Just wanted to add my experience - I went through this exact same worry last year! I'm also in my 50s and was panicking that my earnings weren't being properly credited. Like others mentioned, SSA's system is incredibly slow compared to what we're used to with online banking and other services. One thing that helped me was creating a my Social Security account if you don't already have one - you can track your earnings history there and get benefit estimates. It's also worth noting that even if there's a delay in reporting, as long as your employer is withholding Social Security taxes (which you can verify on your pay stubs), your earnings will eventually be credited to your record. The peace of mind is worth checking back in a few months, but definitely don't stress about it now. The system works, it's just painfully slow!

I 2022 I retired early at the age of 62 do to health problems. I looked at my SS statement and the last recorded earning was in 2022. Shows 0 for 2023 and not yet recorded for 2024. I am retired with no income other than my SS retirement.

After you file for your retirement benefits, you'll need to apply separately for your child's benefits - it's not automatic! In my experience, the best approach is to: 1. Gather your child's birth certificate and Social Security card 2. Get documentation showing custody arrangement (court order) 3. Call SSA and make an appointment specifically for applying for child's benefits 4. At the appointment, make sure they process both your retirement AND the child's benefit Doing this correctly from the start saved me a lot of headaches later. And yes, as others mentioned, once benefits start, take that documentation to family court to adjust your support obligation.

Just want to add from my own experience - when you do get your child support modified, make sure to keep detailed records of everything. I got my support reduced from $580 to $125 after my daughter started receiving $455/month in Social Security benefits, but it took 6 months for the court order to go through. During that time I kept paying the full amount and the court did adjust it retroactively back to my filing date, so I got a nice refund check. But I've heard horror stories of people who stopped paying early and got hit with contempt charges even though they eventually won their modification case. Also, your ex might not be thrilled about this since it could reduce the total money coming in for your child's expenses, so be prepared for some pushback. But legally you're entitled to the credit for these benefits in most states.

Thanks everyone for the helpful replies! I'm going to keep working at my part-time job, staying under the earnings limit, and I'll check my Social Security account online each December to make sure any recalculations are applied correctly. It's good to know that my continued work might actually increase my benefit over time, even if the increases aren't huge.

Just want to add that the automatic recalculation process can sometimes take longer than expected. When I continued working after starting benefits at 64, it took about 14 months for my first increase to show up instead of the usual 12. SSA told me they had a backlog of recalculations to process. So don't panic if you don't see the adjustment right away in October - it might come a few months later with retroactive payments included. Also, the increases compound over time, so even small bumps each year can add up to meaningful amounts over the long run.

One more thing regarding your spousal top-off benefits - make sure you understand that if you're under your Full Retirement Age (FRA), the amount will be reduced. The 50% of your spouse's benefit is only if you claim at your FRA. Each month early results in a permanent reduction. Also, if you're still working, be aware of the earnings limit ($22,320 in 2025 for those under FRA). Exceeding this could reduce your benefits temporarily until you reach FRA. As for the phone call issue, another option is to call the SSA yourself at the appointment time if they haven't called within 15 minutes. Sometimes they can transfer you to the person who's supposed to be calling you.

BTW the worst part is even if you miss their call, good luck getting through to reschedule!!!! The phone system is IMPOSSIBLE!!! I spent 4 hours on hold last time before being disconnected!!! The whole system needs to be overhauled!!!

To clear up some confusion about restricted applications: 1. For most people born after January 1, 1954, restricted applications are no longer available due to the deemed filing rules established in the 2015 Bipartisan Budget Act. 2. There is no special "Restricted Application for Divorced Spouse Benefits" form anymore - when you apply for any retirement benefits before FRA now, you're automatically deemed to have applied for all benefits you're eligible for. 3. The confusion stems from transitional rules that applied to people born before January 2, 1954, who could still use restricted application strategies. But those individuals are all past FRA now (70+ in 2024). For the original poster turning 62 in 2025, deemed filing rules apply. When she files, SSA will calculate both her own retirement benefit and her divorced spouse's benefit (both reduced for early filing), and pay whichever is higher - not both.

I'm going through a similar situation right now and wanted to share what I learned after meeting with a local SSA office last month. The key thing that helped me understand it better was getting my actual benefit estimates in writing rather than relying on phone conversations. Here's what I'd recommend: 1. Create a my.ssa.gov account if you don't have one and download your Social Security Statement - this will show your estimated benefit at 62, FRA, and 70 2. Try to get your ex-husband's Social Security number if possible (makes the process smoother) 3. Schedule an in-person appointment at your local SSA office rather than calling - bring all your documentation (marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc.) When I went in person, the representative was able to run actual calculations for my specific situation rather than giving general information. She showed me exactly what I'd get under different scenarios - my own benefit at 62 vs. the divorced spouse benefit at 62. One thing that surprised me was that even though the divorced spouse benefit seemed higher based on his estimated earnings, when they factored in the reduction for early filing, my own benefit at 62 was actually slightly better. Every situation is different though! The good news is that once you apply, they automatically calculate both and give you whichever is higher, so you don't have to worry about choosing wrong. And yes, definitely apply even if there's no immediate advantage - it establishes your connection to his record for potential survivor benefits later. Hope this helps and good luck navigating the system!