dont forget those crooks in congress could change the rules anytime!! bird in hand better than 2 in bush thats what my grandpa always said

As someone who recently went through this exact decision process, I can share a few practical insights. First, you're absolutely right that your PIA will only increase with COLA adjustments once you stop working completely. However, given that you mentioned having 33 years of solid earnings with 2 zero years in your calculation, even working part-time for just 2 more years could potentially increase your benefit significantly by replacing those zeros. I'd strongly recommend using the SSA's detailed calculator at ssa.gov/benefits/calculators/ to model different scenarios. Input your actual earnings history and compare claiming at 62 versus waiting until FRA or even 70. The calculator will show you the break-even ages and total lifetime benefits under different assumptions. Also consider your complete financial picture - with a $1,400 pension and 401k, you might have more flexibility than you think. Sometimes bridging with limited 401k withdrawals for a few years can be worth the permanent increase in Social Security benefits. The key is running the numbers for YOUR specific situation rather than relying on general rules of thumb.

Thank you all for the helpful information! I've learned a lot. To summarize what I understand now: 1. My current wife gets 50% of my benefit at her FRA (if that's more than her own benefit) 2. She'd get 100% survivor benefits after I pass away 3. My ex-wife can't claim on my record since she remarried I'll try using that Claimyr service to confirm these details directly with SSA. It's frustrating how difficult it is to reach them by phone these days.

You've got it exactly right! Just one small clarification on point #1 - your wife will receive the higher of either her own Social Security benefit OR 50% of yours, but not both added together. So if her own benefit ends up being $1,200 and 50% of yours would be $1,500, she'd get the $1,500 spousal benefit. Also, since you mentioned you're delaying past your FRA until 69, those delayed retirement credits will increase your benefit amount, which means your wife's spousal benefit calculation (50% of your Primary Insurance Amount) and eventual survivor benefits will be based on your higher delayed amount. Good planning on your part! Hope the Claimyr service works out better for you than the regular SSA phone lines. Getting official confirmation is always wise with these complex situations.

After reading through the responses, I think the best approach is to file online now and keep your phone appointment as a backup. This way, you can get your application in the system immediately, but still have the opportunity to speak with someone directly if you encounter any issues or have questions about your application status. When filing online, be sure to: 1. Have your birth certificate and SSN ready 2. Know your employment history for the past 2 years 3. Have your bank information for direct deposit 4. Set aside 30-45 minutes of uninterrupted time 5. Print or save the confirmation page when you finish Good luck with your application!

I just went through this exact situation last month! The SSA rep at my local office told me the same thing about online applications taking longer, but I decided to file online anyway because waiting a month seemed ridiculous. Turns out it was the right call - I got my approval notice in exactly 3 weeks. My friend who waited for her phone appointment (which got rescheduled twice, by the way) didn't get approved until 6 weeks later. I think some local offices just aren't up to date on how the online system actually works. The online application goes directly into their processing system just like phone applications do. There's no separate "home office" that handles online apps differently. My advice: file online now, keep your December appointment as backup, and you'll probably have your benefits approved before that appointment even happens!

I'm dealing with this exact same redirect situation right now! Just tried to log into my MySocialSecurity account this morning and got completely thrown off when it sent me to login.gov instead. Like so many others here, my first instinct was to think it might be some kind of phishing attempt or that I'd accidentally clicked on the wrong link. Reading through all these detailed experiences has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. It's clear this is a legitimate security upgrade that SSA has been implementing, even though the communication about it could have been much better. The consistency of everyone's positive outcomes - especially that ALL historical data transfers over perfectly - is exactly what I needed to hear before moving forward. I really appreciate all the practical advice shared here about starting from ssa.gov, using a desktop computer for better visibility, having your phone ready for verification codes, and allowing extra time for the identity verification steps. The fact that literally every person who's completed this transition has had their benefit statements, payment records, and saved documents preserved gives me a lot of confidence. Planning to tackle this setup this weekend following all the excellent guidance from this community. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their step-by-step experiences - you've transformed what initially seemed like a suspicious situation into something I can approach with confidence!

I just completed my login.gov transition this morning after weeks of putting it off! Like so many others here, I was initially very suspicious when my MySocialSecurity login redirected me to login.gov - I actually thought it might be a phishing scam and closed my browser immediately. This thread has been absolutely invaluable in helping me understand that this is a legitimate security upgrade. Reading through everyone's detailed experiences gave me the confidence to finally tackle the setup. The process took me about 17 minutes total, and I followed all the great advice shared here: started from ssa.gov, used my desktop computer, had my phone ready for verification codes, and cleared my browser cache beforehand. I had to upload my driver's license for identity verification, which was approved in about 4 minutes. Like literally everyone else who's shared their experience, ALL my historical data transferred over perfectly - benefit statements going back to 2019, payment history, saved documents, everything is exactly where it was before. The two-factor authentication setup was straightforward, and I have to admit the enhanced security does make me feel more confident about protecting my personal information online. For anyone still hesitating - this community has provided overwhelming evidence that this transition is legitimate, safe, and preserves all your important data. Don't let the initial confusion stop you from getting this done - the relief once it's completed is huge! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and made this so much less intimidating.

After reviewing your complete situation: 1. For the earnings test, you're on the right track using the monthly test in your first year 2. Your strategy of taking reduced widow benefits now and switching to your own at 70 is actually optimal given the benefit amounts you've shared 3. For those vacation payouts, request Form SSA-131 (Employer Report of Special Wage Payments) from your employer to document that those payments were for work performed before your benefits began Keep all documentation showing your retirement date and submit the SSA-131 as soon as possible to avoid any incorrect application of the earnings test.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation (planning to file for widow benefits at 62 next year) and had no idea about the monthly earnings test for the first year. A few quick tips from my own research and experience with my late husband's benefits: - When you call SSA, ask to speak with a "claims specialist" rather than just any representative. They tend to be more knowledgeable about complex situations like widow benefits with earnings. - Document EVERYTHING in writing. I keep a log of every SSA interaction with date, time, rep name/ID, and what was discussed. - The Form SSA-131 mentioned by Luca is crucial! My sister had a similar vacation payout issue and that form resolved it completely. @Sean - your benefit strategy sounds smart given those amounts. Just make sure you understand that once you switch to your own benefit at 70, you can't go back to the widow benefit even if yours ends up being lower than expected. Good luck navigating this maze! The SSA system is confusing but this community really helps clarify things.