Medicare eligibility mistake on SS ex-spousal benefits application - Will SSA fix this?

This is a fairly common issue for teachers and other government employees who work in non-covered positions (no FICA taxes). The good news is that you can definitely get this fixed! First, your ex-spousal benefits claim and Medicare eligibility are actually handled somewhat separately in SSA's systems. The mistake about Medicare eligibility won't necessarily impact your ability to receive ex-spousal benefits, assuming you meet all other requirements (marriage lasted 10+ years, currently unmarried or remarried after 60, etc.). You should contact SSA directly to provide this correction. You have three options: 1. Continue trying to call (though that seems problematic for you) 2. Schedule an in-person appointment at your local office 3. Write a statement of correction and mail it to your local office with your name, SSN, and claim number Get this addressed soon because it could potentially affect your Medicare enrollment when you become eligible.

the same thing happened to my sister who was also a teacher. She had to go into the office in person to get it fixed fast. dont bother with the phone its a nightmare lol

I went through something similar with my ex-spouse benefits application last year. The Medicare issue will definitely need to be corrected, but it won't necessarily prevent your ex-spousal benefits from being processed. However, it could cause delays. One thing to note - since you worked as a teacher in a non-Social Security state, you should be aware of the Government Pension Offset (GPO) which might reduce your ex-spousal benefits. Make sure you understand how your teacher's pension will affect your Social Security benefits. As for correcting the Medicare mistake, I'd recommend using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an SSA agent quickly instead of waiting on hold for hours. They have a system that navigates the SSA phone tree for you and calls you back when an agent is on the line. I used it when I had issues with my application and it saved me hours of frustration. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU

THEY WONT FIX IT ON THEIR OWN!!!! My application was denied completely because of a simple error and I had to appeal. The system is BROKEN. Don't trust them to figure it out. You NEED to talk to someone directly and get written confirmation they fixed it!!!

Just to add to what others have said, when I needed to correct information on my application last year, I found that sending a secure message through my mySocialSecurity account worked surprisingly well. I explained the error clearly in the message, referenced my application date and confirmation number, and got a response within about 5 business days saying they had updated my record. You might try that approach before spending hours on the phone or making a trip to the office. Just make sure your message is very specific about what needs to be corrected. Also, for what it's worth, errors related to Medicare eligibility are fairly routine for them to fix, especially in cases like yours where it's about whether the eligibility stems from your record or someone else's. It's not like you're trying to claim benefits you're not entitled to - it's just a matter of which work record establishes the eligibility.

my frend had this same issue took 5 months to fix and they made her payback some $$ so def get it fixed asap!!!

Just to clarify something important here - the Medicare eligibility source (your work record vs. ex-spouse's) won't affect your premium amounts or coverage. It's simply about meeting the qualification requirements. As long as you or your ex-spouse has enough credits, you qualify for premium-free Part A. The correction is important for their records, but it won't change what you pay or what benefits you receive once it's sorted out. Regarding next steps, I'd recommend trying multiple channels simultaneously: 1. Send the secure message through mySocialSecurity as suggested 2. Try to schedule an in-person appointment 3. Consider the Claimyr service if phone is your preferred method Document everything, including dates of your attempts to correct this.

Question - are you at your full retirement age yet? Because if you're applying for ex-spousal benefits early, that affects the amount too, not just the GPO reduction. Just something to consider.

if its at the payment center already they probably caught the mistake themselves. thats what that dept does - checks applications for errors. thats probably why its in review. i wouldnt worry too much

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at SSA! I took the advice about using Claimyr, and it worked perfectly - got a callback with an agent on the line within 20 minutes. The agent confirmed they had already flagged the Medicare eligibility issue for correction (someone at the payment center caught it). She added notes to my file with the correct information and said my application should be processed within the next 7-10 business days. She also confirmed my benefit amount with the GPO reduction will be $892/month, and I'll receive back payments for the two months since my FRA. Thank you all for your help and suggestions! Such a relief to have this resolved.