Social Security still hasn't put widow benefit amount online after 3 months - normal wait time?

In my experince SSA never puts widow benefits online. You have 2 call each time. My mom passed 2 years ago and dad still has to call to get that info updated. Its really annoying tbh

I worked for SSA for 32 years before retiring, and I can tell you with certainty that survivor benefit estimates do not currently appear in the mySocialSecurity portal. The online benefit calculators only show retirement and disability benefit estimates based on your own work record. The representative you spoke with was unfortunately misinformed. Widow/widower benefit calculations are more complex as they involve comparing your own retirement benefit with a percentage of your deceased spouse's benefit, considering various factors like your age at claiming, whether you have minor children, and if you're disabled. You'll need to speak with an SSA representative to get an accurate estimate. I recommend calling early in the morning (right when they open) or late in the afternoon (around 4pm) when call volumes tend to be lower.

have u tried going to the local SS office in person? sometimes thats faster than the phone

The SSA phone system is completely broken. I tried for WEEKS to get through about my survivor benefits after my wife died. Always disconnected or 3+ hour wait times. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an agent in under 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Once I actually spoke to someone, they confirmed widow/widower benefit estimates don't show in the online account. The rep was able to give me all the information I needed about my survivor benefits over the phone. Saved me tons of frustration.

My condolences on losing your husband. When my wife passed away 3 years ago, I had the EXACT same issue! They told me it would show up online and it never did. I ended up having to call multiple times to get accurate information. The entire system is designed to frustrate people until they give up!!!

To clarify what others have said: 1. Survivor benefit estimates do NOT appear in the mySocialSecurity portal 2. Only retirement and disability estimates from your own work record show online 3. For widow/widower benefit calculations, you must speak with an SSA representative The complexity comes from how survivor benefits are calculated. You're eligible for either your own retirement benefit OR a percentage of your deceased spouse's benefit (70-100% depending on your age at claiming), whichever is higher. This calculation requires human intervention and isn't automated in the current system. Since you're turning 60 next year (early eligibility age for widow benefits), you should schedule an appointment with SSA about 3 months before your birthday to discuss your options. Claiming at 60 means a reduced benefit, while waiting until your Full Retirement Age gives you 100% of the survivor benefit. Keep in mind that if you claim survivor benefits early, you can still switch to your own retirement benefit later if it would be higher (or vice versa).

UGGGHHH the Social Security system is SO BROKEN!! This exact thing happened to me too!! The agent SWORE my widow benefit would show up online and I waited and waited and NOTHING! I ended up having to call back THREE TIMES and got different answers each time!!! The third person finally told me widow benefits NEVER show up online!! Why don't they train their people better??? I wasted 4 months waiting for something that was NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN!!

Thank you everyone for your helpful responses! I'm disappointed that the SSA rep gave me completely wrong information, but at least now I know I need to call again. I'll try the early morning trick and if that doesn't work, I might try that Claimyr service or just visit the office in person. I really appreciate knowing I'm not alone in this frustration. Planning for retirement is stressful enough without getting the runaround from SSA. I'll update if I learn anything new when I finally get through to someone.

I'm so sorry for your loss and the frustrating experience you've had with SSA. As someone who went through a similar situation when my spouse passed away last year, I can tell you that the misinformation from representatives is unfortunately common. What helped me was actually requesting to speak with a "claims specialist" rather than just any representative when I called. These specialists tend to be more knowledgeable about survivor benefits. Also, I found that calling right at 8am EST when they open gave me the shortest wait times - usually under 30 minutes versus hours later in the day. One thing that might help while you're waiting: gather all your husband's employment records and your marriage certificate ahead of time. When you do get through, having these documents ready will make the conversation much more productive. The specialist can walk through different claiming scenarios with you since you have that important decision point coming up at 60. Hang in there - it's worth the hassle to get accurate information about your benefits!