Thank you everyone for your helpful responses! I'm disappointed that the SSA rep gave me completely wrong information, but at least now I know I need to call again. I'll try the early morning trick and if that doesn't work, I might try that Claimyr service or just visit the office in person. I really appreciate knowing I'm not alone in this frustration. Planning for retirement is stressful enough without getting the runaround from SSA. I'll update if I learn anything new when I finally get through to someone.

I'm so sorry for your loss and the frustrating experience you've had with SSA. As someone who went through a similar situation when my spouse passed away last year, I can tell you that the misinformation from representatives is unfortunately common. What helped me was actually requesting to speak with a "claims specialist" rather than just any representative when I called. These specialists tend to be more knowledgeable about survivor benefits. Also, I found that calling right at 8am EST when they open gave me the shortest wait times - usually under 30 minutes versus hours later in the day. One thing that might help while you're waiting: gather all your husband's employment records and your marriage certificate ahead of time. When you do get through, having these documents ready will make the conversation much more productive. The specialist can walk through different claiming scenarios with you since you have that important decision point coming up at 60. Hang in there - it's worth the hassle to get accurate information about your benefits!

I'm a former SSA employee and unfortunately what you experienced is becoming the norm at most field offices. The staffing shortages are real and many offices are operating with skeleton crews. Here's what I'd recommend based on your situation: 1. **Online application is your best bet** - Complete it as a retirement application, then in the remarks section write something like: "I am applying for SPOUSAL BENEFITS ONLY on my husband's record. Husband's name: [Full Name], SSN: XXX-XX-XXXX. I want to file a restricted application for spousal benefits while allowing my own retirement benefit to continue growing until age 70." 2. **Upload documents** - You can upload your marriage certificate directly through the online portal, which will speed up processing. 3. **Don't wait for their call** - In my experience, about 30% of scheduled phone appointments either don't happen or happen late. The online route is much more reliable. 4. **Follow up** - After submitting online, call the 800 number in about 2 weeks to confirm they received everything and understood your intent for spousal benefits only. The whole "I don't have 45 minutes" excuse is ridiculous - that's literally what they're paid to do. But fighting the system won't help you get your benefits faster. The online route with clear instructions in the remarks section is your fastest path forward.

I work as a benefits counselor and see this type of scheduling delay constantly now. The SSA field offices are running on bare minimum staff and using phone appointments to manage their impossible caseloads. Here's my advice: Go with the online application immediately. Don't wait 7 weeks for a phone call that may or may not happen on time. In the remarks section, be very specific: "I am filing a RESTRICTED APPLICATION for spousal benefits only on my husband's record [include his name and SSN]. I do NOT want to file for my own retirement benefits at this time as I plan to delay until age 70 for maximum credits." Since you're 67 and born before 1954, you have this valuable option that younger people don't. Take advantage of it! The online system actually processes these faster than phone applications in most cases. One tip: After you submit online, print out your confirmation receipt and keep calling every 2 weeks to check status. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with SSA unfortunately.

After scheduling with Claimyr, I found the SSA agent I spoke with was really helpful about explaining the next steps. They told me exactly what documents to bring to my in-person appointment. Saved me from making multiple trips. Since you're dealing with a somewhat unusual situation with your brother-in-law being estranged and homeless, it might help to talk to an agent first who can advise on your specific case before going in.

I'm so sorry for your loss and what you've had to go through with this difficult situation. As someone new to navigating Social Security benefits, I wanted to ask - is there a time limit on when you need to apply for the $255 death benefit? I see someone mentioned 2 years, but I'm wondering if that's a hard deadline or if there are any exceptions, especially in cases like yours where the person was homeless and estranged from family. Also, if you don't mind me asking, roughly how long did the whole process take from start to finish for those who have been through this? I'm trying to help my elderly neighbor who might be in a similar situation soon.

had this happen last year banks dont know SS rules half the time lol they almost sent back june and july payments when my uncle died in august!!! crazy stuff

I'm sorry for your loss, Ella. I went through this exact situation when my father passed away in 2022. The key thing to remember is that Social Security payments are made for the PREVIOUS month, so that August 3rd payment was legitimately for July when your mother was alive the entire month. Here's what I'd recommend: Contact the bank manager immediately and be very specific - tell them to ONLY return the August 28th payment (which would be for August, a month she didn't live through completely). The August 3rd payment should stay in the account as it was properly earned for July. I'd also suggest getting this in writing from the bank about which payment they're returning, just in case there are any issues later. Banks sometimes get confused about Social Security payment timing, so being crystal clear upfront will save you potential headaches down the road. If they do accidentally return the wrong payment, you'll need to contact SSA with your executor paperwork and death certificate to get it straightened out. Better to prevent the mistake than fix it later though!

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I'm definitely going to try to get through to a Technical Expert since it seems like they're the only ones who really understand these complicated cases. I'll plan on getting some increase but not the full 50% I was hoping for. At least I know now why I was getting such different answers. I'll update after I speak with someone who can do the actual calculations for my specific situation.

I'm a Social Security Administration representative and want to clarify the correct information about divorced spousal benefits since there's been some confusion in this thread. When you file for divorced spousal benefits after your Full Retirement Age (which you will be at 69), the divorced spousal portion itself won't be reduced for age. However, since you took your own retirement benefit early at 62, that portion remains permanently reduced. Here's how it works: You'll receive the HIGHER of either (1) your current reduced benefit, or (2) up to 50% of your ex-husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). You don't get both benefits - it's not additive. The key calculation is comparing 50% of his PIA to your current reduced benefit amount. If 50% of his PIA is higher than what you're currently receiving, you'll get that higher amount. If your current benefit is already close to or exceeds 50% of his PIA, you may see little to no increase. For accurate calculations specific to your situation, I recommend scheduling an appointment at your local SSA office or requesting to speak with a Technical Expert who can access your earnings records and provide exact figures. The online my Social Security account at ssa.gov can also provide benefit estimates.