my sil got in big trouble with SS cuz she went over the limit and didnt tell them. they made her pay back thousands!! make sure u report if u earn more than u think

Don't forget to consider your health insurance situation too! If you're getting health benefits through your part-time job, that might factor into your decision about when to claim. Medicare doesn't start until 65, so if you need those employer benefits to bridge the gap, that could influence your timing. Also, since you mentioned being overwhelmed - the SSA website has a really helpful retirement estimator tool that lets you plug in different scenarios to see how your monthly payments would differ at 62, 64, FRA, or even waiting until 70. It helped me visualize the long-term impact much better than just reading about percentages!

my cousin works for ssa she says most ppl mess up paperwork when they apply and it delays benefits for months

As someone just starting to research this myself, I've found the AARP Social Security calculator really helpful for getting a baseline understanding of different scenarios. It's free and walks you through the basics before you dive into the more advanced tools others have mentioned. I'd also suggest checking if your local library offers free financial planning workshops - ours had a "Social Security Maximization" session that covered spousal strategies with real examples. Sometimes having someone explain it in person makes all the difference when you're trying to wrap your head around all the variables.

One more important point: If you find you are eligible for a small survivor benefit after the GPO reduction, you should know that you would receive your own benefit PLUS the additional survivor amount. You don't have to choose one or the other - if your survivor benefit after GPO would be higher than your current benefit, you'd receive your current benefit plus the difference. This is why it's definitely worth having SSA do the calculation.

I'm so glad you're looking into this now! As someone who went through a similar situation with my late spouse's benefits, I can tell you that the initial advice you received was unfortunately not uncommon - SSA representatives sometimes give oversimplified answers about WEP/GPO without doing the detailed calculations. Here's what I'd recommend for your appointment: 1. Bring certified copies of all documents (death certificate, marriage certificate, your pension award letter) 2. Ask them to calculate BOTH scenarios - your current benefit vs. potential survivor benefit after GPO 3. Request they show you the math on paper so you can understand exactly how they arrived at their conclusion 4. If there's any benefit due, ask about retroactive payments (even if limited to 6 months) Given that your numbers are so close to the GPO threshold, even small differences in the actual calculations versus your rounded estimates could make you eligible for some monthly benefit. The worst they can say is no, but you'll have peace of mind knowing you explored every option. Good luck!

When I called Claimyr to get connected to Social Security for my situation, the agent I spoke to mentioned that hospital social workers can help file something called a "dire need" request to expedite SSDI processing. Has anyone done this successfully? Might be worth asking about given the hospitalization.

I'm so sorry your family is going through this difficult situation. As someone who has navigated SSDI with a family member, I wanted to add a few practical tips that might help his kids right now: 1. **Document everything** - Keep a detailed log of his symptoms, medications, hospitalizations, and how the condition affects his daily activities. This will be crucial for the SSDI application. 2. **Contact his previous employers** - They'll need his work history and earnings records. The trade show company might have documentation of any work limitations he experienced before hospitalization. 3. **Ask hospital staff about discharge planning** - They should be coordinating with social workers about his ability to return to work and live independently. Get copies of all these assessments. 4. **Consider getting help from a disability attorney** - Many work on contingency (no fee unless you win) and can navigate the complex process while the family focuses on his health. The combination of his age, documented mental health crisis, and inability to work creates a potentially strong SSDI case. The key is getting all the paperwork and medical evidence organized while he's still receiving treatment. Wishing your family strength during this challenging time.

my sister waited til she was 66 and 8 months (her FRA) and her application was approved in like 2 weeks!! seems like they prioritize people at full retirement age, so early filers like us wait longer. not fair but thats how they do it i guess

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed online in December for benefits starting in April when I turn 64, and the waiting is nerve-wracking. Like you, I haven't heard anything yet and keep obsessively checking my account. One thing that's helped my anxiety is setting up text alerts through my mySocialSecurity account - that way I'll get notified immediately if there are any updates or messages. Also, I've been keeping copies of all my important documents (birth certificate, tax returns, bank info) in one folder so I'm ready to respond quickly when they do contact me. The silence really is the worst part! But reading these responses makes me feel better that this seems to be normal. We both applied with plenty of time before our start dates, so hopefully we'll both be fine.