I'm 58 and going through similar planning right now! One thing that helped me was creating a spreadsheet with different scenarios - claiming at 62 vs FRA vs 70, and calculating the breakeven points. Also worth noting that if you do claim early and later become eligible for spousal benefits, you can't just "switch" - you get the higher of your reduced benefit OR the spousal benefit (also reduced if you claimed early). But as everyone confirmed, survivor benefits are completely separate from this calculation. Have you considered doing a Social Security statement review? You can create an account at ssa.gov and see your projected benefits at different claiming ages. It really helps visualize the long-term impact of early claiming decisions.

I'm 63 and actually just went through this decision last year. I can confirm everything you've heard is correct - I claimed my benefits early and the reduction did follow me when I later qualified for spousal benefits on my husband's record. But the survivor benefit rules are completely separate, which was a huge relief to learn. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier is to really run the numbers on your specific situation. I used the calculators on ssa.gov, but I also found a fee-only financial planner who specialized in Social Security planning. It cost me $500 for a comprehensive analysis, but it was worth every penny to see all the scenarios laid out clearly. The other thing that helped me was realizing that there's no universally "right" answer - it really depends on your health, your financial needs, your husband's earnings record, and your risk tolerance. I ended up claiming early because we needed the income and I have some health concerns, but my neighbor in a similar situation decided to wait. Both decisions made sense for our individual circumstances. Your research sounds solid, and this thread has great advice. Just make sure whatever you decide, you're comfortable with it and it fits your overall retirement plan!

my payment just came thru today! check your accounts everyone

This whole thread has me worried about my upcoming move abroad. Does anyone know if receiving payments on a US bank account and then transferring internationally is more reliable than direct international deposit? I'm on SSDI and absolutely cannot handle payment delays when I move.

You should really consider the whole financial picture. In my case, when my wife went back to work, we lost her SS benefit BUT: 1. She got health insurance through her employer which saved us $580/month 2. She started contributing to a 401k again 3. Her take-home pay was way more than the SS benefit Just some things to think about beyond just the SS payment itself.

I went through something very similar when my husband started collecting early retirement. The key thing to understand is that Social Security has something called the "family maximum benefit" which caps the total amount your family can receive based on the primary worker's earnings record. In your case, it sounds like you're already at or very close to that maximum ($2,170 for you + $756 each for wife and two kids = $4,438 total). When your wife stops her benefit to return to work, that $756 doesn't get redistributed to your children - it essentially just disappears from your family's total SS income. However, don't let that discourage you! When my husband and I ran the numbers, her returning to work was still financially beneficial because: - Her salary exceeded what she was getting from SS - We got employer health benefits - She could start building her own SS credits again for higher future benefits I'd recommend calling SSA directly to confirm your exact family maximum and get official guidance. Every situation is a bit different based on your specific earnings history.

I went through almost the exact same situation when my wife passed away in 2023. Filed my withdrawal request in March, paid back everything within 3 weeks, and didn't get final approval until October - 7 months! What finally worked for me was going to my local SSA office with ALL my paperwork and asking to file a formal complaint about the delay. The supervisor there made some calls and discovered my withdrawal file had been sitting in someone's queue who was out on extended leave. They reassigned it and I got my approval letter 2 weeks later, then survivor benefits started the following month with full backpay. Don't give up - your timeline isn't normal even for SSA standards. Push for that supervisor meeting!

I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare with SSA! Seven months is absolutely unacceptable, especially when you've already paid back everything they requested. I work in benefits advocacy and see this kind of bureaucratic limbo far too often. Here's what I'd recommend as immediate next steps: First, document EVERYTHING - every call, every rep you speak with, dates, times, what was said. Second, escalate beyond regular customer service by specifically requesting a "Post-Entitlement Technical Expert" as someone mentioned earlier. Third, if your local office visit doesn't produce results, file a formal complaint through SSA's Office of Inspector General (oig.ssa.gov). Most importantly, don't let them brush you off with "it's still processing" - demand specifics about WHY it's taking so long and what exactly needs to happen for approval. After 7 months with repayment confirmed, there's no legitimate reason for this delay. You deserve those survivor benefits and the backpay that comes with them. Keep fighting!

So glad I found this thread!!! Been trying to figure out this exact problem all week. My phone is ancient and barely runs apps anymore - do I need to upgrade my phone to use the authenticator thing everyone's recommending? I really don't want to spend hundreds on a new phone just to check my SS benefits!

I went through this process last month. It was frustrating but worth it for the added security. Here's what I learned: 1. The authenticator apps are completely free and very secure. I use Authy because it has cloud backup (so if you lose your phone, you don't lose access). 2. The setup instructions on the SSA website are poorly written, but the process itself isn't complicated. 3. If you have any problems during setup, I highly recommend calling early in the morning (right when they open) to minimize wait times. 4. Once it's set up, logging in takes just a few seconds longer than before. Despite SSA's outdated systems, this authentication change is actually a positive security improvement. Identity theft targeting Social Security benefits has increased dramatically in recent years.