I'm so glad you were able to get everything sorted out, Omar! Your experience is a great reminder for others that calling the local office directly can be much more effective than the national hotline. It's encouraging to hear that the staff was helpful and accommodating during such a difficult time. Having dealt with similar paperwork issues myself, I know how overwhelming it can feel when you're already grieving. Wishing you the best as you wrap up the tax filing process.

As someone who works in tax preparation, I want to emphasize how important it is to get the actual SS-1099 rather than trying to estimate from bank deposits. The form contains crucial information that affects the tax calculation - not just the gross benefits in Box 3, but also details about any Medicare Part B premium adjustments, voluntary tax withholding, and whether any benefits are considered a repayment of prior year benefits. These details can significantly impact the taxable amount and potential deductions. I'm glad you were able to get the official form, Omar - your tax preparer will definitely appreciate having all the correct figures to work with.

Just want to add another perspective as someone who started benefits at FRA while still working. The key thing that helped me was getting everything in writing from SSA. When I called, I asked the agent to send me a written confirmation of how the earnings test would apply to my specific situation. This way I had documentation if there were any issues later. Also, don't forget that once you start receiving benefits, you'll need to report your estimated earnings for the following year on Form SSA-777. Since you're planning to continue working full-time through 2025, you'll want to be prepared for that. But again, since there's no earnings limit after FRA, it's really just for their records and won't affect your benefit amount. The peace of mind of having everything documented upfront was worth the extra step for me!

As someone who just went through this process myself (reached FRA last month), I can confirm what others are saying is correct. The earnings limit only applies BEFORE you reach FRA, and even then, in the year you reach FRA, they use a higher limit and only count earnings from months before your FRA month. One tip I'd add: when you do call SSA, have your estimated monthly earnings ready to share with them. They can run the exact calculation for your situation and tell you definitively whether you'd be over the limit for January-August 2025. With your $86K salary, you're probably fine, but it's worth confirming. Also, I'd recommend applying about 3 months before your FRA date (so around June) to ensure everything gets processed in time. The application process can take a while, and you want your first payment to start the month after you reach FRA without any delays. Don't let the complexity scare you off - you've earned those benefits and there's no reason to leave money on the table by waiting until 2026 if you don't need to!

I'm a newcomer to this community but found this thread incredibly informative as someone who might be facing a similar situation soon. My mother worked as a teacher for 30 years and has been affected by WEP, so I've been trying to help her understand how the repeal might impact her benefits. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been eye-opening - especially the advice about being very specific during phone calls with SSA and asking for direct contact information and reference numbers. It sounds like the key is to be proactive and clearly connect all the different issues you're dealing with rather than assuming they'll figure it out on their own. @AstroAdventurer - I hope your March 18 call goes smoothly! It sounds like you're well-prepared now with all the great advice from this thread. Please consider updating us on how it goes - I'm sure others in similar situations would benefit from hearing about your actual experience with the process. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes navigating these complex government systems more manageable!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm also dealing with WEP repeal issues but haven't applied for spousal benefits yet. Reading everyone's experiences makes me realize I should probably call SSA soon to check on my WEP recalculation status - I've been waiting since January and haven't heard anything. One thing I'm curious about - for those who have received their WEP backpay, did it come as a direct deposit or a check? And did you get any advance notice that the payment was coming? I want to make sure I'm watching for it in the right place and don't miss any notifications. Also, @AstroAdventurer, the advice about writing down specific questions before your call is so smart. I think I'll do the same when I finally work up the courage to call them. The phone system is so frustrating but it sounds like it's worth pushing through to get answers directly from a representative.

One thing I wanted to mention - when I was applying for survivor benefits, my friend gave me a tip to specifically request an appointment with a claims specialist who handles survivor benefits. Not all reps are equally knowledgeable about all benefit types. It made a huge difference in my case because the specialist caught something that would have reduced my benefit that the previous person I spoke with missed completely.

This is such valuable information - thank you all for sharing your experiences! I'm a widow myself (husband passed 2 years ago) and I've been trying to navigate this maze of decisions. @PaulineW your tip about requesting a specialist is gold - I had no idea you could do that. @Josef Tearle the earnings test info is crucial too since I'm also considering some part-time work. It sounds like the key takeaway is that yes, the survivor benefit strategy can work, but there are so many variables (reduced benefits if taken early, earnings limits, whether your spouse reached FRA, etc.) that really require getting personalized advice from SSA. I think I'll use that Claimyr service @Charity Cohan mentioned to actually get through to someone knowledgeable. Has anyone else used services like that to get past the long hold times?

this happened to my neighbor too!!! her son was disabled and when her husband died the checks stayed the same. when she finally figured it out like 5 years later they gave her back pay but only for like 1 year not the whole 5 years. fight for all the back pay!!!!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - it sounds incredibly stressful to discover there might have been an error for so many years. Based on what others have shared here, it really does sound like your son should have been automatically converted to survivor benefits when his father passed away in 2012. The good news is that if SSA made an error, they are generally required to correct it and provide back payments. However, I'd suggest being prepared for the possibility that they might initially pushback or claim there's a time limit on corrections. Don't let them discourage you - if this was their administrative error, you have strong grounds to fight for full retroactive payment. When you call, also ask them to provide you with a written explanation of your son's current benefit type and calculation. Having everything in writing will be important if you need to escalate the issue or file an appeal. Document every conversation you have with them, including dates, times, and the names of representatives you speak with. Good luck - I really hope you're able to get this resolved and get your son the benefits he's entitled to!