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
my neighbor told me u can get divorcee benefits even if u remarried??? Is that true??
Nope, that's not accurate. If you remarry, you generally can't collect benefits on your ex-spouse's record unless your later marriage ends (by death, divorce, or annulment). The only exception is if you're collecting survivor's benefits (after an ex has died) and you remarry after age 60.
To directly answer your question about when the calculation/adjustment comes into effect: it happens at the exact time you apply for benefits. There's no automatic recalculation or adjustment later. If you apply at 63: - SSA will calculate your own reduced retirement benefit - SSA will calculate your reduced ex-spouse benefit (which would be about 37.5% of his PIA instead of the full 50% you'd get at FRA) - You'll receive whichever amount is higher If your own benefit grows over time (due to additional earnings), SSA won't automatically recalculate to see if you should switch between your benefit and the ex-spouse benefit. That's why it's so important to understand the numbers before you file. One last tip: make sure you specifically mention you want to file for ex-spouse benefits when you apply. Sometimes this gets overlooked if you don't explicitly bring it up.
Thank you! That's super clear. I'll definitely make sure to explicitly mention the ex-spouse benefits when I apply. Would bringing my divorce decree to the appointment be helpful, or does SSA already have that information in their system?
Bringing your divorce decree is always a good idea, along with your marriage certificate if you have it. While SSA might have access to some of this information, having the documents with you can prevent delays. Also bring your ex's Social Security number if you have it (though they can usually find him in their system without it). I'd also recommend bringing recent tax returns, birth certificate, and a government-issued photo ID to your appointment. Better to have too much documentation than not enough!
Join the conversation
My condolences for your loss. When my wife passed I was so confused about all this stuff too!! I ended up taking the survivors benefit early even though I was still working. SSA withheld almost everything because of the earnings test, but what nobody told me was that I'd get some small payments during months when I earned less (like when I took some unpaid time off). So even though I didn't get much until FRA, it wasn't zero either. Just something to consider.
That's helpful to know. I typically take a few weeks of unpaid leave each year to visit my kids, so I might at least get some payments during those months.
Based on your situation, here's what I would recommend: 1. Apply for survivor benefits now even though they'll be reduced and mostly withheld 2. Continue working until your FRA (this won't affect your future options) 3. At FRA, evaluate whether to keep the survivor benefit or switch to your own retirement benefit 4. If your own benefit would be higher with delayed credits, consider switching to your own benefit at age 70 This strategy preserves maximum flexibility. And remember - after FRA, there's no earnings test, so you can work and collect full benefits. One thing to note: you mentioned being 2.5 years from FRA, which means your FRA is likely 67. The survivor FRA might be slightly different (66 or 66.5), so double-check that specific detail when you apply.
Thank you so much for this clear strategy. I'll definitely apply for the survivor benefits now to keep my options open, even if most is withheld. You're right about checking my exact FRA - I need to confirm that. I really appreciate everyone's help as I navigate all this during such a difficult time.
Join the conversation
Thank you all for the helpful responses! I just checked my most recent SSA statement and it does mention I'm subject to GPO, so hopefully that means I'm in their system correctly. I'm going to try calling them next week to confirm. Does anyone know if there are specific documents I should have ready when I call? I have my husband's death certificate and his pension information, but not sure what else they might need.
Having your husband's death certificate and pension info is good. Also have your own Social Security card, ID, and if possible, any award letters you received when you first started getting survivor benefits. Those usually mention GPO if it was applied. And definitely be prepared for a long wait when calling - unless you use a service to get through faster.
I talked to my neighbor who used to work for Social Security and she said these changes are gonna be a administrative nightmare for SSA to implement. She thinks there will be delays and errors for the first couple years. So definitely keep an eye on your payments starting in 2025 and don't assume they'll get it right automatically!
That's concerning! I'll definitely watch my deposits carefully. Our local SS office closed during COVID and never reopened, so everything has to be done by phone or online now.
Join the conversation
If you need to handle a name change AND apply for benefits, here's what worked for me recently: 1. First, I made an in-person appointment specifically for the name change document verification (called my local office directly) 2. During that appointment, had them scan all my marriage certificate and ID documents 3. Then scheduled the phone appointment for the actual benefit application 4. When they called for the benefit application, everything went smoothly since my documents were already in the system The key is separating the identity verification from the benefit application. Hope this helps!
This is EXACTLY what I needed to know! Thank you so much for laying it out step by step. I'll call tomorrow to set up the document verification appointment first. Did you have any issues with them calculating your benefit amount correctly during the phone appointment?
No problems with the calculation. The agent was able to see all my earnings history and gave me three different estimates based on starting benefits at 62, my FRA (which was 66 and 8 months), or waiting until 70. Just make sure to ask them to explain how they calculated your PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) so you understand where the numbers come from.
dont waste ur time w/ phone appointments!!! JUST APPLY ONLINE!!! its soooo much easier, i did mine last month took 25 mins tops. but make sure u have ur bank info ready they need direct deposit now
While online applications work for many people, they don't support all scenarios. Name changes, spouse applications, or WEP/GPO situations like the original poster mentioned typically require speaking with an agent. But yes, for straightforward retirement claims, the online option is definitely the fastest route.
Natasha Petrova
Everyone acts like waiting until 70 is always better, but that's NONSENSE! If you need the money at 62, take it! Life is short and UNPREDICTABLE. My brother waited to file and then died at 68 - got NOTHING after paying in his whole life! Plus the government keeps moving the goalposts - who knows if they'll change the rules again before you hit FRA? Take what you can get when you can get it!
0 coins
Emma Davis
•I understand your frustration, but I should clarify something important: If your brother was married, his spouse would be eligible for survivor benefits based on his work record. Also, if he had dependent children under 18 or disabled adult children, they would receive benefits. So his contributions weren't completely lost. You're right that personal circumstances matter enormously in this decision. Health status, family longevity, current financial needs, and marital status should all factor into the claiming decision. It's definitely not one-size-fits-all.
0 coins
Paolo Marino
Thank you all for the advice! This has given me a lot to think about. I'm definitely going to create that my Social Security account to see my actual numbers. Since I'm making good money right now and don't absolutely need to retire at 62, it sounds like waiting might be the better option for me. I think I need to do more research about how my taxes will work in retirement too. And I'll check out that Claimyr service to talk directly with SSA - I've tried calling before and it's impossible to get through! Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences!
0 coins
Amina Bah
•You're welcome! One final thought - consider getting a retirement checkup with a financial advisor who understands Social Security claiming strategies. Many offer free initial consultations, and they can help you understand how your Social Security benefits will interact with your other retirement assets, potential tax implications, and how to create a withdrawal strategy that maximizes your overall retirement income. Best of luck with your planning!
0 coins