As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful to have found this thread! I'm actually dealing with a very similar mySSA account situation right now - I locked my account for security reasons about a month ago after my bank recommended it following some suspicious activity alerts, and now I'm completely unable to get back in to check my benefits status. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both reassuring (knowing I'm not the only one facing this!) and incredibly educational. The detailed explanation from Finley about Account Lock vs. Block Electronic Access was a revelation - I had no idea there were two different security measures with completely different unlock procedures. That distinction alone probably explains some of my confusion. James's success story with the 48-hour wait and early Wednesday morning calling strategy gives me real hope, and Marina's advice about documenting everything with screenshots before locking is something I desperately wish I'd known beforehand. The consistency in everyone's recommended approaches (original device, exact information matching, patience with wait periods) really reinforces that there are proven solutions here. What impresses me most is how this community has collectively created a more comprehensive troubleshooting guide than anything available through official SSA channels. Based on all the shared wisdom here, I'm going to try the 48-hour wait approach, use my original laptop (hoping I can remember which one I used initially), and if needed, attempt the early morning calling strategy on a Wednesday. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and creating such a supportive environment for navigating these frustrating but important security challenges!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so thankful to have found this incredibly detailed and helpful thread! I'm currently facing my own mySSA account lockout situation and was feeling pretty overwhelmed until I read through everyone's experiences here. Like many others, I decided to lock my account after reading about identity theft risks, but now I'm stuck trying to get back in to access my Social Security information. The wealth of practical knowledge shared here is amazing - Finley's explanation about Account Lock vs. Block Electronic Access was particularly enlightening since I had no idea these were separate security measures. The consistent success strategies everyone has identified give me real hope: the 48-hour wait period, using the exact same device and browser from initial setup, ensuring all personal information matches precisely, and the early morning Wednesday calling approach if needed. Marina's advice about taking screenshots and documenting everything before locking is brilliant (wish I'd known that earlier!). What really impresses me is how this community has created such a comprehensive troubleshooting resource through shared experiences - honestly more useful than anything I could find on official SSA websites. The emphasis on patience, precision, and persistence really resonates, and seeing so many successful resolution stories shows that while these lockouts are frustrating, they're definitely solvable. I'm planning to implement the strategies discussed here and will update everyone on how it goes. Thank you all for being so generous with your knowledge and creating such a supportive environment for navigating these government service challenges!

I'm completely new to Social Security and this thread has been such an incredible resource! I'm just starting to understand the basics of how retirement benefits work and had absolutely no idea that first payments could arrive earlier than your regular scheduled date. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it's obvious this early payment thing is actually very common, but SSA's communication about it is really poor. I would have definitely panicked too seeing an unexpected deposit from them! It's so frustrating that they could easily prevent all this confusion by simply including one line in their award letters explaining that initial payments may be processed before your regular payment schedule begins. Thank you so much for taking the time to call SSA to get official confirmation and then sharing those results with everyone here. These real-world experiences from people who've actually navigated the system are so much more helpful than trying to understand their confusing official documentation. This discussion is going to save so many newcomers like me from unnecessary worry when we see that early first payment show up!

I'm also completely new to Social Security and this entire discussion has been incredibly enlightening! I'm just beginning to research how retirement benefits work and had absolutely no idea that first payments could arrive earlier than the regular monthly schedule. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it's so clear that this early payment situation is actually very common, yet SSA doesn't explain this anywhere in their standard communications. I would have definitely panicked too seeing an unexpected deposit from them! It's really frustrating that such a simple addition to their award letters - just one sentence explaining that "your initial payment may be processed before your regular payment schedule begins" - could prevent so much unnecessary anxiety and confusion. Thank you so much for calling SSA to get official confirmation and sharing those results with the community. These real-world experiences and practical insights from people who've actually navigated the system are exactly what newcomers like me need to understand what's normal versus what might actually be a problem. This thread is going to help so many people avoid unnecessary worry when they see that early first payment appear in their accounts!

As someone completely new to this community and early retirement planning, this thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm 59 and just starting to think seriously about retiring at 62, and I had no idea about any of these complexities around vacation payouts and Social Security earnings limits. The wealth of real-world experience shared here is incredible - from the specific terminology to use with SSA representatives to the detailed documentation strategies. I'm particularly struck by how many people had to fight for months to get the correct policies applied, despite SSA having clear rules about special payments. Based on everything I've learned here, I'm going to start preparing immediately even though I'm still 3 years out: 1. Begin tracking all vacation/sick time accrual in a detailed spreadsheet 2. Request comprehensive records from HR with plenty of advance notice 3. Get copies of company policies, payroll codes, and any merger/acquisition documentation 4. Research local SSA offices to find staff knowledgeable about special payments 5. Keep all SSA publications handy, especially the "Special Payments After Retirement" document The tip about using the exact phrase "special payment for services performed in a prior year" seems absolutely critical for getting proper policy review. It's concerning that the knowledge level varies so much among SSA staff, but at least now I know what to expect and how to be prepared. One question for the group: has anyone found it helpful to get a consultation with a fee-for-service Social Security advisor before retiring? I'm wondering if having professional guidance through this process might be worth the cost given how complex it can be. Thank you all for creating such an amazing resource - this thread should be required reading for anyone planning early retirement!

As someone brand new to this community and just beginning to explore early retirement options, this thread has been an absolute revelation! I'm 58 and considering retiring at 62, and I honestly had zero awareness of how vacation payouts could impact Social Security earnings limits. The depth of practical, real-world advice shared here is extraordinary - far more valuable than anything I've found in official SSA materials. Reading through experiences like @3df95a00d136's battle to get benefits restored and @6db8fba4db20's HR perspective on documentation timing has been both educational and eye-opening about the challenges ahead. What really strikes me is how critical the preparation phase is - it's clear that getting comprehensive documentation while still employed is absolutely essential. I'm inspired by everyone's proactive approaches and plan to start immediately: 1. Create detailed spreadsheets tracking vacation/sick time accrual over multiple years 2. Request thorough documentation from HR with significant advance notice 3. Obtain company policy documents and payroll code explanations 4. Research local SSA offices for knowledgeable staff on special payments 5. Keep SSA publications readily available, especially "Special Payments After Retirement" The terminology tip about using "special payment for services performed in a prior year" seems crucial for triggering correct policy review. It's concerning how inconsistent SSA staff knowledge appears to be, but now I understand what preparation is needed. One question I haven't seen addressed: for those with accumulated vacation time spanning many years, did SSA require documentation going back to the very beginning of accrual, or is there a practical limit on how far back they typically review? My company allows significant carryover and I have vacation time that technically dates back 5+ years. Thank you all for sharing such invaluable experiences - this thread should definitely be pinned as an essential resource!

I'm truly sorry to hear about your husband's diagnosis and the difficult situation you're both facing. From what I understand based on the other responses here, you're getting good information about the survivor benefits. One thing I wanted to mention that might help with your planning: Social Security also has an online benefit estimator tool on their website (ssa.gov) where you can get estimates of what survivor benefits might look like. While it's not a substitute for talking to them directly, it could give you some preliminary numbers to work with as you're planning. Also, if your husband is comfortable with it, you might want to create a my Social Security account online for him (if he doesn't already have one) so you can both see his earnings record and estimated benefits. This could help you understand what his full retirement benefit would be, which is what your survivor benefit would be based on. Wishing you both strength during this challenging time. The fact that you're being proactive about planning shows real wisdom and care for your future security.

I'm so sorry to hear about your husband's diagnosis. This is such a difficult situation to navigate. From what others have shared, it sounds like you would indeed be eligible for survivor benefits based on his record, and since you're already 67, you'd receive 100% of his Primary Insurance Amount. One additional consideration that might be helpful: if your husband is able, you might want to ask Social Security about getting a written statement of his projected benefits. This could be useful documentation to have on file. Also, some people find it helpful to keep a folder with all the important documents mentioned (marriage certificate, Social Security cards, etc.) in one easily accessible place, along with a list of important account numbers and contacts. The community here has shared such valuable insights from their own experiences. I hope having this information helps you both feel more prepared and gives you some peace of mind as you navigate this challenging time. You're being so thoughtful to plan ahead, and that will serve you well.

As someone new to receiving Social Security benefits, I really appreciate this detailed discussion! I was also confused by the timing in the official notice. It's reassuring to see multiple people confirm that the COLA increase will show up in the January payment. I'm particularly grateful for the explanation about how payments work "in arrears" - that really helped me understand why the January payment (which represents December benefits) will still include the 2025 COLA increase. The distinction between the benefit month and the payment date was the key piece I was missing. Thanks also for the suggestions about checking mySocialSecurity online and the various resources for getting through to SSA when needed. This community is incredibly helpful for navigating all these government program details!

As a newcomer to this community and Social Security, I want to thank everyone for this incredibly helpful discussion! I was also puzzled by the timing mentioned in the COLA notice I received. Reading through all these responses, I now clearly understand that the 2.5% increase will appear in our January 2025 payments, even though those payments technically cover December 2024 benefits. The key insight about Social Security paying "in arrears" but applying COLA increases to the payment date rather than the benefit month really clarified things for me. I'm especially appreciative of the practical tips shared here - checking mySocialSecurity online to verify the new amount, and the resource suggestions for when we need to contact SSA directly. It's wonderful to find a community where people take time to help each other understand these often confusing government processes. Looking forward to being part of this supportive group!