What verification questions does SSA ask during retirement benefits phone application at age 67?

When I applied by phone last year, they asked me to verify: - Full name and SSN (obviously) - Current address and phone number - Date and place of birth - Parents' full names including mother's maiden name - Previous addresses (going back 5-10 years) - Bank account info for direct deposit - Employment history (most recent employers) - Marriage history if applicable The key is to have ALL your personal documents in front of you when they call. Birth certificate, Social Security card, driver's license, recent tax returns, bank statements, etc. If they ask something you're unsure about, it's better to say "I need a moment to check my records" than to guess and be wrong.

The SSA's identity verification process is actually somewhat randomized - they pull questions from your credit report and other databases. Each person gets different questions based on their history. For your situation, I would recommend: 1. Pull your free credit report before your call (annualcreditreport.com) - this often shows address history 2. Write down all addresses you've lived at for the past 30 years with approximate dates 3. Make a list of all employers with dates of employment 4. Note all name changes if applicable 5. Have details about any loans, mortgages or financial accounts you've had The key is preparation. They're trying to confirm you are you, not trip you up.

they asked me the weirdest stuff when i called! like what car i bought in 2011 and some loan amount from like 15 years ago. i was like how am i supposed to remember that?? but somehow i guessed right lol. just have all ur paperwork with u and maybe old tax forms if u have them.

After my third attempt to verify my identity with Social Security (kept getting disconnected or denied), I discovered a service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person without the usual 2+ hour wait. They connected me directly with an SSA agent who was able to help me verify my identity. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Their website is claimyr.com - it was seriously worth it given your situation. The agent I spoke with was actually understanding and let me verify my identity through alternative means when I couldn't remember some details.

DO NOT GUESS on their identity questions!! I did this and got LOCKED OUT of my account for 60 DAYS! If you don't know an answer, tell them you don't recall exactly and ask if there's an alternative way to verify. Sometimes they can mail a verification code to your address on file instead. Also keep in mind the SSA phone systems are TERRIBLE and you might get disconnected multiple times. Start calling EARLY in the morning (right when they open) for shorter wait times.

I had trouble remembering old addresses too. When the agent asked me about an address from 20+ years ago, I was honest and said I couldn't remember the exact address but could describe the neighborhood and approximate years I lived there. The agent was actually understanding and asked me different verification questions instead. They have multiple questions they can ask - if you can't answer one, they'll usually try another approach. Bring your medical records too since you mentioned vision problems. If you're applying for disability-related benefits in addition to retirement, having documentation of your condition will be helpful.

When I called the SS office last month, I talked to a nice lady who just asked for my social security number, birth date, and mother's maiden name. Easy peasy! But my friend had to answer all kinds of crazy questions when she called. I think it depends on who answers your call lol!

I've been through this nightmare THREE TIMES! My advice: call your local Social Security office directly instead of the main number if possible. The local offices sometimes have more flexibility with verification. Also, if you have online access to MySocialSecurity account, you might be able to start the application online and then finish by phone, which sometimes requires less stringent verification. Just make sure you can log in to your online account BEFORE your application date!

Since you mentioned being partially blind, you should know that your vision condition might qualify you for additional benefits beyond just retirement. Depending on the severity, you might be eligible for disability benefits in addition to retirement. Make sure to mention your vision impairment during your application and ask if you should be applying for additional benefits. Having medical documentation ready will help with this process as well.

I'm so sorry you went through that frustrating experience at 62 - that must have been heartbreaking! Here are some additional tips that might help based on my own application experience: Consider having a trusted friend or family member present during your call who can help you locate documents if needed. Since you mentioned vision problems, having someone assist with reading paperwork could be really valuable. Also, before your call, try contacting your bank, previous employers, or landlords to get written records of addresses and employment dates. Many banks can provide a history of your addresses based on where statements were sent. One thing that really helped me was creating a "cheat sheet" with all my key information written in large print (or having someone write it for you): SSN, all addresses with dates, parents' info, employment history, etc. Finally, don't hesitate to ask the SSA representative to repeat questions or speak more slowly if needed. They're trained to accommodate people with disabilities and should be patient with you. You've got this! The fact that you're preparing ahead of time shows you're taking the right approach. Wishing you the best of luck with your application next week!

Lucas, I want to share something that really helped me when I was in a similar situation. Since you mentioned being partially blind, you should know that you can request to have someone else (like a trusted family member or friend) on the call with you as an "authorized representative" to help with reading documents and taking notes. You'll need to give verbal permission at the beginning of the call, but this can make the whole process much less stressful. I also discovered that if you've ever had a my.ssa.gov account (even if you can't use it now due to vision issues), they sometimes have your previous application attempts on file, which can actually help with verification since they already have some of your information from when you tried at 62. One thing I wish someone had told me: if they start asking really obscure questions that you can't answer, you can actually request to verify your identity through your local SSA office in person instead. Sometimes the in-person verification process is more accommodating for people with disabilities. Given your vision challenges, this might be worth mentioning as a backup option if the phone verification doesn't go smoothly. Also, make sure to ask about getting your benefits backdated if possible - since you've been waiting and your vision has worsened, you might be entitled to some retroactive payments. You're going to do great this time! The fact that you're reaching out and preparing shows you've learned from the previous experience. Wishing you all the best with your call next week!