Wait I'm still confused about one thing - if she takes her own benefit now at 62 ($850) and then her husband files at his FRA when she's 64, will her spousal benefit be based on her being 62 or 64? Does she get penalized based on when she first filed for ANY benefit or based on her age when she becomes eligible for spousal?

I'm dealing with a very similar situation and after months of research, I think I can help clarify a few things. You're absolutely right that you cannot get spousal benefits until your husband actually files - there's no way around this rule anymore since they eliminated file-and-suspend. However, I want to make sure you understand exactly what happens with the "spousal top-up" when you file early. If you take your $850 at 62, your spousal benefit later won't simply be 50% of his benefit minus your $850. Instead, it's calculated based on the difference between your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA - what you'd get at full retirement age) and 50% of his PIA, then that difference gets reduced because you filed early. So if your PIA is around $1,200 (which would be reduced to $850 at 62), and his PIA is $3,200, then 50% of his would be $1,600. The spousal top-up would be based on $1,600 - $1,200 = $400, but that $400 would be reduced for early filing. You might only get an additional $300 or so when he files. I'd strongly suggest getting your exact PIA numbers from SSA before making the final decision. The math can be surprising either way!

Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - when you do apply online in October, make sure you have a stable internet connection and set aside a good chunk of time (maybe 1-2 hours) to complete the application in one sitting. The system can time out if you're away too long, and while you can save your progress, it's easier to just power through it all at once. Also, double-check that your direct deposit information is correct! A friend of mine had a typo in her account number and it delayed her first payment by almost a month while they sorted it out. The bank routing number and account number have to be exactly right. You sound very well-prepared now - I'm sure everything will go smoothly for you! 🙂

Another thing to consider - if you have any pension income or other retirement accounts you're planning to tap into, make sure you coordinate the timing with your Social Security start date. I made the mistake of not thinking through how my 401k withdrawals would affect my tax situation when combined with Social Security benefits. Also, since you mentioned other income ending in January, you might want to consider whether starting benefits in January instead of February could actually work better for your cash flow, even if it's not ideal timing. Sometimes an extra month of benefits early in the year can help with January expenses when other income stops. Just a thought to run through your financial planning one more time! The online application really is straightforward once you have everything ready. I was surprised how user-friendly it was compared to what I expected from a government website.

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm 64 and planning to retire at my FRA next year, and I had no idea about so many of these crucial details. The advice about applying 4+ months early really resonates - I've had other experiences with government agencies where they were completely overwhelmed and processing times were much longer than advertised. I'm definitely going to follow the suggestion about creating a my Social Security account first and doing that practice run with a draft application to see exactly what documents I need. The tip about taking screenshots of everything and getting confirmation numbers is brilliant too. One quick question for the group - has anyone dealt with the situation where your employer offers a pension buyout option during your final year? I'm wondering if taking a lump sum pension payment would affect my Social Security application or benefit calculation in any way. I know pensions don't generally impact SS benefits, but I want to make sure a large lump sum payment wouldn't trigger any complications with the application process. Thanks again to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical guidance that makes all the difference when navigating these complex government systems!

This entire thread has been a goldmine of practical advice! I'm 62 and planning to wait until my FRA to apply, but I'm already taking notes from everyone's experiences. The emphasis on applying 4+ months early really stands out - it seems like the SSA system is under tremendous strain right now with all the boomer retirements. I'm particularly impressed by the tip about using the automated phone system to check status without waiting on hold, and the advice about doing a practice draft application first. One thing I'd add based on my research is to also check your earnings record on your annual Social Security statement before applying. I discovered an error in mine from about 15 years ago where an employer hadn't properly reported my earnings. It took several months to get it corrected, but it actually increased my projected benefit amount. You can access your statement online through your my Social Security account. Better to catch and fix any discrepancies now rather than discover them during the application process. Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - this thread should be required reading for anyone approaching retirement!

Emma, I'm so sorry for your loss. What you're experiencing is definitely a Medicare premium double-billing situation that happens frequently with survivor benefits. When SSA processes retroactive payments, their system automatically deducts Medicare premiums without checking if you've already been paying them directly to Medicare. I had this exact same issue when I started receiving my disability benefits after years of paying Medicare premiums on my own. The $1,380 deduction you mentioned is almost certainly the Medicare Part B premiums for those 8 months (about $172-174 per month in 2024/2025). Here's what you need to do: Call SSA and specifically request a "Medicare Premium Duplicate Billing Adjustment" or "Medicare Premium Overpayment Refund." Have your bank statements ready showing all the direct Medicare payments you made for August 2024 through February 2025. They'll verify with Medicare that you were paying directly and should process a refund within 1-2 payment cycles. Pro tip: Try calling right at 7 AM when they open - wait times are much shorter in the morning. And definitely consider switching to automatic Medicare premium deduction from your monthly survivor benefits going forward - it's one less thing to manage during this difficult time. Don't give up if the first representative doesn't immediately understand. This is a known system issue that any experienced SSA agent should be able to resolve once you explain it clearly with the right terminology.

Emma, I'm so sorry for your loss. This Medicare premium issue is unfortunately very common with survivor benefits - you're definitely being double-charged and it's not your fault at all. What's happening is that SSA's system automatically deducts Medicare premiums from retroactive payments without checking if you've already been paying directly to Medicare. The $1,380 sounds exactly right for Medicare Part B premiums over those 8 months. Here's what worked for me when I had this same issue: Call SSA first thing in the morning (7 AM when they open - much shorter wait times!) and ask specifically for a "Medicare Premium Duplicate Billing Refund." Have your bank statements ready showing your direct Medicare payments from August 2024 through February 2025. They'll verify with Medicare that you were paying directly, then process a refund that usually comes as an adjustment in a future monthly payment. Also consider switching to automatic premium deduction from your monthly benefits going forward - one less bill to manage during this difficult time. Don't get discouraged if it takes a couple tries to reach someone who understands the issue. This is a known system problem that experienced representatives can resolve quickly once you use the right terminology. You'll get your money back!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm 61 and was planning to retire at 62, but now I'm wondering if I should wait until full retirement age to avoid the earnings test altogether. For those who retired early and dealt with the earnings limit - was it worth it to start collecting early even with the restrictions? I'm torn between wanting to enjoy retirement sooner versus maximizing my benefits by waiting. My 401k is similar to Ethan's situation, so knowing that withdrawals don't count toward the earnings test is reassuring, but I'm still nervous about making the wrong decision on timing.

As someone who actually made this decision 3 years ago at 62, I can share my experience. I took early Social Security despite the earnings test because I wanted the guaranteed income stream, even though it was reduced. The key was having a solid plan for my other income sources. Since 401k withdrawals don't count toward the earnings limit (as confirmed by everyone here), I was able to supplement my reduced SS benefits with strategic 401k distributions. Yes, I'm getting less SS than if I had waited, but I've had 3 years of retirement that I absolutely don't regret. My advice: calculate your total retirement income needs, factor in healthcare costs until Medicare kicks in, and remember that nothing is guaranteed - having some income now versus potentially more later was worth it for me. But everyone's situation is different! The peace of mind from having that SS check coming in every month, even if smaller, has been valuable.