I'm so sorry for your loss, Nia. Losing a spouse is heartbreaking, and having to navigate Social Security's confusing bureaucracy while grieving just makes everything so much harder. Reading through this entire discussion has been really eye-opening about how critical it is to get the timeline details absolutely right. The distinction between your regular retirement FRA and your survivor benefit FRA that everyone's discussing could literally make or break your financial planning for the next several years. If you were born in March 1963 and are turning 62 next month, your survivor benefit FRA would indeed be around age 66 and 2 months (roughly May 2029), not September 2025. This means the earnings limit on your survivor benefits could continue until 2029 - that's potentially 4 more years of benefit reductions than you're planning for with your $48,000 consulting income. Before your appointment next week, I'd suggest writing down these exact questions: - "What is my precise Full Retirement Age for survivor benefits - the exact month and year?" - "Is the September 2025 date my regular retirement FRA or my survivor benefit FRA?" - "If I earn $48,000 from March 2025 through 2029, exactly how much will be withheld from my survivor benefits?" - "Would it be better financially to take my own reduced retirement benefit now and switch to survivor benefits at my actual survivor FRA?" Don't let them rush you or give vague answers. Get everything in writing, ask for their employee ID, and request a mailed summary of your conversation. The timeline confusion could mean the difference between managing earnings limits for 8 months versus 4+ years. That's a huge difference in your ability to continue your consulting work without major benefit reductions. You deserve clear, accurate information to make the best decision during this incredibly difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Nia. Losing a spouse is devastating, and having to navigate SSA's complex system while grieving just adds another layer of difficulty to an already overwhelming time. This thread has really highlighted something crucial that you absolutely need to clarify at your appointment next week. There's been a lot of discussion about the timeline confusion between your regular retirement FRA and your survivor benefit FRA, and this distinction is critical because it could mean the difference between dealing with earnings limits for months versus years. As a newcomer to this community, I've been learning so much from everyone's experiences here, and what strikes me most is how many people have gotten conflicting or incomplete information from different SSA representatives. It seems like going into your appointment with very specific, written questions and demanding exact dates (not vague timeframes) is absolutely essential. The potential difference between earnings limits ending in September 2025 versus potentially continuing until 2029 (if your survivor FRA is actually around age 66 and 2 months) could completely change your strategy for balancing survivor benefits with your consulting income. That's potentially years of benefit reductions we're talking about. I'd echo what others have said about getting everything documented - ask for their employee ID, take detailed notes, and request a written summary. Given all the stories here about inconsistent information, protecting yourself with proper documentation seems crucial. Wishing you strength and clarity for your appointment. You're asking all the right questions, and I hope you finally get the accurate, consistent answers you deserve to make the best decision for your situation.

I'm so sorry for your loss and the incredible frustration you must be experiencing after waiting 18+ months. This is completely unacceptable - final payments for deceased beneficiaries should typically be processed within 60-90 days, not nearly two years! I went through something very similar when my father passed in early 2023. After months of getting nowhere with our local office giving me the same "it's pending" runaround, I finally got results by taking a multi-pronged approach: 1) Called the main SSA number (1-800-772-1213) at exactly 8:00 AM and used the specific phrase "delayed underpayment for deceased beneficiary" - this seemed to route me to someone with actual authority to investigate payment delays rather than just take a message. 2) Asked them to verify that my SSA-1724 form had actually made it to the regional Payment Center that processes these claims. Turns out it had been sitting at the local office for 8 months and was never forwarded! 3) Filed a complaint with the SSA Office of Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov under "payment processing delays" which triggered a different level of review. 4) Contacted my Congressional representative's office for a Social Security case inquiry - they have dedicated staff for these exact situations. Within 3 weeks of taking these steps, I finally got a callback from someone who could actually track down what happened and the payment was issued shortly after. Don't let them keep giving you vague responses - after 18 months you deserve specific answers and immediate action. This money is legally owed and there's no expiration date on claiming it. Stay persistent and don't give up!

I'm so sorry for your loss and the unbelievable stress this delay must be adding during an already difficult time. 18+ months is absolutely outrageous for what should be a routine final payment - you have every right to be frustrated and demand better service. I work with seniors and their families navigating government benefits, and unfortunately this type of extreme delay has become more common since 2020. Based on what I've seen work for other families, here's what I'd recommend: **Immediate action:** Call 1-800-772-1213 tomorrow at exactly 8:00 AM and use these specific words: "I need help with a delayed underpayment for deceased beneficiary." This exact phrasing seems to route you to representatives who actually have authority to investigate payment delays instead of just taking messages. **Key question to ask:** Have them verify that your SSA-1724 actually made it to the regional Payment Center that processes these claims. Many times forms get stuck at local offices and never get properly forwarded - which would explain the endless "pending" status with no progress. **If phone calls fail:** File a complaint at oig.ssa.gov under "payment processing delays" and contact your Congressional representative's office for a Social Security case inquiry. Both can cut through bureaucratic gridlock when normal channels fail. **Document everything:** Start keeping detailed records of every interaction - dates, times, representative names, and exactly what they tell you. After 18+ months, you deserve specific answers about what's causing the delay and a concrete timeline for resolution, not vague brush-offs. Don't give up - this payment is legally owed to your mother's estate and there's no time limit on claiming it. With the right approach, this can still be resolved!

Same experience here! And I just want to add that if you're married and only one person is working, the earnings limit only applies to the person actually receiving benefits. My wife kept working full-time while I took early SS and it didn't affect my benefits at all.

Just to add another important point - make sure you report any changes in your work income to SSA promptly! They prefer to adjust your benefits prospectively rather than have to recover overpayments later. You can report changes online through your my Social Security account or by calling them. I've found that being proactive about reporting income changes saves a lot of headaches down the road, especially since the earnings test calculations can get complex with irregular work schedules or seasonal employment.

As someone new to this community, I'm really impressed by the comprehensive advice and support everyone has provided here! I'm actually in the early stages of considering adopting my great-nephew (age 5) who currently receives survivor benefits from his father, so this entire discussion has been incredibly valuable for understanding what we might face. One thing I wanted to add that might be helpful - I recently attended a Social Security workshop at our local senior center, and the presenter mentioned something called a "protective filing" that can sometimes be useful in complex situations like this. Essentially, if you think you might be eligible for benefits but aren't sure about timing or documentation, you can file a protective claim that preserves your potential entitlement date while you gather everything needed for a formal application. This might be worth asking about when you meet with SSA, especially given the timing considerations several people have mentioned regarding applying for retirement benefits before or after the adoption is finalized. Also, @Zara Ahmed, I noticed you mentioned planning retirement "within the next year or two" - you might want to check if either you or your wife will qualify for any special timing considerations since you're caring for a child under 16. Sometimes this can affect the optimal timing for benefit applications. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread has become such a comprehensive guide for families navigating these complex benefit situations!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful to have found this comprehensive discussion! I'm currently in a similar situation with my adopted daughter (age 7) who receives survivor benefits from her biological mother, and my husband and I are approaching retirement age. Reading through everyone's experiences has been so enlightening, especially the practical tips about documentation and the various SSA processes involved. One thing I wanted to add that might be helpful - I recently learned from our local AARP chapter that they offer free Social Security counseling sessions where trained volunteers can help you understand benefit calculations and timing strategies. This might be a good complement to meeting directly with SSA, especially for getting a second opinion on the complex benefit interactions you're dealing with. Also, based on what I've read here, I'm planning to create what I'm calling a "benefits roadmap" that outlines all the key decision points and timelines for our situation. This would include things like optimal retirement filing dates, when to notify SSA about the adoption, and what documents to prepare at each stage. It seems like having this kind of strategic overview could help avoid some of the confusion and delays others have experienced. @Zara Ahmed - your proactive approach to researching this thoroughly before the adoption is finalized is so smart! This thread has become such an invaluable resource for families in complex benefit situations. Thank you to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - it's made me feel much more confident about navigating our own path forward.

I'm a family law attorney who has worked on Social Security benefit cases, and I want to strongly encourage you not to give up yet. The advice you've received here about checking the exact legal dates is absolutely critical. I've seen cases where couples believed they had divorced and remarried when legally they never actually completed the first divorce due to procedural issues, missing signatures, or filing errors. Also, pay close attention to whether your state requires a waiting period after filing for divorce before it becomes final - some states have 30, 60, or even 90-day waiting periods. If you reconciled and remarried during that waiting period, you may have had one continuous marriage legally speaking. Additionally, check if your first divorce decree contained any language about "interlocutory" vs "final" decrees - some jurisdictions issue preliminary divorce orders that don't become final until additional steps are completed. I'd also recommend requesting a complete file from the court clerk's office for both divorce proceedings, not just the final decrees. Sometimes there are amended orders, continuances, or other documents that could affect the timeline. Given that you were married 11 years total to the same person, this is definitely worth pursuing thoroughly before accepting that you don't qualify.

I'm a Social Security benefits coordinator at a nonprofit that helps seniors navigate the system, and I want to add one more important consideration that hasn't been mentioned yet. When you go to your local SSA field office with all your documentation, ask specifically to speak with a Claims Specialist or Technical Expert rather than a general service representative. These specialists have advanced training in complex cases and access to detailed policy manuals that can make all the difference in situations like yours. Also, if your initial review doesn't go in your favor, don't be afraid to ask for a supervisor or request that they document their decision in writing with specific policy citations. Sometimes a fresh set of eyes or someone with more experience can spot something that was missed initially. I've seen cases where the first representative said "no way" but a supervisor or specialist found a pathway to approval. Given all the excellent advice in this thread about potential legal technicalities with your divorce/remarriage timeline, I'm cautiously optimistic that there might be something there for you. The key is getting the right person at SSA to do a thorough review with someone who really knows the ins and outs of these complex marriage duration rules.