Applying for SSA Spousal Benefits - What Documents Do I Need?
Hey everyone, I'm trying to apply for spousal benefits and I'm not sure where to start. Has anyone gone through this process recently? What documents do I need to have ready? Any tips or advice would be really appreciated!
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Chloe Taylor
I just went through this last month! Here's what you need: • Marriage certificate (official copy) • Your spouse's Social Security number • Both of your birth certificates • Your Social Security card • A government-issued ID (driver's license or passport) Make sure you have everything before you start the application. It'll save you a lot of headaches later. Good luck!
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Omar Hassan
•Thank you so much! This is super helpful. Do you remember how long the whole process took?
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Chloe Taylor
•No problem! For me, it took about 6 weeks from application to approval. But I've heard it can vary. Just be patient and follow up if you don't hear anything after a month or so.
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ShadowHunter
•Don't forget your W-2 forms or tax returns for the last couple years! They asked me for those too.
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Diego Ramirez
ugh, good luck dealing with the SSA. I've been trying to get through to them for weeks. Its like they dont want us to get our benefits 🙄
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Anastasia Sokolov
•I feel you. The system is so broken. I spent hours on hold last week and still didn't get through. 😤
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Sean O'Connor
•Have you guys tried calling right when they open? I had better luck that way.
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Zara Ahmed
Quick tip: if you're having trouble getting someone on the phone, I found this site (claimyr.com) that has a calling tool. It dials the phone menu, stays on hold, and then sends the call to your phone when a live agent picks up. It costs $20, but it saved me hours of frustration. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU
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Luca Conti
•Sounds too good to be true. Has anyone else tried this?
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Zara Ahmed
•I was skeptical at first too, but it really worked for me. Saved me a whole day of being on hold.
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Nia Johnson
•$20 seems steep just to make a phone call. Is it really worth it?
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Zara Ahmed
•For me, it was totally worth it. Time is money, and I wasted so much time trying to get through before. But I get it's not for everyone.
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CyberNinja
Anyone know if you can apply online? I hate dealing with phone calls 😫
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Mateo Lopez
Pro tip: if your spouse is already receiving Social Security retirement benefits, the process is way easier. You might even be automatically eligible when you reach the right age.
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Omar Hassan
•Oh, that's good to know! My spouse isn't receiving benefits yet, but I'll keep that in mind for the future.
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Aisha Abdullah
Just a heads up, if you're still working, your spousal benefits might be reduced. Make sure to check the earnings limit before you apply!
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Ethan Davis
•This! 👆 I learned this the hard way. Definitely do your research on how working affects your benefits.
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Yuki Tanaka
Has anyone here applied for spousal benefits if they're divorced? I heard it's possible but not sure about the details.
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Carmen Ortiz
•Yep, you can get spousal benefits from an ex if you were married for at least 10 years and haven't remarried. Same basic process, but you'll need your divorce decree too.
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Keisha Johnson
@CyberNinja Yes, you can apply online! Go to ssa.gov and look for "Apply for Benefits" - they have an online application for spousal benefits. It's actually pretty straightforward and you can save your progress if you need to take a break. Just make sure you have all those documents that @Chloe Taylor mentioned ready to upload. Way easier than sitting on hold for hours!
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Andre Dupont
•Thanks for mentioning the online option! I'm new to all this and had no idea you could apply online. That's a huge relief since I've been dreading having to call. Quick question - when you upload documents, do they need to be notarized or just clear scans of the originals?
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