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
Has anyone here actually RECEIVED survivor benefits? All this theoretical knowledge is great but I want to hear from someone who's been through the process. My husband is 12 years older than me and I'm worried about navigating this system when I'm grieving someday.
I have (unfortunately). The process was a nightmare!!! They required his death certificate and our marriage certificate and about a million forms. Then they messed up the calculation TWICE. The first check took almost 3 months to arrive after he passed. Make sure you have at least 6 months of expenses saved because the SSA moves like molasses!!!
One important strategy note: If your wife is still relatively young, you might want to consider whether she should switch her benefit strategy. If she's currently receiving a reduced retirement benefit plus spousal supplement, when you pass away, she would receive the higher of: 1. Her own reduced retirement benefit 2. The reduced survivor benefit (reduced because she's taking it before FRA) Depending on your specific benefit amounts and her life expectancy, it might actually be more advantageous for her to restrict her application to just spousal benefits now (if she was born before January 2, 1954 and is at least at FRA) or consider other strategies to maximize her long-term benefits. This is complex enough that you might want to consult with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security claiming strategies.
I appreciate the suggestion, but unfortunately my wife was born in 1960, so she doesn't qualify for that restricted application option. The SSA representative told us her best option was to take her own reduced benefit with the spousal supplement now, then switch to the survivor benefit if/when I pass away. We didn't even know about the possibility of a restricted application until after she had already filed.
Join the conversation
When my wife died in 2020 I was taking care of my granddaughter and couldn't get to the SSA office during the pandemic. When I finally went to get estimates, they calculated everything and even showed me charts comparing different claiming ages. So yes, they can definitely tell you these numbers! Bring your marriage certificate, his death certificate, and your ID.
this whole system is so complicated! my husband died last month and i have no idea what im going to get. i should probably do what your doing and figure it out early but im still dealing with all the funeral expenses and paperwork. why cant they just make this stuff simple??
I'm very sorry for your recent loss. Please know that you likely qualify for a one-time death benefit payment of $255 from Social Security if you were living with your husband when he passed. Also, if you have minor children, they may be eligible for survivor benefits immediately. You don't have to figure everything out about your future benefits right now, but applying for any current benefits should be done within the first few months as some benefits are time-sensitive.
Join the conversation
Since your ex-husband passed away 2 years ago, be sure to ask about potential retroactive benefits. While retirement benefits can only be retroactive 6 months, survivor benefits can sometimes be paid retroactive to the date of death (if you were already at eligible age) or the date you reached eligible age. Just be aware that any retroactive payment may affect your tax situation for the year you receive it.
Oh! I hadn't thought about retroactive benefits. That would be really helpful if possible. I'll definitely bring that up when I talk to them. Thank you!
Join the conversation
this reminds me i need to figure out my own ss stuff, just turned 62 last month and got that packet in the mail but havent opened it yet lol
You should definitely open that packet! It contains your benefit estimates at different claiming ages. Generally, unless you have health issues or really need the money now, waiting past 62 will give you a larger monthly amount - about 8% more for each year you delay, up to age 70.
Thank you everyone for all the helpful responses! I feel much better knowing that our strategy is sound. I'll make sure to organize all our documentation in case something happens to me before I file at 70. I appreciate all your insights and personal experiences - this community is wonderful.
You're very welcome! It's always good to plan ahead. My sister's husband was so grateful they had discussed their Social Security strategy before she passed - it made a difficult time a little easier when at least the financial part was clearer.
Anastasia Popova
One crucial detail that hasn't been mentioned: the earnings limit only applies to wages or self-employment income. If you have investment income, interest, dividends, capital gains, pension payments, or annuity payments, those don't count toward the earnings test at all. Only the money you actively earn through working counts. Also, if you do exceed the limit and have some benefits withheld in 2025, you'll get those withheld benefits back gradually after you reach FRA through a recalculation of your monthly benefit amount. So it's not permanently lost money, just temporarily withheld.
0 coins
Isabella Silva
•I didn't know about getting the withheld benefits back later! That's great information. My salary is my only significant income, so I don't need to worry about the other types of income. Thanks for adding these important details.
0 coins
CosmicCadet
BTW the exact 2025 numbers haven't been announced yet right? These are just estimates based on 2024?
0 coins
Ravi Choudhury
•Correct. The exact 2025 limits will be announced by SSA later this year (probably October 2024) after they calculate the annual COLA (Cost-of-Living Adjustment). But based on recent years' patterns, the estimates of around $22,320 for the lower limit and $59,520 for the FRA-year limit are likely to be very close to the actual figures.
0 coins