Shocked at how helpful Social Security phone agent was about survivor benefits comparison - no appointment needed!

That's TOTALLY not my experience with SS!!! I've called that stupid 800 number SIX TIMES trying to get someone to explain my husband's disability statement, and I either get disconnected or they tell me I need to talk to a "technical expert" who is never available!!!! What number did you call because the regular 800 number is USELESS most of the time. Did you get lucky or is there some special widow number I don't know about??

Great to hear you had a good experience! As someone who's worked with SS cases for years, I can tell you that phone service quality varies wildly depending on who you get and how busy they are. For survivor benefits comparing to your own record, a few tips: 1. Make sure you understand the "restricted application" rules if you were born before Jan 2, 1954 2. If you take reduced retirement now, it could affect your survivor benefit rate later 3. Get everything they told you in writing - request a PEBES statement 4. If your teaching pension is from work where you didn't pay SS taxes, definitely check into the GPO calculations Glad you got answers without the hassle of an office visit!

i had the opposite happen lol. called 5 times trying to figure out why my disability check was $247 less this month than usual. everyone kept transferring me around and nobody could tell me why. ended up having to go to the office anyway and sit there for 3 hours. turns out they took money for medicare part b that they weren't supposed to take. still waiting for them to fix it 😩

Thanks for sharing this! I'll be in the same situation soon (husband retiring in 2025, trying to figure out spousal benefits), and I've been dreading it. Did they ask for any specific info when you called? Did you need your husband's death certificate info or SSN ready? I want to be prepared when I call.

Anybody else notice that SS agents are way nicer in the morning? I swear if I call after lunch they're all grumpy and unhelpful but morning calls usually get better service. Maybe they're just not burnt out yet lol

Just to clarify something important about survivor benefits that many people misunderstand: If you're already at full retirement age when you apply for widow's benefits, you'll get 100% of your deceased spouse's benefit amount. But if you take your own retirement early (before your FRA), and then later switch to survivor benefits, your survivor benefit won't be reduced. However, if you take survivor benefits early (before your survivor FRA), they will be reduced. The reduction amounts are different than for regular retirement benefits. This is why it's so important to compare scenarios like the agent did for you. Sometimes taking your own reduced benefit first, then switching to survivor benefits at your FRA is the best strategy.

My mother had a similar experience when my dad passed. She was shocked they answered all her questions by phone. I think people don't realize that for many common situations (especially straightforward survivor benefits), they've really improved their phone service. Now getting through and not being on hold for 2 hours is another story...