How to apply for SSA spousal benefits? Need advice on process and eligibility
Hey everyone, I'm trying to figure out how to receive spousal benefits. Has anyone gone through this process recently? Any tips or advice would be really appreciated!
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Giovanni Rossi
I went through this last year. It can be a bit of a hassle, but here's what I learned: • First, make sure you're eligible. You need to be at least 62, and your spouse must be receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits. • Gather all your documents: marriage certificate, birth certificate, Social Security numbers for both you and your spouse. • You can apply online through the SSA website, but honestly, I found it easier to call and schedule an appointment. • Be prepared for a wait. The process can take a few months. • If you're still working, be aware of the earnings limit. It might affect your benefits. Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any specific questions.
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Fatima Al-Rashid
Thank you so much for this detailed response! 🙏 I didn't even think about the earnings limit. Do you know what the current limit is?
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Giovanni Rossi
For 2023, if you're under full retirement age, the limit is $21,240. Anything over that, and they deduct $1 for every $2 you earn. It changes yearly tho, so double-check on the SSA website.
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Aaliyah Jackson
This is super helpful! Quick question - does the marriage certificate need to be a recent copy or is an old one okay?
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Giovanni Rossi
In my experience, they accepted my old copy. But if yours is really old or hard to read, might be worth getting a new one just in case.
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KylieRose
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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Miguel Hernández
Ikr? Its ridiculous how hard they make it. You'd think they'd have a better system by now 🤦♂️
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Sasha Ivanov
Have you tried calling right when they open? I had luck getting through that way.
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KylieRose
Yeah, I've tried everything. Early morning, late afternoon, different days. No luck. Its so frustrating!
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Liam Murphy
Hey, I found a way to actually get someone on the phone. I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU
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Amara Okafor
Sounds too good to be true. Has anyone else tried this?
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Liam Murphy
I get the skepticism, but it really did work for me. Saved me hours of frustration.
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CaptainAwesome
20 bucks to avoid hours on hold? Sign me up! 💯
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Yuki Tanaka
Idk man, paying to talk to a government agency feels wrong. Shouldnt this be free?
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Liam Murphy
I hear ya, but for me, time is money. And I wasted way more than $20 worth of time trying to get through on my own.
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Esmeralda Gómez
Just a heads up, if you're applying for spousal benefits, make sure you're not eligible for a higher benefit based on your own work record. Sometimes people don't realize they could get more on their own.
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Klaus Schmidt
Does anyone know if you can receive spousal benefits if you're divorced? My ex and I were married for over 20 years, but I'm not sure if I qualify.
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Aisha Patel
Yes, you can! As long as you were married for at least 10 years and haven't remarried, you should be eligible. Check out the SSA website for more details.
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Klaus Schmidt
Oh wow, I had no idea! Thanks for the info, gonna look into this asap!
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LilMama23
Pro tip: If you're having trouble understanding the process, try visiting your local SSA office in person. The staff there can be really helpful in explaining things face-to-face.
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Dmitri Volkov
This! 👆 I was so confused until I went in person. The lady I talked to was super patient and walked me through everything.
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Gabrielle Dubois
Anyone else feel like they need a law degree to understand all these rules and regulations? 🤯 Why do they gotta make it so complicated?
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Tyrone Johnson
LOL for real tho. I swear they do it on purpose to discourage people from claiming benefits 🤡
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Ingrid Larsson
It's not that bad if you take it step by step. The SSA website actually has some pretty good explainers.
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Gabrielle Dubois
Maybe for you, brainiac. Some of us are still scratching our heads 😅
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