My husband and I both turned 67 last year and we filed at different times to test this exact thing! I filed exactly ON my birthday month, and he waited 5 months to file. Guess what? He got 5 months of back pay AND his regular payment started the same month as mine! The system makes NO SENSE. And don't get me started on the taxation of these benefits - we're being DOUBLE TAXED on money we already paid taxes on during our working years!!! The whole system needs an overhaul!!

I'm in a similar situation - turned 67 last month and just realized I might be overthinking this whole filing process! Reading through all these responses is really helpful. It sounds like the key takeaway is that since you're already past your FRA, you can file now and request the earliest possible entitlement date to get those 6 months of retroactive benefits. I've been putting off filing because I was scared of making a mistake, but it seems like the main thing is just to complete the application and be clear about wanting the earliest start date. The online application can be confusing, but at least we know we won't get a permanent reduction since we're past FRA. Has anyone here had issues with the online application timing out or losing progress? I started mine twice and both times it seemed to reset when I came back to finish it later.

I just remembered something else! When I was trying to figure out why my benefit was so different from the estimate, I learned that the statement estimates don't include the delayed retirement credits if you file after your FRA. Did you wait beyond your full retirement age? That could explain part of the increase over your statement estimate.

As someone new to this community, I'm finding this discussion incredibly helpful! I'm 64 and planning to file for Social Security in the next year or two, and this thread is making me realize I should probably take those estimates with a grain of salt. It sounds like there are so many variables that can affect the final calculation - recent earnings, COLA adjustments, timing of when you file, etc. I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread and come back to it when I get my own award letter. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and especially to those who explained the technical details!

just wanted to say ur a good friend for helping her through this. when my husband died i couldn't think straight for months and would have missed out on benefits if my daughter hadn't helped me figure it all out

I'm so sorry for your friend's loss. Losing a spouse is devastating, and dealing with all these benefit questions during grief is incredibly difficult. You're being such a wonderful friend by helping her navigate this. From what everyone has shared, it sounds like the GPO will indeed reduce her survivor benefits significantly. One thing I'd add is that she should also check if there are any survivor benefits available through her husband's employer - some companies provide temporary continuation of health insurance or small survivor pensions that are separate from Social Security. Also, while the GPO reduction is substantial, receiving $1,400 in survivor benefits plus her $2,700 teacher pension still provides meaningful financial support. I know it's not what she was hoping for, but every bit helps during this transition. Make sure she knows that survivor benefits can be retroactive to the month after her husband's death, so even if there's a delay in processing, she won't lose those months of benefits. The sooner she applies, the better.

UPDATE: I FINALLY got through to SS after 2.5 HOURS on hold!!! They said many people are getting deposits because of an ERROR in the COLAs calculated for 2024!!! They under-calculated many people's increases and are now fixing it with back payments to January. CHECK YOUR AMOUNTS carefully!! The agent said if you got more than you should have they WILL take it back eventually!!!

This is really helpful information everyone! I'm in a similar situation - got an unexpected $892 deposit yesterday with "SOC SEC" in the description. Based on what Lauren found out about the COLA calculation errors, that amount actually lines up with what I think I might have been underpaid since January. I'm going to try calling tomorrow morning (hopefully the wait times are better early in the day) to confirm this is legitimate before I even think about touching it. Thanks for all the warnings about not spending it until we know for sure - definitely don't want to end up overdrawn if they take it back!

One more important point: When you reach your Full Retirement Age (FRA), the earnings test disappears completely. So once you turn 66, you can earn unlimited income without any reduction in benefits. Keep that in mind for your future planning.

As someone new to this community, I just wanted to say how helpful this discussion has been! I'm approaching retirement myself and had no idea about the monthly vs annual earnings test distinction for the first year. The advice about formally notifying SSA about mid-year retirement seems crucial - I'll definitely keep that in mind when my time comes. It's frustrating that such an important rule isn't more widely known or automatically applied. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge here!