Shocked by retirement benefit application experience - way better than expected with SS

i had literal opposite experience last month lol. waited 2.5 hours past my appointment time, then they told me they couldnt help with my widows benefit application and i needed different paperwork. total waste of a day off work. glad it worked for u tho

Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear that! Did they at least tell you exactly what paperwork you need to bring next time? I brought everything - birth certificate, marriage certificate, husband's death certificate, tax returns, the works.

You absolutely got lucky! The SSA offices are critically understaffed right now. I went through the same transition (survivors to retirement) last year and it took THREE visits and countless phone calls to get it resolved. The first time they didn't have my appointment in the system despite confirmation emails. Second time the \

This is why I AVOID the offices completely! Just do everything online and save yourself the headache. SSA website has everything you need.

@commenter above - That's completely false for benefit type changes like this one. You CANNOT switch from survivor benefits to retirement benefits online. It requires an in-person or phone appointment. Please don't spread misinformation.

I'm glad you had a good experience! What many people don't realize is that timing matters tremendously with Social Security offices. Early morning appointments (8-10am) typically run on schedule, while afternoon appointments are more likely to run behind as the day's delays accumulate. Also, mid-week (Tuesday-Thursday) tends to be less busy than Mondays or Fridays.Regarding your switch from survivor benefits to your own retirement benefits at 70, that's exactly the right strategy to maximize your lifetime benefits. By waiting until 70 to claim your own benefit while collecting survivors benefits earlier, you've maximized your own benefit through delayed retirement credits (8% per year beyond FRA). Smart move!One thing to watch for: your first payment at the higher amount might take 1-2 months to process, but it should be retroactive to your application date.

Thank you! Yes, my appointment was at 9:15am on a Wednesday, so maybe that's why! The specialist did mention the retroactive payment if there's processing delay. I'm just relieved it went so smoothly after hearing so many nightmare stories.

After 4 failed attempts to reach someone at Social Security by phone (kept getting disconnected after 1+ hour waits), I discovered a service called Claimyr that got me through to a live agent in 20 minutes! It was such a relief after weeks of frustration. Check out their demo video: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puUThey connected me directly with SSA so I could finally get my SSDI application questions answered. Saved me from having to take time off work for an in-person appointment. Their website is claimyr.com if anyone else is struggling with the phone system.

is this legit? sounds like a scam tbh

It's completely legitimate. They don't handle any of your personal information - they just connect you through to SSA's actual phone system but bypass the wait. I was skeptical too but desperate after weeks of trying.

I had to switch from my husbands surviver benefits to mine to. I turn 67 next month and did it all over phone. lady was nice but they messed up my payment amount!!! Said I'd get $2678 but only got $2116 this month. Been calling everyday cant get thru. Might have to go in person like you did.

That sounds like they might have withheld taxes when you weren't expecting them to. Did you complete the tax withholding section of the application? The difference ($562) is close to what would be withheld if you elected to have taxes taken out at the 25% rate. Check your award letter carefully - it should break down any deductions.

The quality of service at Social Security offices varies dramatically depending on which office you visit and the expertise of individual staff members. I've worked with retirement planning for 15 years, and I've seen identical situations handled completely differently across offices.Here's what everyone should know about switching from survivor to retirement benefits:1) You must provide documentation showing your eligibility for both benefit types2) The timing is critical - switching at FRA or 70 is typically optimal depending on your benefit amounts3) The transition should be seamless with no gap in payments4) You may receive two separate payments for the month of the switch5) Any underpayments should be automatically correctedThe $950 increase you mentioned sounds significant - that's quite a bit higher than the average difference. Your own work record must be substantial compared to your late husband's. Congratulations on maximizing your benefits through smart timing!

Thank you for that detailed explanation! Yes, I worked as a hospital administrator for 38 years with a good salary while my husband was self-employed with lower reported earnings. The specialist explained that's why my benefit at 70 is so much higher than the survivor benefit I was receiving.

My mom just went through this last month and had a TERRIBLE experience! She waited 3 hrs then they told her system was down!!! Had to reschedule and waste another day. SSA is completely broken in most places.

This happens constantly. Their computer systems are antiquated and crash regularly. I always tell people to call the office before heading in for their appointment just to confirm their systems are operational that day. Saves a wasted trip about 25% of the time.

One important thing to verify: make sure your Medicare Part B premium is correctly handled during this transition. Sometimes when switching benefit types, the system temporarily

Thank you for this tip! I would have never thought to check this. I do have Medicare premiums auto-deducted, so I'll keep an eye out for any issues during the switch.