Perfect summary! One additional tip: When your husband applies, he should print or save PDF copies of all confirmation screens and any communication from SSA. This documentation can be helpful if there are any issues with processing his application.

Great advice from everyone here! Just wanted to add that you should also consider setting up direct deposit if you haven't already - it's faster and more secure than waiting for a check in the mail. You can set this up during the application process or through your MySocialSecurity account. Also, keep in mind that your husband's benefit amount might be slightly different from the estimates you've seen online, as the final calculation includes the most recent earnings data. The award letter you'll receive after approval will show the exact monthly amount. Good luck with the application process!

I'm in a very similar situation - turning 63 next year and living in Costa Rica. After reading all these experiences, I'm definitely leaning toward flying back to file in person. The thing that really stands out to me is how many people mention that SSA reps in the US caught errors or complications that could have cost thousands over time. Since we're talking about benefits that will hopefully last 20+ years, even a small mistake in the calculation can add up to huge money. Plus, with the WEP calculations and international agreements, it seems like the FBU staff's expertise varies wildly between locations. At least in a US office, you know they have access to all the systems and can pull up everything immediately. The travel cost is a one-time expense, but benefit errors last forever. Has anyone had experience with the SSA office in Miami? I'm thinking that might be my best bet given the high number of international cases they probably handle.

Reading through all these experiences really reinforces how much the decision depends on your individual situation. For anyone else following this thread who might be on the fence, here's what seems to be the key factors: 1) If you have a straightforward work history with only US earnings, FBU can work fine (though timelines vary widely), 2) If you have foreign earnings, multiple countries involved, or potential WEP calculations, the US route seems overwhelmingly better, and 3) The peace of mind factor is huge - knowing you can get everything resolved in one sitting vs. potentially months of back-and-forth. One additional consideration I haven't seen mentioned much is that if you're planning to travel back to the US anyway for other reasons (family visits, medical appointments, etc.), the timing could work out perfectly. Also worth noting that some of the newer SSA offices have really streamlined their processes - it's not the same bureaucratic nightmare it used to be if you come prepared with all your documents. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences!

As someone who's been working in retirement planning for over 15 years, I can confirm everything that's been shared here - you absolutely do get COLA increases while delaying benefits past your FRA! This is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Social Security strategy. The way it works is that your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) gets adjusted annually for COLA regardless of whether you're collecting benefits, and then when you finally claim, the delayed retirement credits are applied to that COLA-adjusted amount. So you're getting compound growth from both sources. What many people don't realize is that this makes delaying even more powerful during periods of higher inflation, like we've seen recently. The 8.7% COLA in 2023 plus the 8% delayed credit meant some people saw their potential benefits grow by over 16% in a single year! For anyone considering delaying, I'd strongly recommend using the SSA's online benefit calculators AND creating your own tracking spreadsheet to see how both factors work together. The decision should always be based on your individual health, financial needs, and family longevity, but understanding that you get BOTH inflation protection AND delayed credits is crucial for making an informed choice.

As a newcomer to this community, I have to say this thread has been absolutely incredible for someone trying to understand Social Security strategy! I'm 64 and was completely confused about whether COLAs apply while delaying benefits - my local SSA office gave me conflicting information when I called last month. Reading through everyone's real experiences here has been so much more helpful than trying to navigate the official website. What really stands out to me is how this COLA benefit while delaying seems to be such a well-kept secret. I've talked to several friends about Social Security planning and NONE of them knew about this! It's honestly a bit frustrating that such important information isn't more widely publicized. I'm definitely going to delay now after seeing the actual numbers people have shared. One question for the group - has anyone dealt with family members or financial advisors who tried to talk you out of delaying because they also didn't know about the COLA protection? I'm getting pushback from my kids who think I should "take the money while it's still there" but after reading this discussion, I feel like delaying is actually the safer long-term strategy. Thanks to everyone for creating such an informative discussion!

This thread has been incredibly educational! I'm 64 and have been receiving Social Security for about a year now, but I wish I had found this community before I filed. I experienced something very similar to Luca - was quoted one amount over the phone but received about $35 less per month than expected. At the time I just accepted it and figured they knew what they were doing, but reading through all these experiences makes me realize I should have pushed for an explanation. The information about the rounding down rule and sequential reduction factors really explains what happened in my case. I also had no idea about the my Social Security online account being more accurate than phone estimates - that would have saved me some confusion! For anyone still in the planning phase, I'd definitely echo the advice to get everything in writing and use the online tools rather than relying solely on phone consultations. It's also worth noting that even small monthly differences add up significantly over time, so it's absolutely worth understanding exactly how your benefit was calculated. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences and practical advice!

This has been such an informative discussion! I'm currently 60 and starting to seriously consider my Social Security strategy. Reading through everyone's experiences has really highlighted how important it is to understand the calculation process before filing. The discrepancy between phone estimates and actual payments seems to be incredibly common - it's both reassuring to know I'm not alone in finding this confusing, but also concerning that the system seems to consistently provide inaccurate verbal estimates. The explanation about sequential reduction factors and the mandatory rounding down rule has been eye-opening. I had always assumed benefits would be rounded to the nearest dollar like most financial calculations. The advice about creating a my Social Security account for more accurate estimates and getting everything in writing is definitely something I'll be implementing in my planning process. One question for the group - has anyone noticed if the accuracy of phone estimates has improved over time, or does this seem to be an ongoing systemic issue? I'm wondering if it's worth even calling for estimates or if I should just rely entirely on the online tools. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - this community is invaluable for navigating these complex decisions!

Update: I finally got through to someone at Medicaid who seemed to really know what they were talking about. They confirmed that my children's survivor benefits are NOT counted towards MY income for Medicaid eligibility purposes! They are considered the children's income. However, they said I should bring all the award letters showing the separate payments to my in-person appointment. Thank you everyone for your help - this forum saved me so much stress!

That's fantastic news! I'm so glad you were able to get a knowledgeable caseworker who could clear this up for you. This is such an important distinction that can make or break someone's eligibility. Your experience will definitely help other people in similar situations who might be dealing with the same confusion. It's frustrating that there's so much inconsistency in how different caseworkers handle these cases, but at least you got the right answer in the end. Best of luck with your application!