SS survivor benefits reapplication nightmare - Did I mess up my FRA increase?

Thank you so much for the clear explanation! I definitely never received any letter about repayment amounts. I've been checking my mail obsessively. The whole process has been so frustrating. Every time I go in, I get different information. Is there any way to find out exactly what my survivor benefit SHOULD be at FRA versus what I was getting before? The numbers they showed me today didn't make sense - they were barely higher than what I was receiving at 64. I'll definitely ask for a Technical Expert next time. I'm worried about scheduling another appointment though because they're booking 2+ months out right now at my local office.

This souds exactly wat happened to my sister, its crazy how they dont know there own rules. She finaly gave up and just took watever they gave her cuz she was tired of going back there. Those matrix things are so confusing, my sisters matrix showed 3 diffrent amounts and nobody could explain why! So frustrating!!!

To answer your question about finding out what your survivor benefit should be at FRA - yes, you can! Ask specifically for a "PEBES" (Post Entitlement Benefit Estimate Statement) that shows your survivor benefit amounts at different ages. You should see approximately 28.5% difference between taking survivor benefits at 60 versus Full Retirement Age. Regarding the appointment timing - I completely understand. The wait times are ridiculous right now. One option to consider is calling the SSA directly, but I know those wait times can be hours long too.

Thank you for the recommendation and for sharing your experience. It helps knowing I'm not alone in this confusion. Did you also have to repay all your benefits before reapplying? The representative today seemed to think I could reapply now and just deal with the repayment later, which contradicts what I was told before. I'll look into that service. At this point, I'd try anything to get this resolved before I lose more benefits.

be careful with any service that charges to contact SSA! you can always call them yourself for FREE. my neighbor paid for some service and regretted it.

@OP - Yes, I had to repay everything before they would process my new application. The rep is incorrect about being able to reapply before repayment - it's specifically mentioned in their Program Operations Manual that withdrawal isn't complete until repayment is made. The problem is many SSA reps don't know their own rules for less common situations like benefit withdrawals. @neighbor_comment - Normally I'd agree about calling SSA myself, but after spending 14+ hours on hold across 3 weeks (getting disconnected twice after 2+ hours waiting), the service was worth it to me. I got through in 15 minutes and resolved in one call what had been dragging on for months. You can always try calling yourself first.

Thank you so much for this detailed explanation! It's been so hard getting clear information. You mentioned requesting an "urgent status check" on my withdrawal - is that something I need to do in person or can it be done by phone? And should I be worried that they had me submit a new application today before resolving the withdrawal? I'll definitely ask for the PEBES statement next time. The matrices they showed me today were confusing and when I asked questions about the calculations, the rep seemed rushed and couldn't really explain them properly.

You can request the urgent status check by phone, but be prepared for long wait times. Mention that it's been 6 months since filing the withdrawal with no determination letter, which exceeds their processing guidelines. Regarding today's application - yes, there's potential for complications. The system may try to process both applications simultaneously or create an overpayment situation. However, don't panic. Document that you followed the rep's instructions despite expressing concerns about the withdrawal not being finalized. One more thing: Social Security has a "misinformation provision" that can protect you when you relied on incorrect information from SSA staff. Make sure to document that you were originally told waiting until FRA wouldn't increase your benefit (incorrect information) and that you withdrew based on learning this was wrong. This could be important if any adverse determinations are made.

I'm so sorry that happened to you! $600 a month is a huge difference - that's exactly what I was afraid of losing. I have checked my online account and there's nothing about the withdrawal there either. My address is definitely correct because I've received other mail from them. I'm surprised they had me reapply today if that's not the right process. I specifically asked if I should wait for the withdrawal to be processed first, and he said no, I needed to apply now to avoid losing benefits. So frustrating!

The SSA is a disaster right now. My mom got told 3 different things by 3 different people about her Medicare enrollment. Don't feel bad, the employees are overworked and undertrained. The good ones are leaving in droves.

I wish it were that simple! The problem is I already received about $15,000 in survivor benefits that I wasn't entitled to (since I withdrew my application). I can't just cancel everything because I need to repay that money before I can properly reapply at the higher FRA amount. If they processed my new application today without dealing with the withdrawal first, I'm worried they'll come after me for both the repayment AND call the new benefits an overpayment too. It's a mess.

You're absolutely right to be concerned. This isn't a situation where simply canceling everything works. Benefit withdrawals have specific procedures, and applying for new benefits before completing the withdrawal (including repayment) can create serious complications. The best approach is to get the withdrawal properly processed first, then handle the new application. Otherwise, you risk creating multiple overpayment situations that could take years to untangle.

I did some research but not enough, obviously. I trusted what the SSA representative told me, which was a huge mistake. If I could go back and do it differently, I would have consulted with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security benefits first. Definitely read up on survivor benefits before your appointment, specifically about the reduction for claiming early versus waiting until your Full Retirement Age. And get everything in writing if you can! Good luck with your application.

If you're turning 60 and planning to apply for survivor benefits, here's my professional advice: 1. Know your Full Retirement Age (FRA) for survivor benefits (between 66-67 depending on birth year) 2. Understand that taking benefits at 60 reduces them to about 71.5% of the full amount 3. Each year you wait increases the benefit amount 4. At FRA, you get 100% of your deceased spouse's benefit 5. Create a My Social Security account and look at your own benefit estimates too 6. Consider if a restricted application strategy might work in your situation Most importantly, get advice from multiple sources before making your decision. The claiming strategy that's right for you depends on your own work history, financial needs, and life expectancy.