Thank you all for the helpful replies! This really cleared things up for me. I'm going to look into creating that my Social Security account to check my earnings record and maybe consider some part-time work to fill in those couple of missing years. Much appreciated!

If u do decide to work part time just make sure its real employment where they take out SS taxes. Some contractor jobs don't do that automatically and then you'd have to pay self employment tax yourself.

I heard there's something called "restricted application" where you can take JUST the spousal benefit and let your own continue to grow. Maybe your wife could do that????

pls update us after u talk to SSA! we r in similar spot but im the higher earner (wife). wanna know what happens!

Something important nobody has mentioned yet: If you did have some work credits (even if not enough for your own benefit), those years of zero earnings are factoring into your lifetime average and will significantly reduce any benefit based on your own record. However, once you reach FRA, you can file a "restricted application" for ONLY spousal benefits if that would be higher than your own benefit. This is still available for people born before January 2, 1954. But since you mentioned being 60 now, you were born after that cutoff date, so you'll be subject to "deemed filing" - meaning when you file, you're filing for all benefits you're eligible for, and will receive the higher amount.

WAIT! Everyone here is giving advice without asking a critical question: is your husband still working? If so, how much does he earn? Because if he claims before his FRA and earns above the earnings limit (about $21,240 for 2025), both HIS benefits AND any benefits paid on his record (including your spousal benefits) would be reduced by $1 for every $2 earned above that limit. This earnings test could significantly impact what you'd actually receive!

Based on what others have said, here's a practical strategy to consider: 1. Check your earnings record on the MySocialSecurity website to see your 35-year history 2. Identify low-earning years that you could potentially replace 3. Try to maximize earnings up to the annual cap ($168,600 for 2025) 4. Consider working until 70 if health permits, to get that 8% annual increase after FRA 5. Use the SSA calculators to estimate how different earning levels would affect your benefit Remember that Social Security was designed as a safety net, not your sole retirement income. Ideally, you'll have other savings (401k, IRA, etc.) to supplement.

dont trust SS to be there when u retire!!! my dad says the whole system is going bankrupt by 2034 and we'll all get reduced benefits anyway so what does it matter

my sister took hers at 62 and i waited till 66. shes collected over $100k more than me so far and im 70 now. those fancy calculators dont account for what u could do with that money in your 60s when u can still enjoy it!

I dont think theres a right answer honestly, it depends on ur health and family history and if u need the money now. My dad took it early and my mom waited, they both seemed happy with their choice for different reasons.

Just my 2 cents but my financial advisor told me that for women especially it often makes sense to claim early since we tend to live longer. That way we get something earlier in life when we can enjoy it more. Just something to think about.

To summarize the key points for your situation: 1. If you claim your retirement benefit at 62, it will be permanently reduced (to about 70% of your FRA amount). 2. If your husband claims at 70, his benefit will be 132% of his FRA amount. 3. If he passes away after claiming, you would be eligible for survivor benefits equal to 100% of what he was receiving - IF you claim survivor benefits at or after your survivor FRA. 4. If you claim survivor benefits before your survivor FRA, they would be reduced. 5. You would receive either your own benefit OR the survivor benefit, whichever is higher, not both. Given these rules, your strategy of claiming early while he delays could work well if the goal is to maximize potential survivor benefits. Just be aware of the earnings test if you're still working when you claim early.

This whole system is so confusing. I thought Social Security was supposed to be straightforward! My dad never had to deal with all these complicated rules when he retired.

If you have 40+ quarters of Social Security coverage as you mentioned, make sure that's properly documented in your earnings record. Sometimes quarters get missed in the system. I've seen cases where correcting the earnings record resulted in a reduction of the WEP penalty even under the old rules. You can check your lifetime earnings record in your mySocialSecurity account. If you see any years missing or with incorrect amounts, gather documentation (W-2s, tax returns) and submit a correction request. This might help regardless of how the new law is implemented.

To address the question about paying back SSI: When someone transitions from SSI to DAC benefits and receives backpay, SSA will adjust for the SSI already received during that period. They won't make you write a check to pay it back, but they will reduce the backpay amount by what was already paid through SSI. It's called "windfall offset." This is actually a good thing - it prevents having to deal with an overpayment notice later. The total you end up with should still be more than if your son had remained solely on SSI during that period. Also, be prepared that if your son gets approved for DAC benefits, his SSI will likely stop completely if the DAC benefit amount exceeds the SSI federal benefit rate. But he'll be better off financially with the higher DAC payment.

Good news - your son receiving DAC benefits on his father's record will NOT affect your future retirement benefits at all. Your retirement will be based on your own work record, and benefits paid to one qualified beneficiary don't reduce payments to other beneficiaries. The total family maximum might come into play if there were multiple people drawing on the same record (like if your late husband had multiple children qualifying for benefits), but that wouldn't affect your own retirement on your record. Please do pursue this for your son as soon as possible. DAC benefits are significantly better than SSI in most cases - higher payment amounts, no resource limits to monitor, and Medicare coverage after 24 months of entitlement.

did she just start getting SS recently? my aunt got backpay for benefits they shoudlve paid her earlier and when she died some of it came to my cousin

After reading all the comments, I think the most likely explanations are: 1. Underpaid benefits that were calculated after her death 2. Her final month's benefit payment 3. Some form of auxiliary or survivor benefit your husband qualified for The fact that it's $563 rules out the lump-sum death benefit, as that's exactly $255. And the fact it came without paperwork and 6 months later is unusual for any of these scenarios. When you do reach SSA, make sure to have your MIL's SSN, death certificate info, and your husband's ID ready. Ask specifically what type of payment this is and whether there are any more expected. Also confirm if this impacts any benefits your husband might claim in the future.

Make sure to apply for survivor benefits even if you're told you don't qualify. Get the denial in writing, because sometimes the rules change or are interpreted differently upon review. My cousin was initially denied but then received benefits after an appeal - the first SSA rep didn't correctly calculate the GPO reduction. Also, apply for that $255 death benefit immediately - as the current spouse who was living with him at time of death, that should go to you regardless of what his ex-wife received from his life insurance.

I'm going to make an appointment tomorrow to apply formally. You're right that I need to get an official determination rather than just going by what someone told me on the phone. Thank you for the encouragement.