My aunt went thru something similar with federal workers comp after my uncle died. The WC people kept talking about "retirement age" but what they really meant was that the CALCULATION for the offset changes, not that your benefits automatically switch to something else. Its super confusing and the WC people dont explain it very well!!! Your survivor benefits keep going as long as you dont remarry (at least that was true for my aunt).

I'm in a similar situation but just starting this process - my husband was also a federal employee who passed from work-related injuries. I'm not yet at the age to collect survivor benefits, but reading through all these responses is really eye-opening about how complicated the interaction between Workers' Comp and Social Security can be. It sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Survivor benefits don't automatically convert to retirement benefits at any age, 2) The Workers' Comp offset calculation method changes at retirement eligibility age (not the benefits themselves), and 3) Getting everything in writing from both SSA and OWCP is crucial because phone representatives often give inconsistent information. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world insight that's so hard to find elsewhere. I'm going to save this thread to reference when I get closer to filing for my benefits.

I went through this exact same process last year! Applied online in August for September benefits, and like you, heard absolutely nothing for weeks. The silence was nerve-wracking, but my first payment showed up right on schedule in October on the third Wednesday (my birthday is the 15th). The online portal never updated either - it just said "pending" until suddenly one day it switched to showing my payment history. Since your situation sounds straightforward and you already set up direct deposit, I'd expect your November payment to arrive without any drama. The SSA's communication is terrible, but their payment system is actually pretty reliable once everything is processed. Try not to stress too much - no news really is good news with them!

Just wanted to add that if you're really anxious about the status, you can also try visiting your local SSA office if there's one nearby. I know calling is a nightmare with the wait times, but sometimes the in-person folks can give you a quick status update without the phone hassle. I did this for my mom's application and they were able to confirm everything was processing normally even though the online portal hadn't updated. Just bring a photo ID and your confirmation number from when you applied. Worth considering if you need peace of mind before that November payment date!

Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - since you mentioned your work record is solid, make sure to check if you might qualify for delayed retirement credits by waiting past your full retirement age to claim. If you're the higher earner between you and your fiancé, maximizing your benefit through delayed credits (up to age 70) could really boost the survivor benefit he'd eventually receive. It's worth running the numbers to see if delaying your claim makes sense for your overall household strategy, especially with that 7-year age gap!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the importance of keeping good records of your marriage date once you do get married. SSA will need proof of your marriage for any spousal or survivor benefit claims, and having your marriage certificate readily available will make the process much smoother down the road. Also, if either of you has children from previous relationships, getting married could potentially affect their ability to claim benefits on your records in certain situations (like if they're disabled adult children). It's probably worth asking SSA about that specific scenario if it applies to your situation. Overall though, it sounds like marriage won't negatively impact your Social Security benefits - just make sure you both understand the timing of when different benefits become available!

Update on my situation - I did end up using Claimyr to get through to SSA (took about 10 minutes instead of hours), and the agent told me that my direct deposit information was actually IN their system already from my online attempt, but it was stuck in a 'pending review' status. Apparently this happens sometimes when the online form completion doesn't fully process. The agent was able to verify my banking details and approve it right away over the phone. Might be worth checking if you're in a similar situation!

I just went through this exact same frustrating experience last month! The missed phone appointments are unfortunately really common right now - I had two no-shows before finally getting through. For the online form issue, I had the same problem where clicking "save and exit" seemed scary because it sounds like you're abandoning everything. But as others mentioned, it really does take you to a confirmation page where the actual submit button appears. One tip that helped me: when you get to that final screen before "save and exit," take a screenshot of everything you've entered just in case something goes wrong. That way if you have to start over, you have all your info ready. Also, I found that using an incognito/private browser window sometimes works better with their system since it avoids any cached data conflicts. If all else fails, definitely try calling right when they open at 8 AM (not 7 AM like someone mentioned - they don't actually open until 8). The wait times are much shorter first thing in the morning. Hang in there - it's incredibly frustrating but you'll get it sorted out!

That unexpected payment of $764 labeled as "xxsupp sec/pay" could be several things: First, it might be a retroactive payment for a month where you were eligible but didn't receive your full benefits. This happens sometimes when SSA processes eligibility changes. Second, it could be an adjustment payment if SSA determined you were underpaid in previous months. Third, the amount ($764) was actually the standard federal SSI payment for an individual in 2022 before the 2023 increase to $914, so it might be related to a prior year adjustment. I strongly recommend calling SSA directly at 1-800-772-1213 or visiting your local office to get the exact explanation. Have your Social Security number and the payment details ready when you call. It's important to understand exactly what this payment is for, especially since unexpected payments sometimes need to be reported for other benefits programs you might receive. While extra money is nice, getting clarity will help you avoid any potential issues down the road if it was sent in error. Only SSA can give you the definitive answer about this specific payment.

I agree with Lena's advice to contact SSA directly for the definitive answer. That $764 amount is particularly interesting because it matches the 2022 federal SSI rate, which suggests this could be related to a prior year issue. A few additional thoughts on what this might be: - If you had any changes in living arrangements, income, or resources in 2022 that SSA is just now processing, they might owe you back payments - It could be related to a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) calculation error that they're correcting - Sometimes there are delays in processing appeals or redeterminations that result in retroactive payments When you call SSA, ask specifically about: 1. What time period this payment covers 2. Whether it affects your ongoing monthly benefits 3. If you need to report it to any other agencies (like Medicaid or SNAP) Keep all documentation about this payment, including any letters or notices from SSA. Even if it seems like "found money," it's crucial to understand the reason behind it to avoid any complications with your benefits going forward. The 1-800-772-1213 number Lena mentioned is correct, and you can also check your my Social Security account online at ssa.gov for more payment details.