down my earnings record and what I know about my late husband's benefits so I can compare the numbers during the call. Since it sounds like my born-in-1956 status still allows me to choose between survivor OR retirement (just not both at once), I'll need to understand the long-term impacts of each option. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and knowledge!
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QuantumQuester
my aunt tried to get retroactive and they denied her even tho they totally gave wrong info. said she couldnt prove it. good luck
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