I'm going through almost this exact same situation right now! Created my MySocialSecurity account about a year ago, forgot all my login details, and have been putting off dealing with it. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. The overwhelming consensus around trying ID.me verification first is really convincing - so many success stories with quick turnaround times. I especially appreciate the practical tips about lighting for the selfie and making sure to wear/not wear glasses to match your ID photo. One question for those who used ID.me successfully - did you have to remember any information from your original account setup, or does the verification rely entirely on matching your current government ID? I'm worried I might get stuck if they ask for details I've completely forgotten from when I first created the account. Also want to echo the thanks to Dmitry from the SSA office for taking time to share official guidance - knowing that walk-ins are seeing 3-4 hour waits definitely makes the online recovery options much more appealing! Going to try the ID.me route this weekend when I have good natural lighting.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since I just went through this exact situation last month! I had a MySocialSecurity account from about 2 years ago that I completely forgot how to access - couldn't remember my username, password, or security question answers. I was really dreading the recovery process after hearing horror stories about long wait times and complicated procedures. After reading through similar discussions, I decided to try the ID.me verification route that many people recommended, and I'm so glad I did! The entire process took less than 15 minutes. Here's what made it work smoothly for me: 1) Made sure I had excellent lighting (near a window during daytime) 2) Had my current driver's license ready 3) Wore my glasses since that's how I appear in my license photo 4) Made sure my phone camera was clean for a clear selfie The ID.me system was much more intuitive than I expected. It walks you through each step clearly, and the identity verification happens in real-time. Once verified, I was immediately back into my MySocialSecurity account and could update all my contact information. One thing I learned: definitely don't try to create a new account if you already have one - I've heard that can trigger fraud alerts and cause major delays. The account recovery route is definitely the way to go. For anyone facing this same situation, I'd highly recommend trying the ID.me verification first before calling or visiting an office. Based on my experience and what others have shared, it has a very high success rate and saves a lot of time and frustration. Good luck!

I'm so deeply sorry for your loss, Connor. Losing a spouse is incredibly heartbreaking, and having to navigate all these bureaucratic processes while you're still grieving must feel absolutely overwhelming. Reading through all the excellent advice here, I wanted to add something that helped me when my mother went through this process after my father passed: consider asking the SSA representative to provide you with a written summary of your different benefit options and their respective amounts before you leave your appointment. Sometimes they'll give you a printout showing various scenarios (survivor benefits at different ages, your own retirement benefits, etc.) which can be invaluable for making informed decisions later when you're not feeling so overwhelmed. Also, I'd suggest bringing a trusted friend or family member with you if possible - not just for emotional support, but to serve as a second set of ears. When you're processing grief and complex financial information simultaneously, it's easy to miss important details. One practical tip: wear comfortable shoes and dress in layers. SSA offices can have long waits and unpredictable temperatures, and being physically comfortable helps you focus on the important information they're sharing. You're showing incredible strength by taking these steps to secure your financial future during such a difficult time. This community is here for you, and please don't hesitate to come back with updates on how your appointment goes or if you need any other support along the way. Take care of yourself - you're handling more than anyone should have to while grieving.

Connor, I'm so sorry for your loss. Losing a spouse is devastating, and I can only imagine how overwhelming it must feel to navigate all these administrative tasks while you're still grieving. I went through this same process when my wife passed away about 14 months ago. The advice everyone has shared here is excellent - you definitely cannot access his online MySocialSecurity account, and you'll need to apply for survivor benefits through SSA directly. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet that really helped me: when you're gathering all those documents (death certificate, marriage certificate, etc.), make sure to get them organized in chronological order. The SSA representative will likely review your marriage history and his work history in sequence, so having everything arranged that way makes the appointment flow much more smoothly. Also, since you mentioned feeling overwhelmed with paperwork in general, you might want to consider reaching out to a local senior services organization or even your county's aging and disability services office. Many of them offer free assistance with Social Security applications and can sometimes provide an advocate to accompany you to your appointment. The financial and timing strategies others have mentioned (like restricted applications and survivor benefit timing) are really important at your age, so definitely ask for specific dollar amounts for each scenario. You're smart to gather all this information beforehand. Please take care of yourself during this difficult process. This community has been such a source of support for me during my own journey, and we're all here for you too.

One additional tip for managing your withholding - you can change your withholding percentage at any time during the year if you find that 22% is too much or too little. Just submit Form W-4V (Voluntary Withholding Request) to SSA. I did this twice in my first year of collecting benefits as I figured out what worked best for my tax situation. It usually takes 1-2 months for the change to take effect, so plan accordingly if you need to adjust. Also worth noting that if you're married and your spouse also receives Social Security, you can have different withholding percentages on each person's benefits to fine-tune your overall tax strategy.

I totally don't understand or agree with the comment that withholding on SS benefits is before Medicare is deducted. I receive my first benefit in early September 2025, and I also had questions about the order in which medicare deductions and withholding are made, plus whether withholding is on the total benefit versus the benefit after medicare premiums/IRMAAs are deducted. I had heard different things from SSA agents. I just received my letters from SSA spelling this out, and it is very clear that everything stated previously on this thread is incorrect. From the letters (unless someone at SSA made an error-perish the thought), medicare premiums/IRMAAs are first deducted from my total benefit. The withholding percentage I selected on my W-4V (which is able to be done online now) is then subtracted from the remaining amount. For example, using some made-up numbers, if my total benefit is $4000, and my medicare amounts total $600, then my interim benefit is $3400. Next, 12% (in my case) of $3400 is computed ($408), and that is subtracted from $3400 to get a final net benefit of $2992. That is how the letter describes the computations and the order in which they are done.

Just went through this exact same situation with my husband last year! One thing that really helped us was setting up automatic transfers from our savings to checking to cover that first month gap. Since you know she won't get her first SS payment until May 2026 even though benefits start in April, you can plan ahead financially. We moved one month's worth of "expected SS income" from savings about 6 weeks before his first benefit month just to smooth out our cash flow. Also, make sure to keep all the paperwork from her application - we needed to reference the confirmation numbers a few times when checking status online. The whole process went much smoother than we expected once we understood the timeline!

One thing that helped me when I started collecting benefits was to download the SSA's mobile app too. It lets you check your payment status and account info on the go, which was really convenient during those first few months when I was constantly wondering if everything was processing correctly. Also, if your wife is planning to work part-time after starting benefits, she might want to consider having her employer withhold federal taxes from her Social Security payments (you can request this on Form W-4V). Up to 85% of SS benefits can be taxable depending on your combined income, and it's easier to have it withheld than to owe a big tax bill at the end of the year. The combination of part-time work income plus Social Security can sometimes push people into a higher tax bracket than they expect.

As a newcomer to this community, I want to add my perspective as someone who recently made this decision at age 64. Yes, Social Security benefits absolutely increase monthly - every single month you delay counts toward a higher benefit! I delayed filing for 18 months past my FRA and it increased my monthly benefit by about $320. What really helped me was tracking the exact monthly increases using the SSA online calculator that others have mentioned. One thing I haven't seen discussed much is how your decision affects Medicare timing if you're still on employer health insurance. Since Medicare enrollment has its own rules and deadlines separate from Social Security, you need to coordinate both decisions carefully. I almost made the mistake of assuming they were tied together! Also, for anyone still working part-time while deciding when to claim, remember that the earnings test only applies if you claim before your FRA - after that, you can earn as much as you want without affecting your benefits. This thread has been so helpful seeing everyone's different situations and strategies. The complexity really shows why it's worth taking time to understand all the factors rather than just going with a gut feeling!

As a newcomer to this community at age 61, I want to thank everyone for this incredibly comprehensive discussion! I came here with the same basic question about monthly vs yearly increases, and I'm leaving with a complete education on Social Security timing strategy. The confirmation that benefits increase every single month (not just yearly) is exactly what I needed to know - so yes, those extra 4 months the original poster asked about absolutely do count toward higher benefits! What's blown me away is learning about all the additional factors I hadn't even considered: tax implications, spousal coordination strategies, health considerations, survivor benefits, divorced spouse options, the Medicare timing coordination, and even the safety net of being able to withdraw your application within the first year. I had no idea this decision was so multifaceted! The real-world examples have been invaluable - hearing about the $540 monthly increase from delaying 27 months, or the $320 boost from an 18-month delay really puts the impact in perspective much better than just talking about percentages. I'm definitely going to create my SSA online account this week to run those month-by-month projections with my actual earnings history, and it's clear I need to consult with both a financial advisor and tax professional to understand my complete situation. This community is such a fantastic resource for navigating these crucial retirement decisions - thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences so generously!