I'm so very sorry for the loss of your mother, Jasmine. Sudden losses like this are especially shocking and my heart goes out to you and your family. I want to echo what others have said about calling SSA at 1-800-772-1213, but I also wanted to share something that might help with the waiting times. If you have access to a computer, you can also create a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov and report the death through their online system. Sometimes this can be faster than calling, especially during busy periods. You'll still likely need to follow up with a phone call, but it can get the initial report started. Also, when you do speak with SSA, ask them to send you a written confirmation that the death has been reported and that they've initiated the payment reclamation. Having this documentation can be helpful if any questions come up later with the bank or other agencies. Take care of yourself during this difficult time. You're doing everything right, even when it doesn't feel like it.

I'm so incredibly sorry for your loss, Jasmine. Losing your mother suddenly like this is unimaginable, and my heart truly goes out to you during this devastating time. I wanted to add one more resource that might help you navigate this process. Many local SSA offices also have grief counselors or social workers who specialize in helping families through these situations. When you call the main number, you can ask if they have someone specifically trained in bereavement services who could walk you through not just the payment return process, but also help you understand all the other SSA-related tasks you might need to handle. Also, if you have other family members who might be calling SSA about your mother's death (siblings, spouse, etc.), make sure to coordinate so that multiple people aren't reporting the same information - this can sometimes cause confusion in their system. One last thing - please don't feel like you have to handle all of this immediately. SSA understands that families need time to grieve, and while it's good to report the death promptly, they won't penalize you if it takes a few days to get everything sorted out. You're being so thoughtful and responsible during an incredibly difficult time. Your mother would be proud of how you're handling everything. Sending you strength and comfort.

Just want to add something important that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you do decide to work, make sure your employer understands your disability and any accommodations you might need. Under the ADA, they're required to provide reasonable accommodations as long as it doesn't cause undue hardship to the business. Also, keep detailed records of how work affects your health condition. If your symptoms worsen or you need to reduce hours/stop working, this documentation will be crucial if you need to request benefit reinstatement or prove that your condition hasn't improved. One more tip: consider starting with temporary or seasonal work if possible. This gives you a chance to test how your body handles working without committing to a permanent position. Places like tax preparation services, retail during holidays, or event staffing can be good options for limited-time work while you figure out what you can handle. The anxiety about potentially losing benefits is totally understandable, but with proper planning and documentation, many people successfully work part-time while maintaining their SSDI safety net.

I've been working part-time while on SSDI for the past year and wanted to share my experience to hopefully help ease some of your anxiety. Like you, I was terrified of losing my benefits, but it's actually been manageable with the right approach. Here's what worked for me: 1. I contacted a WIPA counselor BEFORE I started looking for work (as PixelWarrior mentioned). They walked me through my specific situation and helped me understand exactly where I stood with my Trial Work Period months. 2. I found a very understanding employer who was willing to work with my limitations and keep my hours consistent so I could stay well under the SGA limit. 3. I set up a simple spreadsheet to track my monthly earnings, hours worked, and any symptoms/bad days. This has been invaluable for my own peace of mind and documentation. 4. I report my wages religiously every month, even when they're the same amount. Better to over-communicate than under-communicate with SSA. The extra income has made such a difference in my quality of life, and I still have my SSDI as a safety net. Yes, the system is confusing and sometimes frustrating, but it IS possible to work part-time successfully while maintaining your benefits if you're careful and proactive about following the rules. Don't let fear keep you trapped at home if you think you can handle some work. Just do your homework first and document everything!

I've been following this discussion and wanted to add one more consideration that might be helpful. If you do decide to wait until your FRA (which sounds like the smart move based on everyone's advice), make sure you understand what happens to any delayed retirement credits. While ex-spouse benefits don't earn delayed retirement credits past FRA, YOUR own retirement benefit does continue to grow by about 8% per year until age 70 if you delay claiming. So if your own benefit might eventually be higher than the ex-spouse benefit, waiting until 70 to claim could maximize your monthly payment for life. Also, just a heads up - even though the earnings test goes away at FRA, you'll still need to consider the tax implications of Social Security benefits combined with your work income. The taxation thresholds are pretty low, so you might end up paying taxes on a significant portion of your benefits even after FRA. It's frustrating how complicated they've made this system, but it sounds like you're getting good advice here to wait it out!

I just went through a very similar situation last year and wanted to share what I learned. I'm 65 now and was also considering claiming on my ex-husband's record while still working. After doing a lot of research and talking to a financial advisor, I decided to wait until my FRA. Here's what really helped me make the decision: I used the Social Security Administration's online calculator to run different scenarios. You can input your current earnings and see exactly how much they would withhold under the earnings test. In my case, with a $40K income, they would have taken back almost 75% of my benefits - it just wasn't worth the hassle. One thing I didn't see mentioned here is that if you're close to your ex-husband's age, his benefits might still be growing too if he hasn't reached 70 yet. So the 50% calculation for your ex-spouse benefit could actually increase if he's still earning delayed retirement credits. My advice? Create that MySocialSecurity account ASAP (it's actually pretty straightforward to set up) and run the numbers for yourself. Compare your projected benefit at 70 vs the ex-spouse benefit vs claiming now with the earnings reduction. The math will help you decide what's best for your specific situation. Good luck navigating this - I know how frustrating it can be when you can't get through to anyone at SSA for real answers!

Next year remember to print or save a copy of that survivor 1099 as soon as you get it!!! I learned my lesson and now I scan EVERYTHING from SSA the minute it arrives because trying to get replacements is a nightmare!!!

Great to hear you got through to SSA and got confirmation! I'm a newcomer here but dealing with something similar - I switched from disability to retirement benefits mid-year and only seeing one 1099 online. Based on everyone's advice here, it sounds like I should expect a separate mailed form for the disability benefits portion. This thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding how SSA handles multiple benefit types. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's reassuring to know this is a common issue and not something wrong with our accounts!

As a new member here, I just want to echo what others have said about how helpful this community is! I'm actually dealing with a similar situation right now - trying to access my SSA account to update my direct deposit information before next month's payment, and I've been getting those same timeout errors since this morning. Reading through all the suggestions here has been incredibly valuable. I had no idea about services like Claimyr or that the SSA website tends to have more issues during certain times of the month. I'm definitely going to bookmark the system status page that Felicity mentioned and follow their social media accounts for updates. It's really frustrating that we have to jump through so many hoops just to access basic services we're entitled to, but I'm grateful for communities like this where we can share workarounds and support each other. The backup planning strategies that Oliver and Marcelle shared are brilliant - I'm going to set up accounts on multiple browsers and save my local office information right away. Thanks everyone for being so welcoming and helpful to newcomers like me!

Hi everyone! I'm new to this community and just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been. I've been dealing with SSA for the first time due to a recent disability claim, and honestly, I had no idea that website outages were such a common occurrence or that there were so many workarounds available. Reading through all your experiences and solutions has been like getting a crash course in navigating SSA services! The tips about Claimyr, keeping local office numbers handy, setting up accounts on multiple browsers, and being aware of timing patterns around benefit processing periods - this is all information I wish I'd had when I started this process months ago. It's really disheartening that in 2025 we still have to deal with such unreliable government systems, but what gives me hope is seeing how this community comes together to share knowledge and support each other. The collective wisdom here is amazing, and I'm so grateful that people are willing to share their hard-earned experiences to help newcomers like me avoid the same frustrations. I'm definitely implementing several of these backup strategies right away, and I'll be sure to pay it forward by sharing any useful tips I discover along my own SSA journey. Thank you all for being so welcoming and helpful!