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Important point that hasn't been mentioned yet: When your husband goes to SSA about this issue, he should specifically request a "GPO recalculation based on pension amount change." This uses specific language their systems recognize. Also, the timing matters here. If your husband was denied in October 2023, and the pension decreased in January 2024, you're dealing with a subsequent change in circumstance rather than an incorrect initial determination. This is why the reopening request based on new and material evidence is the correct approach. One more thing - make sure he brings proof that the pension decrease is permanent and not temporary, as that affects how they process the adjustment.
Owen Devar
i just remembered something that might help u guys. my friends wife had something like this happen and she said that even though they were past the appeal deadline they were able to get backpay by filing whats called a "good cause" statement explaining why they didnt report the change sooner. might be worth asking about that too when u go in.
That's really helpful, thank you! We'll definitely ask about a "good cause" statement when we go in. We honestly didn't realize we needed to report the pension change right away since the original application was denied completely.
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To answer your question from earlier - typically, SSA will continue recovery efforts while a reconsideration is pending, meaning benefits could remain suspended. However, you can specifically request that recovery be paused during the appeal process. This isn't automatically granted, but it's worth requesting. Also, something important to note: if your husband has stopped working completely now, make sure SSA knows this. Once he has a month where he's below the earnings limit AND no longer working (or working very limited hours), benefits should resume for that month forward, regardless of the overpayment from previous months. The critical forms you need are: - SSA-561 (Request for Reconsideration) - SSA-632 (Request for Waiver of Overpayment Recovery) - SSA-634 (Request for Change in Overpayment Recovery Rate) Submit all three to cover all your bases. The SSA-634 specifically addresses the 10% withholding you were initially offered.
Thank you for this detailed follow-up! My husband has completely stopped working now, so we'll definitely make sure SSA knows this. We'll submit all three forms tomorrow. I really appreciate your help!
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Natalie Chen
Here's the exact policy from the Social Security Administration: - If you retire at your FRA, benefits begin the month you reach FRA - Benefits are paid the month following the month they are due - For those born on the 1st or 2nd, they're considered to have attained their age the month before - There's no proration - you either qualify for the full month or you don't Another important point: if you file your application less than 4 months before you want benefits to start, your start date might be delayed. I recommend filing up to 4 months before you want benefits to begin to ensure timely processing.
Zoe Walker
•That's a really good point about filing 4 months in advance. I was planning to wait until the month before my birthday to apply, but I'll definitely start the process earlier now. Thank you!
DONT FORGET that even after you reach your FRA, the actual payment date depends on your birth date! My husband and I both reached FRA in the same month but got paid on different weeks because our birthdays fall in different parts of the month. Something like 1st-10th get paid on 2nd Wednesday, etc. Check the SSA payment calendar.
Elijah Brown
•You're absolutely right. Payment dates are staggered based on birth date: - Birth date 1st-10th: Second Wednesday of the month - Birth date 11th-20th: Third Wednesday of the month - Birth date 21st-31st: Fourth Wednesday of the month This is important to know for budgeting purposes once benefits start!
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Melody Miles
the whole social security system is designed to confuse people so they take benefits early and get less money lol
Eva St. Cyr
•While the system is certainly complex, the reduction in benefits for early filing is actually actuarially neutral over an average lifespan. The system is designed so that, on average, people receive approximately the same total lifetime benefits regardless of when they start claiming. However, individual circumstances vary widely, which is why personalized analysis is so important.
Kaitlyn Otto
Have you considered just waiting until your FRA to file? If you can manage financially, that would give you the full $2,070 per month, which is significantly more than the reduced $1,450. Plus, if you need to claim spousal benefits later (like if your husband passes away), you wouldn't have the early filing reduction affecting those benefits. Just something to consider if it's financially feasible for you.
Adriana Cohn
•I've thought about waiting, but honestly, I have some health issues and my family doesn't tend to live into their 80s. Plus, I could really use the money now to help my daughter who's going through a divorce. It's such a hard decision!
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The REAL problem here is that SSA just drops money in peoples accounts with ZERO EXPLANATION!! Then expects us to waste HOURS trying to figure it out! My neighbor got a $1600 overpayment notice last month for payments THEY calculated wrong in the first place!!! And they wonder why everyone hates dealing with them!!!!
Sofia Torres
•happened to my sister too. got a random deposit then 3 months later they sent her a letter saying it was a mistake and she had to pay it all back. total nightmare
Just to add a bit more context to my earlier reply - these interest payments are calculated using a specific formula based on the Federal short-term rate, which is why they often seem like such odd amounts. The formula is quarterly compounded at a rate equal to the Federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points. If you want to confirm whether these are indeed interest payments, the next time you're able to speak with an SSA representative, ask them specifically to check your account for interest payments on pending benefits. They'll be able to see exactly what these deposits represent. Based on the timing and amounts you've described, I'm fairly confident you'll be receiving good news about your application soon.
Amara Okafor
•Thank you so much for this detailed explanation! I had no idea about how the interest was calculated. I'm feeling more optimistic now that this could be a sign my application is moving forward. I'll definitely ask specifically about interest payments when I finally reach someone.
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Nia Johnson
Why are you just now applying?? If he died in 2019 you should have applied right away! I bet you lost out on THOUSANDS of dollars by waiting. Social Security doesn't tell people this stuff on purpose so they save money.
Mateo Lopez
•That's not entirely accurate. Survivor benefits for a spouse work differently depending on age. If the poster wasn't at retirement age when her husband passed in 2019, she may not have been eligible yet, or the benefit amount might have been reduced. Applying now that she's past Full Retirement Age means she gets the full 100% of his benefit amount (if it's higher than her own). The system is complex, but the delay might actually have been financially beneficial depending on her specific situation.
I wasn't at retirement age when he passed, and I was still working full-time so I didn't even think about Social Security until I was getting ready to retire. I honestly didn't know I could get survivor benefits on top of my own retirement until a friend mentioned it recently.
Zara Ahmed
u might try county records office where u got married they can give u copy of marriage license. also check old tax returns that's how my aunt found my uncles ssn
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I want to add some information about the actual application process. When applying online to switch from survivor to retirement benefits, you'll see a section asking if you're currently receiving Social Security benefits. Be sure to answer "Yes" and provide information about your current survivor benefits. The system will guide you through a slightly different process than a first-time applicant. The good news is that much of your information is already in their system, so the application should be somewhat streamlined. Also, when you submit your application, you'll receive a confirmation number. Write this down and keep it safe. If you need to follow up on your application status, having this number will make the process much easier.
CyberNinja
•Thank you for these details! It really helps to know what to expect during the application process. I'll definitely save that confirmation number in multiple places.
Carmen Ortiz
One more thing to consider - tax implications. If your new higher benefit pushes your income into a different bracket, you might have different tax withholding needs. When you apply for your retirement benefits, you'll have the option to choose how much federal tax to withhold (if any). Since your benefit is increasing by $725/month, that's an additional $8,700 annually that could potentially impact your tax situation. You might want to consult with your financial advisor about whether you should adjust your withholding when you make the switch.
CyberNinja
•That's a great point I hadn't considered! I currently have 10% withheld for federal taxes. I'll talk to my financial advisor about whether I should increase that percentage when my benefit amount goes up. Thank you!
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Raj Gupta
my brother in law kept working til 72 and got extra $230 a month from his original amount when he was 66. he made like 120k at his job tho so prolly depends on how much u make
Lena Müller
•Your brother-in-law's experience is on the higher end of what I typically see, but definitely possible with high current earnings replacing very low early-career years. The $230 increase was probably the cumulative effect of multiple years of post-FRA work, not just from a single year's recalculation. Thanks for sharing a real example!
Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I'm definitely going to continue working a few more years - between potentially increasing my SS benefit, building up my 401k a bit more, and enjoying my job, it makes sense for me. It's nice to know the recalculation happens automatically too.
Ava Williams
•Sounds like a good plan. Just make sure to check your benefit statement each year to confirm you're seeing both the annual COLA increases AND any additional increases from the earnings recalculation. Sometimes it's hard to tell them apart since they might happen around the same time.
Social Security Disabled Adult Child benefits vs SSI - can we use ABLE account to bypass payee?
My daughter was diagnosed with severe autism at age 14 and has been receiving SSI since turning 18 (she's now 23). I'm on SSDI due to a back injury from 2020. Just got this letter from SSA saying my daughter might qualify for Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefits on my record, but I'd need to submit an application. I'm confused about several things:1. Her SSI is currently $943/month, and my SSDI is about $2,400. If she gets DAC benefits (50% of mine), wouldn't that be around $1,200? Would she completely lose her SSI then?2. She currently has a representative payee (local nonprofit organization), but they're making it really difficult for her to have any independence with her money. She's actually quite capable of managing basic bills with some support from me.3. Has anyone used an ABLE account with DAC benefits? Could we possibly set up direct deposit to her ABLE account and bypass the payee organization?4. How long does the approval process typically take for DAC benefits? Her rent is due on the 1st, so timing matters.Any insights appreciated! (I realize this isn't legal advice, just looking for others who've navigated this situation
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Lily Young
my nephew got denied for dac benefits even tho he has autism because they said he wasnt disabled before 22 even though he WAS! we had to appeal and it took forever but he finally got approved
This is unfortunately common. The key for DAC benefits is having medical evidence showing the disability began before age 22. Sometimes SSA doesn't properly evaluate all the evidence during the initial application. For anyone facing this issue, make sure to submit comprehensive medical records, school IEPs or 504 plans, and any psychological evaluations that document the disability onset before age 22. An appeal with thorough documentation has a much better chance of success.
Royal_GM_Mark
btw if u havent already u should apply for spousal benefits right now, u dont need to wait for survivor benefits. since ur over 50 u can get them while hes still alive
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JacksonHarris
•I thought about that, but I think I need to be at least 62 to collect spousal benefits? I'm only 58 now. Unless there's something I'm missing?
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Mia Alvarez
•That's correct. For spousal benefits based on a living spouse, you generally need to be at least 62 years old to collect (unless you're caring for a child under 16 or a disabled child). The only exception to the age-62 rule for spousal benefits is if you're caring for the disabled worker's child who is under 16 or disabled. However, for survivor benefits, you can claim as early as age 60 (or 50 if you're disabled yourself).
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Amelia Cartwright
One more IMPORTANT thing I forgot to mention!!! If you're taking care of your husband full-time and he requires constant attendance, check if you qualify for the "Aid and Attendance" benefit through VA (if he's a veteran) OR look into whether your state has a paid family caregiver program through Medicaid. I missed out on YEARS of potential benefits because nobody told me about these programs!!! The system is DESIGNED to keep us in the dark!!
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JacksonHarris
•Thank you for this tip! He's not a veteran, but I'll definitely look into the Medicaid caregiver program. I've been doing this for so long without any financial support - it would be life-changing if I qualified for something like that.
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