As a newcomer to this community, I want to say how incredibly helpful this entire discussion has been! I'm 59 and facing a very similar situation - I've been receiving survivor benefits for 18 months and recently got engaged. Before finding this thread, I was completely unaware of the age 60 rule and was planning our wedding for this spring. Now I realize I need to wait just a few more months to protect my financial security. What strikes me most is how this critical information isn't more widely known. My friends who gave me conflicting advice clearly didn't understand the nuances, and I wonder how many people make costly mistakes simply because they don't know about resources like this community. I'm especially grateful for the practical tips shared here - the early morning SSA calling strategy, keeping detailed records, getting everything in writing, and the spreadsheet approach for comparing scenarios. These are exactly the kind of real-world insights you can't get from reading dry government websites. One thing I'm curious about that I haven't seen mentioned - does anyone know if there are any tax implications to consider when switching between survivor and spousal benefits? I imagine the amounts might be different enough to potentially affect tax brackets, but I'm not sure if the benefits are taxed the same way regardless of type. Thank you all for creating such a supportive and informative space for navigating these complex decisions!

As someone who works with Social Security beneficiaries regularly, I want to emphasize how important it is to get personalized advice for your specific situation. While the general rule about age 60 and remarriage is well-established, there can be nuances based on your exact benefit amounts, ages, and circumstances. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned much is the potential impact on Medicare premiums (IRMAA) if your new household income is significantly higher after marriage. High earners pay income-related monthly adjustment amounts for Medicare Part B and Part D, and this is based on modified adjusted gross income from two years prior. So even if your Social Security benefits aren't affected, your Medicare costs could change. Also, for anyone reading this thread in the future - these rules can and do change with new legislation, so always verify current rules with SSA directly. What's accurate today might not be in a few years. The Social Security 2100 Act and other proposed reforms could potentially modify some of these remarriage provisions. I really appreciate how supportive this community is in helping people navigate these complex decisions. The real-world experiences shared here are invaluable for folks facing these difficult choices between love and financial security.

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to add my perspective after reading through this incredibly helpful discussion. I'm in a similar situation to Oliver - turning 70 in late 2025 and have been anxious about the earnings calculation timing. What strikes me most from everyone's experiences is how variable the process can be depending on which SSA representative you get and how well-prepared you are with documentation. The success stories all seem to have one thing in common: people who brought comprehensive documentation to their initial appointment and asked for it to be noted in their file. I'm planning to create a small folder with: my final 2025 paystub, any quarterly estimated tax payment records (since I do some consulting), a summary sheet showing my expected 2025 total earnings, and even a simple letter explaining that I'm providing this documentation to ensure my 2025 earnings are included in my benefit calculation. Maybe it's overkill, but after reading about some of the challenges people faced, I'd rather be over-prepared than deal with months of follow-up calls. The consensus here seems clear: file in January 2026 as planned, don't delay for tax season, and trust the automatic recomputation process while being proactive about documentation. This thread has been more valuable than any official SSA resource I've found - thank you all for sharing your real experiences!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share some additional insights that might be helpful for Oliver and others in similar situations. I work as a retirement planning consultant and have helped many clients navigate this exact scenario over the years. One thing I always recommend is to also request a copy of your complete earnings record (Form SSA-7050) during your appointment, not just the summary you can see online. This detailed record shows exactly which years are being counted in your top 35 calculation and can help you verify that your 2025 earnings are properly included when the recomputation happens. Also, if you're married, consider the timing impact on spousal benefits. Since you're filing at 70, your spouse's potential survivor benefit will be based on your maximum benefit amount, so ensuring that 2025 earnings are included could have long-term implications beyond just your own monthly payment. Finally, I'd suggest setting up a my Social Security account online if you haven't already. This will allow you to monitor any changes to your benefit amount and catch the automatic recomputation when it happens, rather than waiting to notice it in your bank account. The advice everyone has shared here is spot-on - file in January 2026, bring documentation, and trust the process while staying vigilant about follow-up.

Anyone else notice the Medicare Part B premium went up again?? That ate up almost half of my COLA increase! Every year they give with one hand and take with the other. My actual increase after the Medicare premium went up was only $32.

I'm in the same boat - still waiting for my COLA letter! My friend who lives across town got hers 10 days ago, but nothing in my mailbox yet. I called the post office thinking it might be a mail delivery issue, but they said SSA mail is usually pretty reliable. It's frustrating not knowing the exact amount for budgeting purposes, especially with all the end-of-year financial planning we need to do. At least it sounds like this is normal based on everyone's experiences here. I'll try that 2.5% calculation method someone mentioned and keep checking my online account in December.

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.

Another thing to consider - if you have a spouse who might be eligible for spousal benefits, make sure to coordinate your application timing with theirs. Sometimes there are strategies around timing that can maximize total household Social Security income. Also, don't forget that once you start receiving benefits, you'll need to report them on your tax return - Social Security benefits can be taxable depending on your total income level. Just want to make sure you're prepared for all aspects of this transition after doing such a great job waiting until 70!

Just went through this process myself last year! One additional tip that really helped me: create a my Social Security account online if you haven't already. You can see your projected benefit amount at age 70 there, which is super helpful for planning. Also, when you do apply, keep copies of everything and take screenshots of your application confirmation. The online application is usually faster than calling, especially given how hard it can be to get through by phone. You've done the hard part by waiting until 70 - now you just need to execute the application process smoothly. Good luck!