This has been such an incredibly helpful thread! I'm 64 and was honestly dreading having to figure out the Social Security timing, but reading everyone's real experiences has made it so much clearer. The biggest revelation for me was understanding that applying early for processing time doesn't affect your benefit amount - it's only when you choose to START benefits that matters. I was terrified I'd accidentally lock myself into reduced benefits just by submitting paperwork too early. I'm planning to wait until my FRA at 67, so based on everyone's advice here, I should apply around March when I'm 66 years and 8 months. The 4-month window seems like the sweet spot to avoid both processing delays and having forms expire. I also love the tip about doing a "practice run" with the online application - that's going to save me so much stress when it's time for the real thing. And I'm definitely setting up my My Social Security account this week to check my earnings record and get familiar with the system. One question: for those who applied online, did you run into any technical glitches or is the system pretty reliable? I'm reasonably comfortable with computers but always worry about government websites crashing at the worst possible moment! Thank you everyone for sharing such detailed, practical advice. This community knowledge is invaluable!

Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly reassuring! I'm 65 and was getting overwhelmed by all the conflicting advice I'd heard from friends and family about Social Security timing. The clarification that applying early (for processing) is completely separate from when you choose to START benefits is exactly what I needed to understand. I'm planning to wait until my FRA of 66 and 10 months (born in 1958), so I should be applying around February next year. The consensus here seems to be that 3-4 months ahead is the sweet spot, and hearing from the former SSA employee about potential application updates if you apply too far in advance makes perfect sense. One thing I want to add that might help others - I just spent some time on the SSA website's benefit estimator, and it's actually pretty user-friendly once you get the hang of it. You can model different claiming ages and see the exact dollar impact. For me, waiting those extra 10 months past age 66 to reach my full FRA makes a significant difference in monthly payments. The advice about triple-checking that benefit start date on the application is gold - I can totally see how easy it would be to accidentally select the wrong month and end up with reduced benefits when that wasn't your intention. Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences, especially the warnings about common pitfalls. This is exactly the kind of practical guidance you can't get from official sources!

I'm so sorry for your loss. Dealing with government bureaucracy while grieving is incredibly difficult. I went through something similar when my father passed two years ago. A few practical tips that helped us: First, try calling the SSA number (1-800-772-1213) very early in the morning - around 8 AM when they open. The wait times are usually shorter then. Second, if you have a local SSA office, you might have better luck walking in early in the morning to schedule an appointment rather than trying to call. Third, start gathering all your documents now - death certificate (you'll need certified copies, not just one), marriage certificate, both Social Security cards, and your ID. Having everything ready will make the process smoother when you do get through. The retroactive benefits mentioned by others are accurate - you have time, so don't add more stress to yourself. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Going through this process while grieving is incredibly difficult. I wanted to add a few things that might help: If you're having trouble getting through by phone, many local SSA offices allow you to schedule appointments online at ssa.gov - look for "Find an Office" and then check if your local office offers online appointment scheduling. This might be easier than waiting on hold or walking in. Also, when you do apply, make sure to ask specifically about the lump sum death payment ($255) - it's a small amount but every bit helps during this time. The SSA representative should automatically process this when you apply for survivor benefits, but it's worth confirming. You're absolutely right that you'll likely receive the higher amount (your husband's $2,200 rather than your $1,450), and as others mentioned, you have up to 12 months to apply with retroactive benefits, so try not to stress about rushing while you're handling everything else. Take care of yourself first.

I'm at week 2 of waiting for my online retirement application and honestly feeling pretty anxious about the whole process! This thread has been incredibly reassuring though - it's so helpful to see that 4-6 weeks (sometimes longer) is completely normal, even though it feels like forever when you're waiting. I've already been guilty of checking my mySocialSecurity account multiple times a day hoping for some change beyond "processing" but sounds like that's pretty typical behavior! Really appreciate everyone sharing their timelines and experiences here. It's comforting to know that the lack of communication during processing is normal and not a sign that something's wrong. Going to try to be more patient and follow the advice about waiting until at least week 6 before attempting to call. The information about retroactive payments is really helpful too - takes some of the financial worry away knowing we won't lose money due to processing delays.

I'm at week 5 of waiting for my online retirement application approval and this discussion has been such a relief! Like many others here, I've been anxiously checking my mySocialSecurity account daily seeing nothing but "processing" with zero updates. I was starting to wonder if I'd made an error on my application or if it somehow got lost in the system. Reading everyone's experiences - from 4 weeks all the way up to 7 weeks - really confirms this is just how the process works, even though the lack of communication is nerve-wracking. I'm definitely going to try limiting my account checks to once a week instead of daily, and I'll wait until at least week 6 or 7 before attempting to call given all the horror stories about phone wait times. It's really reassuring to know that benefits are paid retroactively, so we won't lose any money due to these processing delays. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines - it's amazing how much better it feels knowing this waiting period is completely normal and we're all going through the same experience!

Just wanted to add some perspective as someone who worked in estate planning - yes, probate records are public, but that doesn't mean Social Security is actively monitoring them for inheritance recipients. The SSA has bigger fish to fry than tracking down every inheritance recipient who's on regular retirement benefits. The confusion often comes from mixing up SSI (needs-based) with regular Social Security retirement. For retirement benefits, inheritance truly doesn't matter - it's not considered "income" in their calculations. The only time you'd potentially have issues is if you're also receiving SSI alongside your retirement benefits, which is pretty rare. @James Maki - since you're 68 and getting retirement benefits, you're in the clear. Just keep good records of the inheritance documentation in case you ever need it for tax purposes down the road.

As a newcomer to this community, I found this thread incredibly helpful! I'm 64 and planning to start collecting Social Security in a few years, so understanding the difference between regular retirement benefits and SSI is really valuable. It's good to know that inheritance won't affect my future retirement benefits. One thing I'm curious about - for those of us approaching retirement age, are there any other types of "windfall" income (like lottery winnings, gifts, etc.) that WOULD affect regular Social Security retirement benefits? Or is it pretty much just earned income from work that matters for the earnings test if you claim benefits before full retirement age? Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge here!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation as a 58-year-old with a 55-year-old husband, so I'm facing the same "older spouse" dilemma in a few years. One thing I wanted to add that might be useful - I recently attended a Social Security workshop at our local library, and the presenter mentioned that you can actually create "what-if" scenarios on the SSA website using their benefit calculators. You can model different retirement ages for both spouses and see estimated monthly amounts. It's not as detailed as what you'd get from calling directly, but it's a good starting point for understanding your options before that phone call. Also, regarding the Claimyr service that was mentioned earlier - I used them last month to get through to SSA about a different issue and it really did work! Took about 20 minutes and cost $19, but saved me hours of frustration trying to get through on my own. The representative was able to access my earnings record and answer specific questions about my projected benefits. The complexity of all this is honestly ridiculous - they really should make this information clearer and more accessible. But reading everyone's experiences here has helped me understand what questions to ask when my time comes. Thanks to everyone for sharing their knowledge!

I'm 62 and my husband is 58, so I completely relate to your frustration! After going through this maze myself, here's what I learned that might help clarify things: First, yes - your husband absolutely must file for his own benefits before you can receive spousal benefits, regardless of who reaches FRA first. This is the hard rule that can't be worked around. However, you do have some flexibility in timing. At your FRA (67), you could start collecting your own $425 benefit while waiting for your husband to file. Then when he does file (whether at 62, FRA, or later), you'd automatically switch to the higher spousal benefit amount. Here's something important that several people touched on but might get lost in all the details: your spousal benefit is calculated as 50% of your husband's PIA ($2,800) minus your own PIA ($425). So you'd get $1,400 - $425 = $975 as the spousal "top-up" added to your $425, totaling $1,400 per month. This calculation uses his FULL retirement age benefit amount even if he files early and gets less himself. I ended up having my husband file at 62 so I could start getting spousal benefits at 65 rather than waiting until I was 70. Yes, we're getting less per month than if we waited, but those extra 5 years of payments will likely add up to more over our lifetimes. Sometimes "good enough" is better than "perfect" when it comes to Social Security planning! The key is running the numbers for your specific situation and deciding what works best for your financial needs and peace of mind.