Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble getting through by phone, you can also try visiting your local SSA office first thing in the morning without an appointment. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but sometimes they have walk-in availability for urgent situations or can at least accept your paperwork and give you a receipt on the spot. When I was dealing with a similar situation, the field office staff were actually more helpful in person than over the phone. They could see my urgency and helped expedite things. Plus, having that face-to-face interaction meant I could ask follow-up questions immediately instead of playing phone tag. Just make sure to bring all your documentation - your approval letter, the kids' birth certificates, Social Security cards, and those completed SSA-4-BK forms. Even if they can't do the full interview that day, at least you'll have everything officially submitted and timestamped.

I went through this exact same situation with my daughter's benefits earlier this year! The 6-month protective filing window is correct, so you're definitely still covered until January 2025. But here's what I wish someone had told me - don't just rely on getting those SSA-4-BK forms submitted. When you do finally get your interview (whether in January or sooner), bring EVERYTHING with you: your original approval letter showing the July filing date, copies of any correspondence from SSA, birth certificates, Social Security cards, school enrollment records, and most importantly - write down exactly what you want to tell them about your July protective filing date before you go in. The interviewer might not automatically connect your kids' applications to your original filing date, so you need to be very clear about it. I had to interrupt the interview halfway through because I realized the representative wasn't coding it correctly. Don't assume they'll figure it out on their own - you have to advocate for yourself and your kids. Also, once everything is processed, keep checking your mySSA account regularly. There can be delays in the system updating, and sometimes you need to follow up if payments don't start when expected. Good luck!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this incredibly frustrating situation! As a newcomer to this community, I've been reading through all the experiences shared here and it's clear that the SSA website is having major technical issues right now affecting tons of people trying to file retirement applications. Your experience sounds exactly like what so many others are reporting - the website works fine for account access and checking information, but crashes consistently when trying to submit the actual retirement application. You're definitely not doing anything wrong - this appears to be a widespread system failure on their end. Based on all the success stories I've read in this thread, I'd highly recommend trying the 8 AM calling strategy tomorrow morning. Most people are reporting wait times of 45-60 minutes when calling right when SSA opens, which honestly sounds much better than dealing with endless website crashes. The phone representatives seem to understand the website issues and are helpful with completing applications over the phone. One thing that might help ease your stress: several knowledgeable members here have explained that since benefits are paid based on the month you apply (not the exact day), you won't lose any money as long as you file sometime this month. So while the technical issues are incredibly frustrating, at least there's no financial penalty for the delay. Make sure to have all your husband's documents ready before calling so you can complete everything in one go if you get through. It's absolutely ridiculous that we need workarounds just to access benefits we've been paying into for decades, but at least there are proven solutions. You'll get through this - hang in there!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this! I just joined this community because I'm having the exact same problem with my father's application. He turned 66 and 8 months last week and we've been battling the SSA website for three days straight. It's so frustrating - we can access his account perfectly fine, check his benefit estimates, view his earnings history, but the moment we try to submit the actual retirement application, the page either freezes or gives us some unhelpful error message. We've tried all the usual troubleshooting steps - different browsers, clearing cache and cookies, trying from different devices, even used my work computer thinking maybe it was our home internet connection. Nothing works! The website seems designed to handle everything except the one thing we actually need to do. Based on all the helpful advice shared in this thread, I think we're going to try calling at exactly 8:00 AM tomorrow morning. It's encouraging to hear that so many people have had success with that approach, even if it means waiting on hold for an hour. That still sounds better than endless website crashes! Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences and solutions here - it really helps to know this is a widespread system problem and not something we're doing wrong. The SSA really needs to fix their technology issues, but at least there are workarounds for now.

Based on everything I've read here, it sounds like you're in great shape! The electronic verification system really has improved a lot over the past few years. I went through something similar about 18 months ago - applied online with all our marriage details and never heard back from SSA about needing documents. The spousal benefit just appeared in my account about 2 months after my husband's benefits started. One thing I'd add is that even if they do need your marriage certificate later, it's not a big deal - they'll send you a very specific letter telling you exactly what to bring and where. But honestly, with a 1988 Michigan marriage and complete info in your application, you're probably going to be just fine with electronic verification. The my Social Security account is definitely worth setting up - you'll be able to see when things change and it takes a lot of the guesswork out of the waiting period. Sounds like you timed everything perfectly with the WEP/GPO repeal too. Try not to stress about it - you've covered all your bases!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a very similar situation - turning FRA next month and my husband is already receiving benefits. The consistent advice here about waiting for SSA to contact you if they need documentation (rather than preemptively bringing documents) makes a lot of sense. What really stands out to me is how much the electronic verification systems have improved. For those of us with straightforward US marriages and complete online applications, it sounds like the success rate is quite high. The my Social Security account setup seems to be a game-changer for tracking progress too. One question for those who've been through this recently: did you receive any kind of confirmation or notification when the spousal benefit calculation was complete, or did it just show up in your account? I'm wondering what to watch for during that 6-10 week processing window after both benefits are active. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's so valuable to hear real-world outcomes rather than just trying to interpret the official SSA guidance online!

Thanks everyone for the responses! I called SSA using that Claimyr service someone mentioned (got through in 7 minutes!) and confirmed it IS Box 3 they look at. The agent was super helpful and explained I should be looking at my paystubs throughout the year to track my running total of SS wages to make sure I stay under the limit. I also asked about what happens if I go over, and she explained they withhold benefits at a rate of $1 for every $2 over the limit, starting from January of the following year. So if I accidentally go over, I won't immediately lose benefits, but might have some months without payments next year. Thanks again for all the help! I'll be watching my earnings very carefully now.

Great to hear you got through to SSA and got the confirmation! That's really helpful information about the timing - I didn't realize they don't start withholding benefits until January of the following year. That gives you a bit of a buffer if you accidentally go slightly over. For anyone else reading this thread, I'd recommend keeping a spreadsheet or simple log of your Box 3 earnings throughout the year. I update mine every payday and it helps me make decisions about picking up extra shifts or reducing hours as needed. The $22,680 limit for 2025 breaks down to about $1,890 per month, so it's easier to track that way. Also worth noting - if you're self-employed or have 1099 income in addition to W-2 wages, those count toward the limit too based on your net self-employment earnings. Just something to keep in mind for anyone with multiple income sources.

Thanks everyone for the helpful info! To summarize what I've learned: 1) Yes, I can withdraw within 12 months, 2) Need to use Form SSA-521, 3) Must repay ALL benefits including what others received on my record, 4) Only get one withdrawal in my lifetime, 5) No interest charged but must repay gross amount including any Medicare/tax withholdings. I'm going to think carefully about whether starting at 62 is right for me with this safety net, or if I should just wait longer from the beginning.

One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned - if you're still working when you claim at 62, be aware of the earnings test. In 2024, if you earn more than $22,320, they'll reduce your benefits by $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit. This continues until you reach FRA. So if your part-time business does take off, you might find your benefits reduced anyway due to the earnings limit, which could factor into your withdrawal decision. Just another consideration for your planning!