Missed spousal benefits from ex-husband's Social Security - Can I get retroactive payments?

YES! You are absolutely entitled to retroactive benefits from when you first qualified. This is a classic SSA processing error. I had almost the identical situation with survivor benefits last year. You need to specifically request what's called a "manual adjustment" for your ex-spousal benefits starting from your entitlement date in January. Make sure when you call to use these exact words: "I'm requesting a manual adjustment for underpayment of ex-spousal benefits from January through March 2025." Don't let them just say the "system is current" - that means current going forward, not that past errors were corrected. You should also submit a written request through your local office documenting this underpayment. Keep copies of everything!

same thing happened to my sister!! took her like 6 phone calls and 2 visits to the local office before they actually fixed it and gave her the backpay. don't give up!!!

This is actually quite common with divorced spouse benefits. The problem is that different parts of your claim are often processed by different people/departments at SSA. What happened is your retirement benefit (RIB) was processed correctly, but your divorced spouse benefit (DRIB) wasn't triggered properly in the system. When they finally added it in April, the system only calculated current month forward because no one flagged it as a correction. You are 100% entitled to those retroactive payments from January-March. You need to speak with a Claims Specialist specifically (not just any SSA rep) and request: 1. A "critical payment" for the underpaid months 2. A formal review of your benefit computation date (BCD) Don't be surprised if they tell you it will take 30-60 days to process the underpayment once approved. That's standard for these types of corrections.

The same thing happened to me but with widows benefits! I just gave up after trying for months because every time I called SSA I got different answers and waited FOREVER on hold. Some people told me I was eligible for backpay, others said no. So frustrating!!

Getting through to SSA on the phone is the worst part of this whole process! I finally found a service called Claimyr that gets you through to a real person at Social Security without the hours of waiting. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU I used it when I had a similar issue with delayed disability payments, and was able to get my backpay approved in one call. It was worth every penny to not spend half my day on hold just to get disconnected. Just make sure you have your case details ready when you call through their service.

I HATE how SSA treats us like we're trying to scam them or something!! YOU worked and EARNED those benefits and your ex worked and you're entitled to those too after a long marriage! They act like they're doing us a favor by giving us OUR OWN MONEY BACK!!! The whole system is designed to wear people down until they give up. DON'T GIVE UP!!!

does anyone know if theres a form you can fill out for this instead of calling?? i hate talking on the phone lol

OP - just checking in. Were you able to get this resolved? Any updates to share with the group?

Congratulations on getting this resolved! Your story is exactly why I always tell people to document everything and know the right terminology when dealing with SSA. The phrase "manual adjustment for underpayment" is like a magic key that gets you to the right department. For anyone else reading this thread who might face similar issues: Mei's experience shows that persistence really does pay off. Don't accept "the system shows current" as a final answer when you know there's been an underpayment. SSA has an obligation to correct processing errors, and they will once you get to the right specialist. Thanks for sharing your success story - it's going to help so many people in similar situations!

What a great outcome and such valuable information for the community! As someone who's helped family members navigate SSA issues, I can't stress enough how important it is to use the right terminology. The difference between getting a generic response and getting actual help often comes down to knowing phrases like "manual adjustment" or asking for specific specialists. For future reference, it's also worth noting that SSA has a legal obligation under Section 204(a) of the Social Security Act to correct underpayments regardless of when they're discovered. This isn't them doing you a favor - it's your legal right to receive all benefits you're entitled to. Mei, your persistence really paid off, and sharing your experience here will help so many others who might otherwise give up after the first few frustrating calls. The system can be incredibly difficult to navigate, but stories like yours prove that with the right approach and determination, you can get the resolution you deserve.

This is such a valuable thread! As a newcomer to the community, I'm amazed at how knowledgeable everyone is about navigating SSA issues. Mei, congratulations on your success - your persistence really paid off! For others who might be reading this, I think this case perfectly illustrates why it's so important to understand that SSA errors are often systemic rather than intentional. The key seems to be knowing the right language and getting to the right specialist who can actually help. I'm bookmarking this thread as a reference guide. The specific phrases like "manual adjustment for underpayment" and requesting a "Claims Specialist" are golden nuggets of information that could save people months of frustration. It's also encouraging to see how this community rallies around members with practical, actionable advice rather than just sympathy. Thanks to everyone who contributed their expertise here - you've created a really helpful resource for anyone dealing with similar SSA processing errors!

As someone new to this community, I'm really impressed by the wealth of knowledge shared here! Mei, congratulations on getting this resolved - your story is incredibly helpful for understanding how to navigate SSA effectively. What really stands out to me is how crucial it is to use the right terminology. The fact that saying "manual adjustment for underpayment" was like a key that unlocked the right help shows how important it is to speak the agency's language. I had no idea there were specific phrases that could make such a difference in getting proper assistance. This thread is also a great example of why persistence matters when dealing with government agencies. It's easy to get discouraged after multiple frustrating calls, but your success shows that the right approach combined with determination really does pay off. Thank you to everyone who contributed their expertise here - this is exactly the kind of practical, actionable advice that makes this community so valuable for people navigating complex benefit issues!