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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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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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Trying to contact SSA to ask questions like this is IMPOSSIBLE these days!! I tried calling for THREE WEEKS straight and couldn't get through. Then I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a real SSA agent in under 10 minutes. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU The agent I spoke with confirmed everything the first commenter said - you can't do restricted applications anymore if you were born after 1954. Saved me from making a big mistake with my filing strategy.
This is good advice. Getting accurate information directly from SSA is critical for making these decisions. While the rules I outlined are correct, everyone's situation has unique aspects that might affect their optimal filing strategy.
I tried calling the SS office for MONTHS! Keep getting busy signals or disconnected. Might check out that service, getting frustrated trying to figure this out on my own.
Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! It sounds like my best option is to simply wait until 70 to maximize my own benefit, since the restricted application strategy isn't available to me. I'll encourage my spouse to stick with their plan to file at their FRA. We're fortunate to have savings to bridge the gap until then. I really appreciate all the insights and personal experiences shared here. Social Security filing strategies are so much more complicated than I initially thought!
Sounds like you've made a good decision based on your circumstances. One final tip: about 3-4 months before you plan to file at 70, create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov if you haven't already. This will let you verify your earnings record is correct and get familiar with the online application process. Good luck with your retirement planning!
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One more thing I forgot to mention - if your school district offers a 403(b) instead of a traditional pension, that's different. WEP only applies to traditional defined benefit pensions from non-covered employment, not defined contribution plans like 403(b) or 457 plans. You need to find out exactly what type of retirement plan you have through the school district.
You've all given me so much to look into! I'm going to: 1) Call my school district tomorrow to check if I'm vested and what type of plan I have (pension vs 403b), 2) Try to reach SSA to get specific calculations based on my earning record, and 3) Consider using Claimyr if I keep getting disconnected when calling SSA. Thank you everyone for the helpful information - I feel like I have a much better understanding of what questions to ask now.
One last tip: Request a benefit estimate directly from your pension system that shows what your monthly pension amount would be. If you are vested, this is the amount that would affect your calculations. Then, when you speak with SSA, you'll have all the information they need to give you an accurate WEP/GPO calculation. Also, remember that if your combined Social Security covered employment eventually reaches 30 years with "substantial earnings" (over $30,000 per year in 2025), you'd be fully exempt from WEP regardless of your non-covered pension.
That's really helpful! I'm 62 now, so I don't think I'll get to 30 years of substantial earnings before claiming at 70, but I'll definitely get that pension estimate if I find out I'm vested. Thank you!
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did u try filing for reconsideration after u got denied?? that mightve changed ur application date i think
We did actually file a reconsideration after the initial denial, but it was also denied because the GPO rules were very clear at that time. I'm not sure if that reconsideration date would become the new application date or if they'd still use the original application. Either way, we have documentation of both.
To follow up on my earlier comment, I want to clarify something important: The application date issue depends partly on whether your wife was technically denied spousal benefits or if she never formally applied because it was clear she wouldn't qualify due to GPO. If she formally applied and was denied (with documentation), then that application date should stand. If she never formally applied for spousal benefits because SSA representatives advised it wouldn't be worthwhile due to GPO, then you might need to establish a protective filing date. In this case, bring any documentation showing she inquired about spousal benefits, even if she didn't complete a formal application. For maximum back benefits, document every interaction you've had regarding spousal benefits over the years.
That's an important distinction! She did formally apply for spousal benefits after starting her own benefits, and we have the official denial letter. The SSA representative initially told her not to bother, but we insisted on applying anyway just to have it on record. Sounds like that was the right move, even though it seemed pointless at the time.
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my husban had similar prob. the ssa website is down ALOT for "maintenance" could just be that??? maybe try logging in at weird hours like super early morning??
The website being down isn't the issue here - they can't log in at all because they're waiting for account verification instructions that were supposed to come in the mail.
UPDATE: I want to thank everyone for their help! I used the Claimyr service that someone recommended and got through to an agent in about 10 minutes. Turns out they had my mailing address slightly wrong (wrong apartment number), so the verification letter was probably returned to sender. The agent was able to verify my identity over the phone and restore my account access immediately. I also downloaded and submitted the Medicare enrollment form as a backup. Such a relief to have this handled before my birthday next month!
So glad it worked out for you! Nothing worse than stressing about important benefits and not being able to reach anyone for help.
Thanks for updating us! This is a common issue - mail getting returned because of small address errors. For anyone else reading this thread in the future: always confirm your full mailing address (including apartment numbers) when updating any information with SSA.
Dmitry Popov
My cousin works for SSA and she told me that only income that had FICA taxes taken out counts for SS benefits calculation. So jobs where you got a W2 and paid into the system. She said distributions from retirement accounts DEFINITELY don't count toward your SS benefit calculation no matter how they're taxed.
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Liam Fitzgerald
Thank you everyone for the helpful information! It's clear that my IRA distributions won't help with Social Security calculations, so I'll focus on continuing my part-time work to replace those zero years. I'll also look into the divorced spouse benefits since we were married for 22 years. I appreciate all the advice!
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