I forgot to mention - make sure you get any information in WRITING from SSA. They have a process where they can send you an official Benefits Statement that outlines what everyone is eligible for. That way you have documentation in case there's confusion later.

As someone who's navigated similar SSA confusion, I'd recommend being very specific with terminology when you call back. Ask specifically about "mother's benefits under Section 202(g)" - that's the official code for what happens when a surviving spouse cares for a child under 16. Also, don't just ask one question - walk through the entire scenario: "If I marry my child's mother and then pass away while our child is under 16, would she be eligible for mother's benefits immediately?" This forces them to think through the complete situation rather than giving you a partial answer. The key point everyone's making is correct - your financial advisor knows what he's talking about regarding survivor benefits. The SSA rep was probably only thinking about current benefits while you're alive (where there wouldn't be additional spouse benefits unless she qualifies based on age).

I just remmbered you might still want to check if either of you qualifies for spousal benefits if one of you had much higher earnings. Sometimes its better to take 50% of your spouses benefit than your own. But you cant get both your own and spousal - they give you whichever is higher.

Thank you everyone for all the helpful information! Just to summarize what I've learned: 1) We will each get our full benefits based on our own work records, 2) There's no family maximum that applies to our situation, 3) We might want to consider staggered filing with my husband claiming now and me waiting, 4) We should double-check our benefit estimates with SSA directly. This has been incredibly helpful as we plan for retirement!

As someone who just went through the Social Security application process last month, I can confirm that starting the application 3-4 months early is definitely the way to go! I applied online at ssa.gov in January for benefits starting in April, and everything went smoothly. The online portal lets you save your progress if you need to gather documents, and they send email updates about your application status. One thing I learned is that you'll need your most recent tax return and W-2s, so have those ready. Also, if you've had multiple jobs over the years, it's helpful to create a my Social Security account beforehand to review your earnings record and make sure everything looks accurate. Better to catch any discrepancies before you apply rather than after! The whole process took about 6 weeks from application to approval notification.

This has been such an informative discussion! I'm actually a federal employee nearing retirement and was completely unaware of how the Social Security payment schedule worked. I assumed everyone just got paid on the same day each month. The birthday-based system makes a lot of sense now that it's been explained - my birthday is on the 14th, so I'll be getting payments on the 3rd Wednesday. What really caught my attention was the mention of the free workshops at libraries and community centers. I've been putting off learning about Social Security because it seemed so overwhelming, but having an actual SSA employee walk through everything in person sounds perfect. Does anyone know how to find out when these workshops are scheduled in your area? Is there a website or do you just call local libraries? Also, I'm curious about the interaction between federal retirement (FERS) and Social Security. I know they're separate systems, but I'm wondering if anyone here has experience with receiving both and how that affects the overall retirement planning process. Thanks to everyone who's shared their knowledge - this thread should be required reading for anyone approaching retirement!

btw forgot to say dont wait too long to decide on the house. my friends mom waited a year when she inherited and the property taxes and maintence costs added up fast. if ur not gonna live there better to sell sooner and put the money somewhere safe

I'm so sorry for your loss, Sean. Losing a sibling is incredibly difficult, and having to deal with financial decisions while grieving makes it even harder. One thing that might help ease your concerns: you could consider getting a professional appraisal of the property done now to establish its fair market value as of your brother's date of death. This will be crucial for tax purposes and could potentially minimize any capital gains if you do decide to sell. Also, since you mentioned being on a tight budget, you might want to explore whether your state offers any property tax relief programs for seniors or inherited properties. Some states have temporary deferrals or reductions available that could help with the carrying costs while you make your decision. Take your time with this decision, but don't feel pressured to keep the property if it's causing financial stress. Your brother would want you to be financially secure.

I just want to echo what others have said about the importance of getting your actual Social Security statement to see your projected benefits. You can create an account at ssa.gov/myaccount and see your estimated benefits at different claiming ages right away - it's really eye-opening to see the actual numbers rather than trying to guess. One thing I learned from my own research is that the decision isn't just about maximizing monthly income, but also about managing longevity risk. If you're in good health and have family history of longevity, waiting for higher benefits (either your own with delayed credits or optimizing for survivor benefits) becomes more valuable. But if you have health concerns, claiming earlier might make more sense. Also, regarding the frustration with reaching SSA by phone - I've had better luck calling right when they open at 7 AM local time, or trying their automated services first to get basic information before needing to speak with someone. The wait times are usually shorter early in the morning. Your situation sounds very similar to what my sister went through last year, and she ended up being glad she took the time to really understand all her options before making the decision. The peace of mind that comes from knowing you made an informed choice is worth the effort of working through all these calculations.

Thank you all for this incredibly thorough discussion! As someone new to this community, I'm amazed by how much practical knowledge has been shared here. Reading through everyone's real experiences has clarified so many misconceptions I had about Social Security planning. The key takeaway for me is that spousal benefits are definitively based on the worker's FRA amount (Primary Insurance Amount), not their age 70 enhanced benefit - this seems to be consistently confirmed by multiple people who have actually been through this process. That's disappointing from a planning perspective, but at least it removes the uncertainty. What I find most valuable is how this discussion has evolved beyond just the spousal benefit question to cover the broader strategic considerations: survivor benefits (which DO include delayed retirement credits), Medicare timing, the value of financial independence through claiming your own benefits, and the importance of comparing total lifetime benefits rather than just monthly amounts. For anyone else reading this thread, I'd especially recommend the suggestions about: 1. Getting your actual Social Security statement online at ssa.gov/myaccount 2. Creating a spreadsheet to compare different claiming scenarios 3. Considering longevity and health factors in your decision 4. Looking into local Social Security workshops for personalized guidance 5. Factoring in the "insurance" value of maximizing survivor benefits This community is such a valuable resource - thank you everyone for sharing your knowledge and experiences so generously!