Social Security survivor benefits confusion - mother's benefits, student benefits and income limits

Regarding your mother's benefits (officially called "Mother's or Father's benefits"), you should apply right away. There's no advantage to waiting, and SSA will set the start date appropriately based on when your oldest graduates. They can't pay benefits retroactively for more than 6 months, so don't delay too long. Few clarifications: - Your 18-year-old: Yes, she needs to report these benefits on her tax returns, but they're only taxable if her total income exceeds certain thresholds. Most students don't end up owing taxes on them. - The earnings limit: The $2,470 monthly limit only applies to people who are newly entitled to benefits or who stop working mid-year. For ongoing situations like yours, SSA uses the annual limit ($28,750 for 2025). - Reporting income changes: You should file an Annual Earnings Report with SSA each year. For significant changes, you can contact them mid-year, but there's no requirement to report monthly fluctuations. - Health insurance premiums: Unfortunately, SSA follows IRS definitions of income. If it's reported as taxable income on your W-2, SSA will count it when determining benefit reductions.

the mother benifit is confusing.. i got it when my wife died but only til my yongest turned 16, then it stopped. they dont make it clear at all how much u get. for me it was way less than what my kids got. but yes APPLY RIGHT NOW dont wait! ssa backdates but only like 6 months so dont miss out on $$$

Let me address your tax question specifically. Your 18-year-old will need to file taxes for both 2024 and 2025 if her total income exceeds the standard deduction ($14,350 for 2024). The SSA will send her a SSA-1099 form in January showing how much she received during the tax year. Some people think survivor benefits aren't taxable, but that's incorrect. They follow the same tax rules as other Social Security benefits - they become partially taxable if her combined income (adjusted gross income + nontaxable interest + half of SS benefits) exceeds certain thresholds. For most students with part-time jobs, their benefits end up not being taxed, but she still needs to file if her total income is high enough. For your income reporting to SSA, I suggest creating an online my Social Security account if you haven't already. You can report estimated earnings there for the year ahead. If your income changes significantly mid-year, you can update your estimate.

Have you tried calling the SSA at 7:59am right when they open? That's what I did after trying for weeks to get through. If you call right when they open you usually can get someone within 15-20 mins.

congrats on your daughter graduating soon!! my son just graduated last year and it was sooo confusing with the SS benefits. they stopped his payment the month after graduation even tho he was going to college in the fall. apparently the college thing only applies for SSDI not survivors benefits which makes NO sense to me

Regarding your question about employer health insurance contributions being counted as income: Unfortunately, if it's included in Box 1 of your W-2 as taxable wages, SSA will count it toward the earnings test. However, there might be a solution. You mentioned these are Marketplace plans - typically employer contributions to Marketplace plans shouldn't be included as taxable income if it's a qualified benefit under a Section 125 cafeteria plan. You may want to speak with your employer's HR department or a tax professional about whether your W-2 is being prepared correctly. If it's being reported incorrectly, getting this fixed could reduce your countable income by $7,500, which would save you about $3,750 in benefits that would otherwise be withheld due to the earnings test ($1 reduction for every $2 over the limit).

i saw someone else ask about the family max and the worker at ssa told them the max is different for survivors than for retirement! did u know that?? for survivors its like 180% of the basic benefit sometimes not the 150% they usually say

I'm so sorry for your loss and understand how overwhelming navigating these benefits can be. I went through a similar situation a few years ago when my spouse passed away. A few things that might help beyond what others have shared: 1. **Timing for your application**: Definitely apply for mother's benefits now. SSA can be slow to process applications, and you want everything in place before your oldest graduates. The benefits will automatically adjust when your daughter's payments stop. 2. **Monthly vs. annual earnings test**: The confusion about monthly limits is common. For 2025, if you're under full retirement age, only the annual limit of $28,750 applies for ongoing benefits. The monthly test only kicks in during your first year of entitlement or if you have a significant change in work status. 3. **Documentation tip**: Keep detailed records of your income fluctuations and any correspondence with SSA. I found it helpful to create a simple spreadsheet tracking my monthly earnings to make reporting easier. 4. **Local SSA office**: If phone calls aren't working, consider visiting your local SSA office in person. Yes, it means taking time off work, but for complex situations like yours, face-to-face meetings can be much more productive than phone calls. The system is definitely not user-friendly, but you're asking all the right questions. Don't hesitate to advocate for yourself - you and your children deserve these benefits.

I'm really sorry for your loss and the stress of navigating this complicated system. I went through something similar when I lost my husband, and the SSA bureaucracy can feel overwhelming when you're already dealing with so much. One thing I learned that might help you: when you apply for mother's benefits, ask the SSA representative to walk you through exactly how the family maximum will be distributed once you're added. In my case, the way they explained the split wasn't immediately clear, and I wish I had asked for specific dollar amounts upfront. Also, regarding your concern about the health insurance premiums on your W-2 - definitely pursue that with HR as others suggested. I had a similar issue where my employer was incorrectly reporting certain benefits, and getting it corrected saved me hundreds in lost benefits due to the earnings test. For dealing with SSA phone waits, I found that Tuesday-Thursday mid-morning (around 10-11 AM) sometimes had shorter hold times than right when they opened. Not always, but worth trying different times if you need to call again. You're doing everything right by asking these questions now rather than after graduation when it might be too late to maximize your benefits. Your kids are lucky to have such an advocate looking out for them during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, and I completely understand how confusing the survivor benefits system can be. I went through this when my brother passed away and left behind three young children. A few additional thoughts that might help: **Application timing**: Everyone's right about applying now - don't wait. I made the mistake of waiting "until closer to the time" and it created unnecessary delays. SSA's processing times can be unpredictable, especially for survivor benefits. **Income reporting strategy**: Since you mentioned your income drops during summer months, you might want to time your application so those lower-income months help with the annual earnings calculation. If your 2025 total will be close to the $28,750 limit, every bit helps. **Documentation for your daughter**: When your 18-year-old's benefits end, make sure SSA gives you clear written confirmation of the stop date. I've heard of cases where there were discrepancies about when student benefits actually ended, and having that documentation prevented overpayment issues later. **Long-term planning**: Since your mother's benefits will end when your youngest turns 16 (in about 3 years), now might be a good time to start thinking about how that income change will affect your family budget. It comes up faster than you think. The fact that you're asking these detailed questions shows you're being a great advocate for your family. Don't let the bureaucracy discourage you - these benefits exist for exactly your situation.

I'm so sorry for your loss and can really empathize with how overwhelming this whole process is. I lost my spouse a few years ago and navigating SSA with two kids was one of the most stressful parts of an already difficult time. A couple of things that helped me that others haven't mentioned: **Local SSA office appointments**: You can actually schedule appointments online at ssa.gov rather than just showing up. This saved me from waiting in long lines and gave me dedicated time with someone who could look at my specific case. **Appeal rights**: If SSA makes any decisions you disagree with (like benefit amounts or eligibility dates), you have 60 days to request reconsideration. I learned this the hard way when they initially calculated my family maximum incorrectly. **State benefits**: Don't forget to check if your state has any additional survivor benefits programs. Some states have small programs that can help with things like college expenses that federal SSA doesn't cover. **Tax planning**: Since you're entering a phase where you'll have benefit income subject to earnings limits, consider meeting with a tax professional who understands SSA benefits. The interplay between benefit reductions and tax implications can be tricky, especially in years where your income fluctuates. You're asking all the right questions and being proactive. That's exactly what your kids need right now. The bureaucracy is frustrating, but you've got this - and this community is here to help when you need it.