my wife filed dec 5 for jan benefits and got aproved jan 23 so like 7 weeks. but her sister filed same day and still waiting now. ssme office even. makes no sense how random it is

Update: I finally got through to SSA today after trying at exactly 8:00am! The agent said my application had a flag because I had worked in another state for a few years and they were waiting on wage verification. She removed the flag since it had been pending too long and said my benefits should be processed within 5-7 business days. She also confirmed I'll receive backpay for January and February. Thank you all for your advice and sharing your experiences!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Khalid. Losing a parent is incredibly difficult, and having to figure out Social Security benefits during such an emotional time adds extra stress. Everyone here has given you excellent advice about the payment timing - you should receive the November 23rd payment since it's actually for October when your mother was alive the entire month. Social Security pays in arrears, so each payment is for the previous month. One additional tip I'd share is to keep detailed records of all your interactions with SSA - dates you called, who you spoke with, reference numbers if they give you any. This can be really helpful if there are any complications later. Also, when you do get through to report the death, ask them to send you written confirmation that the death has been reported and processed in their system. The phone system is notoriously difficult, but don't give up. Many people have success calling right when they open at 8 AM or during lunch hours when call volume might be lighter. If all else fails, the in-person visit is definitely worth trying. Take care of yourself during this difficult time - you're handling a lot right now.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Khalid. Losing a parent is never easy, and dealing with government agencies during grief can feel overwhelming. The community here has given you really solid advice - you should indeed receive the November 23rd payment since Social Security pays in arrears, meaning that payment is actually for October when your mother was alive the entire month. I went through something similar when my grandmother passed away two years ago. One thing that helped me was preparing a simple script before calling SSA - having her Social Security number, date of death, and funeral home information written down made the conversation smoother when I finally got through. Also, if you have any siblings or other family members who might also try to report the death, make sure to coordinate so multiple people aren't calling about the same case. The advice about calling early morning or during lunch hours is spot on - I had success around 1:30 PM when I called. Don't be discouraged if it takes multiple attempts. You're doing everything right by seeking information and planning to report this promptly. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

The WORST part is how they apply these rules so INCONSISTENTLY!! My friend and I both worked for the same school district and have similar situations but got COMPLETELY different answers from SSA about our spousal benefits!!! It's like they're making it up as they go along sometimes!! 😡

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I've scheduled an appointment with SSA for next month, right after I reach my FRA. I'm gathering all my pension documentation and work history records like suggested. I'll make sure to specifically ask about how both WEP and GPO apply in my situation with the new law changes. I'm hopeful I might get a bit more in benefits, even if it's not the full 50% of my husband's PIA. Every bit helps with groceries getting so expensive lately! Wish me luck navigating the SSA bureaucracy! I'll update here after my appointment in case it helps anyone else in a similar situation.

You should really consider the whole financial picture. In my case, when my wife went back to work, we lost her SS benefit BUT: 1. She got health insurance through her employer which saved us $580/month 2. She started contributing to a 401k again 3. Her take-home pay was way more than the SS benefit Just some things to think about beyond just the SS payment itself.

I went through something very similar when my husband started collecting early retirement. The key thing to understand is that Social Security has something called the "family maximum benefit" which caps the total amount your family can receive based on the primary worker's earnings record. In your case, it sounds like you're already at or very close to that maximum ($2,170 for you + $756 each for wife and two kids = $4,438 total). When your wife stops her benefit to return to work, that $756 doesn't get redistributed to your children - it essentially just disappears from your family's total SS income. However, don't let that discourage you! When my husband and I ran the numbers, her returning to work was still financially beneficial because: - Her salary exceeded what she was getting from SS - We got employer health benefits - She could start building her own SS credits again for higher future benefits I'd recommend calling SSA directly to confirm your exact family maximum and get official guidance. Every situation is a bit different based on your specific earnings history.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Tristan. Losing a parent is heartbreaking, and dealing with all these administrative details during your grief makes an already difficult situation even more overwhelming. From what I understand about Social Security benefits, that October payment should definitely remain with your father's estate. Since Social Security pays benefits in arrears (the payment is for the previous month), that October deposit was actually for September. Because your father was alive for the entire month of September, that money rightfully belongs to his estate and SSA shouldn't try to reclaim it. The bank hold you're seeing is almost certainly their standard procedure when they receive notification of an account holder's death. Banks typically freeze accounts immediately until proper documentation is provided to prevent unauthorized access. You'll need to bring the death certificate and your executor paperwork to get the hold released. I'd strongly recommend calling Social Security directly to report your father's passing yourself, even if the funeral home said they would handle it. Sometimes there can be communication delays, and you want to make absolutely sure it's properly recorded in their system to prevent any future payments from being issued. Just be aware that if a November payment does arrive (which would be for October), that one would need to be returned since he didn't live through the entire month. When you contact SSA, also ask about the one-time $255 death benefit - surviving spouses or dependent children may be eligible. You're handling this incredibly difficult situation with such strength by asking the right questions. Take it one step at a time, and this community is here if you need more support along the way.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Tristan. Losing a parent is incredibly difficult, and having to navigate all these financial and administrative details while grieving just adds so much extra stress to an already overwhelming time. From what I understand about Social Security, that October payment should absolutely stay with your father's estate. Since Social Security pays benefits in arrears (meaning the payment is for the previous month), that October deposit was actually for September's benefits. Because your father was alive for the entire month of September, that money rightfully belongs to his estate and SSA should not try to reclaim it. The bank hold you're experiencing is almost certainly their standard procedure when they receive notification of an account holder's death, not SSA trying to take back funds. Banks typically freeze accounts immediately to prevent unauthorized access until proper documentation like the death certificate and executor paperwork is provided. I'd definitely recommend calling Social Security directly to report your father's passing yourself, even though the funeral home said they would handle it. You want to make sure it's properly recorded in their system to prevent any future payments from being issued. Just keep in mind that if a November payment does arrive (which would be for October), that one would need to be returned since he didn't live through the full month. When you contact SSA, also ask about the one-time $255 death benefit - surviving spouses or dependent children may be eligible for this. You're asking all the right questions during such a challenging time. Take care of yourself as you work through this process, and don't hesitate to reach out if you need more guidance.