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my moms payment went up but my dads didnt change either! they told him its because his medicare premium also went up by almost the same amount as the cola so it looked like no change in the final deposit. maybe check if ur husbands medicare premium changed?
Just to follow up on some of the great suggestions here: 1. Definitely check both your and your husband's Medicare premiums, as premium increases can offset COLA increases. 2. If your husband receives SSDI and you receive retirement benefits, they may process on different schedules. SSDI COLA adjustments sometimes process separately from retirement benefit adjustments. 3. The $120 payment could be: - A retroactive COLA adjustment - An underpayment correction - Your husband's COLA being paid separately - An adjustment related to earnings record updates If this doesn't resolve by next month's payment, or if you need clarity sooner, contacting SSA directly is your best option. Your MySocialSecurity account should eventually show an explanation in the message center, but these notices can be delayed by 1-2 weeks after payments are made.
I think what might be confusing you is that your ex-husband is likely affected by WEP (which reduces his own earned benefit) while you're affected by GPO (which reduces spousal benefits). The recent legislation mainly addressed WEP, not GPO. From my understanding, the changes to WEP might increase your ex's benefit somewhat, but won't directly impact your GPO reduction. However, there might be some indirect effect if his primary insurance amount increases. The calculation is pretty complex, so it's definitely worth contacting SSA for a personalized review. The recent changes are still being implemented, so even the agents might need to double-check the updated rules.
One more thing to consider - when did you get divorced? If it was within the last couple of years, make sure SSA knows you were married for over 10 years (38 years in your case). Sometimes they miss that detail, which is crucial for ex-spouse benefits. Also, are you 62 or older? That's another requirement for ex-spouse benefits.
my cousin waited til last week of deadline to file reconsideration and then his internet went out! ended up having to drive 2 hours to nearest SSA office that had appointments! dont wait!
One more thing I forgot to mention - make sure you're seeing doctors who are willing to fill out an RFC (Residual Functional Capacity) form for you. That carries a lot more weight than just regular medical records. Your neurosurgeon might be willing to complete one after your consultation. This was a game-changer for my case after my initial denial.
Yes, you can find RFC forms online, or the SSA can provide one. It's essentially a detailed form where your doctor documents exactly what you can and cannot do physically (sitting, standing, lifting, etc.). Since the SSA denied you because they think you can return to your previous work, having your doctor specifically address why you cannot perform those job duties on an RFC form is extremely valuable evidence.
Update: I went ahead and submitted my Request for Reconsideration today with copies of all my pay stubs. The representative at the field office initially gave me a hard time about having a waiver already pending, but when I explained I was disputing the calculation itself, she finally accepted it. Now I'm just anxiously waiting. Thank you all for your advice!
Great job! That was absolutely the right move. Make sure you keep copies of everything you submitted, and get a receipt if possible. Reconsiderations can take 2-3 months to process, so don't panic if you don't hear anything right away. If they start making deductions from your benefits before the reconsideration is complete, you can request that they temporarily stop the collection while your appeal is pending.
I went thru something like this but with Medicare premiums that they said I owed from 3 years ago?? I found out that if you request reconsideration they are supposed to pause collecting the overpayment until they make a decision. You might need to specifically ask for this though, they don't volunteer it!
Hannah White
IMPORTANT: Make sure you understand that once you file, your benefit amount is pretty much locked in (except for COLAs). That's why getting the timing right is so important! I filed too early and regret not waiting a few more months to get a higher amount. You CANNOT go back and change your filing date once benefits start!
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Santiago Martinez
•That's not entirely accurate. Within the first 12 months after filing, you can withdraw your application (Form SSA-521), repay all benefits received, and then reapply later. It's essentially a do-over. However, you can only do this once in your lifetime. Beyond 12 months, your filing decision is indeed permanent.
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Maria Gonzalez
Thank you all for the helpful information! Based on everything shared here, I think I'm going to wait until March 2025 to file. That will give me 9.7% in delayed retirement credits (16 months past my FRA) AND ensure my 2024 earnings are properly included in my benefit calculation. I'm going to spend some time reviewing my earnings history to confirm that my partial 2024 year will actually improve my benefit amount by replacing one of my lower-earning years. Then I'll use that Claimyr service to connect with SSA and double-check everything before I file. I really appreciate all the advice!
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Natalie Chen
•Sounds like a well-thought-out plan! The extra couple months of waiting will give you both additional delayed retirement credits and ensure your 2024 earnings are properly counted. Good luck with your retirement!
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