I'm glad to see you're getting some solid advice here! As someone who works with international benefit cases, I wanted to add a few practical tips for when the time comes: 1. Make sure your wife keeps her Mexican passport current - she'll need it for identity verification when applying for survivor benefits at the US Embassy. 2. Consider setting up a US bank account that offers good international wire transfer services now, rather than waiting. Some Mexican banks have partnerships with US banks that make transfers easier and cheaper. 3. Keep all your Social Security earnings records organized and accessible. The embassy will need documentation of your work history when processing her application. 4. If she does decide to give up her green card eventually, she should do it formally through USCIS rather than just staying away - this creates a clear paper trail that can actually help with benefit processing later. The totalization agreement really does make this much simpler than it used to be. Your 35+ years of contributions definitely put you in a strong position to provide for her future security.

Great question about banking! For US-Mexico transfers, I've had good experiences with Bank of America and Wells Fargo - they both have partnerships with Mexican banks that reduce transfer fees. BBVA is another option since they operate in both countries. For documentation, yes - keep those annual Social Security statements (Form SSA-1099), but also consider requesting a complete earnings record from SSA using Form SSA-7050-F4. This gives you a year-by-year breakdown of your covered earnings, which can be helpful if there are any discrepancies when your wife applies for benefits. One more tip: if your wife plans to maintain her green card, she should file US tax returns even while living primarily in Mexico. This helps establish her continuing ties to the US and can be useful documentation for both immigration and Social Security purposes. The foreign earned income exclusion can help minimize any US tax liability on her Mexican income. The fact that you're planning this out now really shows you care about her future security - that's wonderful to see!

This has become such an incredible resource thread! I'm in a similar boat - applied for spousal benefits 7 weeks ago and have been stuck in phone hell trying to get updates. Reading through everyone's strategies is giving me a real action plan instead of just randomly calling and hoping for the best. I'm going to try the combination approach: early morning calling (8 AM sharp), asking specifically for Technical Expert transfer if the first agent can't help, and having all my documents plus a list of specific questions ready. The tip about asking "Can you see any internal notes about what's holding up my application?" is brilliant - so much better than just asking for a generic status update. One thing I'll add from my experience with other government agencies - when you finally do get through to someone helpful, ask for their direct extension or employee ID number before you hang up. That way if you need to follow up, you can potentially reach the same person who already knows your case instead of starting over with someone new. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences and actual solutions. This thread should honestly be pinned as a guide for anyone dealing with SSA delays!

I just wanted to thank everyone who contributed to this thread - it's become an absolute goldmine of practical strategies! As someone who works in customer service for a healthcare company, I can confirm that many of these government agency tactics work across different departments. The early morning calling strategy is spot-on. Most government phone systems reset their queue priorities overnight, so calling right when they open gives you the best shot at getting through before call volume builds up. The 8 AM timing has worked for me with Medicare, IRS, and now I'm definitely using it if I ever need to contact SSA. One additional tip I'd add: if you're calling about a time-sensitive application (like benefits starting soon), lead with that information immediately when you reach an agent. Don't wait for them to ask - say something like "I'm calling about my retirement application submitted on [date] with benefits starting in [month] and I haven't received any updates in [timeframe]." This frames the urgency right away and helps them prioritize your case. Also, the suggestion about asking for Technical Experts is brilliant. In most large organizations, front-line agents have limited system access, while specialized agents can see and do much more. Always worth asking for that escalation if you're not getting answers. This thread should definitely be saved as a reference guide - thank you all for sharing your real-world experiences instead of just repeating official website information!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Jasmine. I went through this exact situation when my father passed away 18 months ago, and I understand how overwhelming all the paperwork can feel during an already difficult time. From my experience, it truly doesn't matter which of the three offices you send your SSA-1724 to - they all process these forms the same way and have access to the national database. What helped me was calling the SSA's main line (1-800-772-1213) to ask which office had been handling my father's benefits. They were able to tell me right away, and I sent the form there just for peace of mind, though any of them would have worked fine. A few things that made the process smoother for me: - I used certified mail with tracking (definitely worth the extra cost for important documents like this) - Made copies of everything before sending - Included a brief cover letter explaining what I was submitting and why - Called after two weeks to confirm they received everything The whole process took about 6-7 weeks from when I mailed the form to getting confirmation everything was updated. Your 2-month timeline is completely normal - most people I know took even longer to get organized after a loss, so don't feel like you're behind. Hang in there, and feel free to ask if you have any other questions about the process. You're doing great getting everything sorted out.

I'm sorry for your loss, Jasmine. I went through something very similar when my mother passed away last year. The good news is that it really doesn't matter which office you choose - all SSA field offices process forms the same way and have access to the same national system. What I'd recommend is calling the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 and asking which office was handling your father's benefits originally. While any office can process your SSA-1724, sending it to the office that already has his file can sometimes be slightly more efficient. A few practical tips from my experience: - Use certified mail with return receipt so you have proof of delivery - Keep copies of everything you send - Include a brief cover letter with your contact info - Follow up after 2 weeks to confirm receipt The whole process took about 6-8 weeks for me from submission to completion. Your 2-month timeline since his passing is completely normal - don't feel rushed. Most families take several months to get everything organized, and the SSA understands this. Make sure you have a certified copy of the death certificate (not the original) and all your identification documents ready. You're doing everything right, and this will get resolved. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

I'm seeing a lot of great advice here, but wanted to add one important point that might help with your timeline concerns. When you file for SSDI, make sure you request that your "onset date" (when your disability began) goes back to when you first stopped working due to your cardiac issues - sounds like that would be about 4 months ago when you started using sick leave. If approved, SSDI has a 5-month waiting period, but they can backdate your benefits to your onset date minus those 5 months. So even though the approval process might take 8-11 months as others mentioned, you could potentially get backpay for some of those months you were waiting. This is especially important if you're doing the dual approach with early retirement - the backpay calculation gets more complex, but you should still receive the difference between what early retirement paid you and what SSDI would have paid for those months. Also, don't forget that once you're approved for SSDI, your spouse (if applicable) and dependent children might be eligible for auxiliary benefits too. That could add a few hundred more per month to your household income. The process is definitely stressful, but with your medical documentation and the clear work restrictions from your cardiologist, you're in a much stronger position than you might realize. Keep pushing forward with both applications!

I went through this exact situation two years ago at 63 after my third heart attack. The dual approach is definitely the right strategy - I filed for early retirement first to get immediate income, then applied for SSDI about a month later. A few things that really helped my case: 1. I kept a daily symptoms diary for about 6 weeks before applying - noting chest pain episodes, fatigue levels, how far I could walk without getting winded, etc. The SSDI examiner specifically mentioned this helped them understand my functional limitations. 2. My cardiologist filled out a detailed RFC (Residual Functional Capacity) form that SSA provides. This was crucial - it spelled out exactly what I couldn't do (lift over 10 lbs, work in high-stress environments, stand for more than 20 minutes at a time). 3. I was approved on initial application in about 6 months, which my attorney said was faster than usual for cardiac cases. The key was having comprehensive medical records that clearly showed my limitations weren't going to improve significantly. The financial difference has been life-changing - I'm getting about $2,180/month with SSDI versus the $1,490 I would have gotten with early retirement alone. Plus I got about $8,000 in backpay once approved. Don't let anyone pressure you to "try going back to work first" if your doctor says it's dangerous. Your health is more important than SSA's preference for people to attempt work. You've got strong medical evidence - trust the process and be patient with the timeline.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago - suspended my benefits at 63 after getting a consulting gig that put me way over the earnings limit. The calculator disappearing is definitely frustrating, but there's a workaround that might help while you're waiting to get through to SSA. You can use the general retirement estimator on ssa.gov (not the personalized one in your account) and plug in your earnings history manually. It won't be as precise as your personal calculator was, but it'll give you a ballpark figure. Also, since you're suspending before your FRA, remember that you're essentially just pausing the clock on reductions rather than earning increases. The real benefit growth doesn't start until after your full retirement age. One tip for calling SSA - try calling right at 8am when they open or around 3-4pm. Those seem to be the least busy times in my experience.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - just turned 62 and considering applying for early benefits but worried about this exact issue! Can someone clarify what happens if you withdraw your application completely within the 12 months? Does that restore the calculator and let you start fresh, or are there other consequences? I've been using the online calculator religiously to plan my retirement timing and would hate to lose that tool permanently. Also, for those who've successfully gotten through to SSA by phone, did they provide you with projections that include potential future earnings, or just based on your current record?