Yup, Christmas Eve deposit. Happens with any federal holiday. SSA is actually pretty good about this - they never make you wait longer than scheduled.

Just to add some additional context for anyone who might be wondering - this early payment policy has been in place for decades and is actually written into federal regulations. The SSA payment schedule is published annually and clearly shows all the adjusted dates for holidays. You can find the official 2024 payment calendar on the SSA website under "When to expect your Social Security payment" which lists December 24th for payments that would normally be issued on December 25th. It's really convenient that they handle this automatically so we don't have to worry about it!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for such an incredibly informative discussion! I'm 60 and my husband is 63, so we're still in the planning stages, but this thread has answered so many questions I didn't even know I had. The most eye-opening revelation for me was learning that survivor benefits are completely separate from your own retirement benefits. I had always assumed that any decision about early claiming would lock you into those consequences forever - knowing that you can claim your own benefits early but still have full flexibility with survivor benefits later is a huge relief and completely changes how I'm thinking about our strategy. I'm also taking notes on all the practical advice shared here - especially about setting up online SSA accounts now, organizing important documents in advance, and keeping detailed records of any interactions with SSA. The real-world experiences from people who have actually navigated the survivor benefit process are invaluable and give me so much more confidence about what to expect. One thing I'm curious about - for those who have successfully used the Claimyr service that was mentioned, did you find it was worth the cost? I'm thinking it might be smart to use it to get definitive answers about our specific situation before we need to make any decisions. Has anyone compared the information you get through that service versus what you can find through the standard SSA channels? This community is amazing - thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences so generously!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful for this detailed discussion! I'm 62 and my husband is 65, so we're right in the middle of trying to figure out our Social Security strategy. This thread has been more helpful than hours of trying to navigate the SSA website. The biggest takeaway for me is understanding that survivor benefits operate independently from retirement benefits - I had no idea you could claim your own benefits early but still preserve the option for full survivor benefits later. That flexibility completely changes the risk/reward calculation for claiming early. I'm also impressed by how this community combines both the technical knowledge (like understanding FRA rules and benefit calculations) with practical, real-world advice (document preparation, phone strategies, services like Claimyr). The personal experiences shared by people who have actually gone through the survivor benefit process are invaluable - you just can't get that kind of insight from government websites. I'm definitely going to follow the advice about getting organized now while we're both healthy - setting up online SSA accounts, gathering all our important documents, and making sure our contact information is current. It seems like being proactive rather than reactive during what would already be a stressful time makes all the difference. One question for the group - has anyone found any other reliable resources (books, websites, financial advisors) that complement what you can learn directly from SSA? I want to make sure I'm getting the full picture before we make any major decisions. This community has already been such a goldmine of information!

I'm so sorry for your loss. Losing a parent at 14 is incredibly difficult, and it's wonderful that you and your husband are providing a loving home for your niece. I wanted to add something that hasn't been mentioned yet - if your niece is considering college in the future, she should be aware that survivor benefits can actually help with financial aid applications. Students who receive Social Security survivor benefits often qualify for additional need-based aid, and some colleges have specific programs for students who've lost parents. Also, I'd recommend keeping a simple monthly log of how the benefits are spent (even just basic categories like housing, food, clothing, school supplies, etc.). This makes the annual representative payee report much easier to complete and shows you're using the funds appropriately for her care. One more thing - if your niece gets a part-time job when she's older, her earnings won't affect her survivor benefits as long as she's under 18. This is different from some other Social Security programs. The fact that you're asking these questions and planning ahead shows how much you care about her future. She's fortunate to have you both during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your family's loss. What you're doing for your niece is truly admirable during such a difficult time. I wanted to share something that helped us tremendously when we went through a similar situation with my nephew. Before heading to the SSA office, I'd recommend calling your local office directly (not the main 1-800 number) to ask what their current wait times are like and if they have any preferred appointment slots. Some offices are much less busy on certain days of the week. Also, bring a small folder with dividers to keep all your documents organized - it makes the process smoother and shows you're prepared. The agents really appreciate when families come in well-organized. One thing I wish someone had told us earlier: if your niece has any medical or therapy needs related to grief counseling, those expenses can be covered by the survivor benefits. Mental health support is crucial during this transition, and it's completely appropriate to use the funds for professional counseling if needed. The benefits will make a real difference for her future, and you're handling this exactly the right way by getting the process started quickly. Your niece is so fortunate to have you both stepping up for her.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Sean. Losing a parent is never easy, and I can only imagine how overwhelming it must feel to navigate these benefits while you're grieving. I wanted to share my experience from when my mother passed away two years ago - we went through this exact same process with my father. Everyone here has given you excellent advice about the $255 death benefit and the much more significant ongoing survivor benefits. One small thing I'd add that helped us: when your mom calls SSA, suggest she have a pen and paper ready to take notes during the call. The representatives often give you confirmation numbers, next steps, and timelines that are easy to forget when you're processing so much information at once. Also, don't be surprised if the process takes longer than expected - there can be delays in processing paperwork, especially if any documents need to be mailed in. We found it helpful to follow up about 3-4 weeks after the initial application just to make sure everything was moving along smoothly. Your mom is fortunate to have such a caring and proactive son helping her through this difficult time. The fact that you're here researching and asking questions shows what a wonderful support system she has. Take care of yourself too - supporting a grieving parent while dealing with your own grief is emotionally exhausting. This community has your back if you need any more guidance along the way.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Sean. Having just gone through this process myself when my grandmother passed away six months ago, I wanted to share one additional resource that might help your mom. Some local senior centers and Area Agencies on Aging have volunteer programs where trained volunteers can actually accompany seniors to SSA offices or help them navigate phone calls with government agencies. My grandmother was really anxious about making the call alone, and having someone from our local senior center sit with her during the phone application made all the difference. They knew exactly what questions to ask and helped her stay organized during the conversation. If your mom would feel more comfortable with that kind of support, it might be worth calling your local Area Agency on Aging to see if they offer this service. Also, just echoing what everyone else has said - the ongoing survivor benefits are going to be much more meaningful financially than the $255 death benefit, so definitely make sure she explores those options thoroughly. You're being such a wonderful advocate for your mom during this incredibly difficult time.

I'm currently in a very similar situation - reached my FRA in January but haven't seen any benefit adjustment yet. After reading through everyone's experiences here, I realize I need to be proactive about requesting the ARF recalculation rather than waiting for SSA to do it automatically. I had about 14 months of reduced benefits over 3 years due to part-time work earnings, so I'm hoping for a meaningful increase. Based on all the advice shared here, I'm going to: 1. Gather all my documentation showing which months had reduced/withheld benefits 2. Call SSA and specifically ask for "Adjustment of Reduction Factor" recalculation 3. Request written confirmation with a case number 4. Be prepared to ask for a technical specialist if needed It's really helpful to see the actual dollar amounts people have received - the $165-$195 monthly increases mentioned here would make a significant difference for me. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines. This thread has been more informative than anything I could find on the official SSA website! For those still waiting like me, it sounds like persistence and using the right terminology are key. I'll report back once I get through the process.

I'm seeing a lot of great advice here about the ARF recalculation process! As someone who went through this about 6 months ago, I want to add one more tip that really helped me - before calling SSA, I logged into my Social Security account online and printed out my complete benefit payment history. This showed exactly which months had $0 payments or reduced amounts due to the earnings test. Having this official SSA documentation made the conversation much smoother because I could reference specific months and amounts directly from their own records. The representative could see the same information on their screen, which eliminated any confusion about my situation. My recalculation took about 10 weeks total and resulted in a $142 monthly increase with about $800 in retroactive payments back to my FRA date. I had 12 months of completely withheld benefits over 3 years. One last thing - if you're having trouble getting through on the phone, try calling right when they open at 8 AM local time. I had much better luck getting connected quickly in the morning versus afternoon calls. Good luck to everyone working through this process!