One thing that might help with the payment timing is to set up a small emergency buffer in your checking account if possible. I learned this the hard way when I first retired - having even just $200-300 extra cushion made the transition to the Wednesday payment schedule much less stressful. Also, if you use online banking, most banks will let you schedule your bill payments to go out automatically a day or two after your SS deposit hits. Takes the guesswork out of timing everything perfectly. The first few months of retirement take some adjustment, but you'll get into a rhythm with the payment schedule pretty quickly!

As someone who just went through this process last year, I wanted to add that you can actually check your exact payment date in advance by creating a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov. Once you're signed up for benefits, it shows your specific payment schedule for the entire year. This was super helpful for me because I could plan out my budget months in advance and coordinate with my bank about automatic bill pay timing. Also, if there's ever a federal holiday that falls on your normal payment Wednesday, they typically pay the day before - but the online account will show you those adjusted dates too. The my Social Security portal is really underutilized but has tons of useful info once you get it set up!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ravi. Dealing with Social Security paperwork while grieving is incredibly difficult, but you're asking all the right questions. Yes, both your mother and stepmother can absolutely receive survivor benefits from your father's record. This is one of those situations where Social Security actually works in favor of families - multiple survivors can collect without reducing each other's benefits. Here's what you need to know: - Your mom qualifies as a divorced spouse (15-year marriage exceeds the 10-year minimum, and she never remarried) - Your stepmom qualifies as the surviving widow (married at time of death) - Both must apply separately using Form SSA-10 - Each will need: death certificate, their marriage certificate, and your mom will also need the divorce decree Important timing consideration: Your mom at 67 can get 100% of the survivor benefit, but your stepmom at 62 would only get about 81% if she claims now. If your stepmom can wait until her full retirement age (around 66-67), she'd get the full amount. Before applying, both should check their own benefit estimates on my.ssa.gov to make sure survivor benefits would actually be higher than their own retirement benefits. The process can be frustrating with phone wait times, but don't give up. Your father worked hard for these benefits, and both women are entitled to them. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

I'm deeply sorry for your loss, Ravi. Losing a parent is never easy, and having to navigate Social Security benefits during such a difficult time adds extra stress to an already overwhelming situation. The great news is that both your mother and stepmother can absolutely receive survivor benefits from your father's record simultaneously. This is actually one of the more family-friendly aspects of Social Security - multiple qualified survivors can draw benefits without reducing what the others receive. Your situation breaks down like this: - Your mom qualifies for divorced spouse survivor benefits (married 15 years, which exceeds the 10-year requirement, and never remarried) - Your stepmother qualifies as the surviving widow (married to your father at the time of his death) Both will need to apply separately using Form SSA-10 and provide the necessary documentation: death certificate, their respective marriage certificates, and your mom will also need the divorce decree. One crucial point about timing: your mom at 67 can receive the full 100% survivor benefit, but your stepmother at 62 would only receive about 81% if she claims immediately. If your stepmother can afford to wait until closer to her full retirement age (66-67), she'd get significantly more. Before either applies, I'd strongly recommend they both check their own estimated benefits on my.ssa.gov to ensure the survivor benefits would actually be higher than their own retirement benefits - SSA pays whichever is higher, but not both. Your father earned these benefits through years of hard work, and both women are absolutely entitled to them. Take care of yourself during this process.

Great question about spousal benefits! I went through something very similar with my husband. When he filed at his full retirement age, I was already collecting my own reduced benefit from filing early. The SSA automatically calculated my spousal benefit and sent me a letter about 2 months later with the increase. One thing I'd add that others haven't mentioned - make sure to review your annual Social Security statements once this kicks in. They should show both your own benefit and the spousal supplement clearly. Also, if your wife is still working part-time and earning income, keep in mind the earnings test might still apply to her benefits until she reaches her full retirement age, which could temporarily reduce the spousal portion. The process was pretty smooth for us overall, but I definitely recommend keeping copies of all correspondence from SSA during this transition period. Good luck with your retirement filing!

For 2025, the earnings test limit is $23,400 annually (or $1,950 monthly) for beneficiaries under their full retirement age. If your wife earns more than this from her part-time work, they'll reduce her benefits by $1 for every $2 over the limit. This applies to both her own retirement benefit AND any spousal benefit increase she receives. However, these aren't permanent reductions - once she reaches her full retirement age, SSA will recalculate and give her credit for any months benefits were withheld due to earnings. Given that she's working 15 hours a week in retail, you'll want to estimate her annual earnings and factor this into your planning. The SSA website has a good earnings test calculator, or you can discuss the specifics when you file your application.

Great to see you got through to SSA and have an appointment scheduled! Just wanted to add a couple things that might be helpful for your meeting: 1. If you can find any old tax returns from when you were married, those might have his SSN on them (joint returns would show both). Even if you don't have them, it's not necessary since SSA confirmed they can find his record without it. 2. Since you mentioned he earned "almost triple" what you did, you're likely looking at a significant increase. At FRA, survivor benefits aren't reduced, so you should get 100% of what he was entitled to (or what he was receiving if he had already claimed). 3. Don't forget to ask about Medicare implications if you're eligible - sometimes survivor benefit changes can affect Medicare premiums. Really hoping this works out for you and provides the financial relief you need. Keep us posted after your appointment!

So glad you were able to get through and have an appointment scheduled! This is exactly the kind of situation where the SSA's ability to locate records with basic information really shines. Since you mentioned you were married for 17 years (well over the 10-year requirement) and never remarried, you're in a strong position for approval. One thing to keep in mind - since you're already receiving your own reduced benefit that you took at 62, the survivor benefit calculation will be separate. You'll essentially switch from your current benefit to the higher survivor benefit if eligible. The good news is that taking your own benefit early won't reduce the survivor benefit amount. Wishing you the best of luck at your appointment! This could be life-changing financially, and it sounds like you have all the documentation you need.

I'm so grateful I found this discussion before making what could have been a costly mistake! Like many others here, I was planning to start Social Security at 65 thinking that was the "normal" retirement age, but clearly I had outdated information. The advice from the SSA professionals and financial planner has been invaluable. I now understand that for a June 28th birthday, you'd select July as your start month, but more importantly, that taking benefits at 65 instead of waiting until FRA of 67 means a permanent 13% reduction - that's huge money over a lifetime! I had no idea that Medicare and Social Security were separate programs. Being able to enroll in Medicare at 65 while delaying Social Security until 67 or even 70 seems like the smart financial move for most people who can afford to wait. I'm definitely going to use that SSA retirement estimator tool that everyone keeps mentioning to see the actual dollar impact before making any decisions. It sounds like taking time to really understand these numbers could mean the difference between financial comfort and struggling in retirement. Thanks to everyone who shared their expertise and personal experiences - this thread should be required reading for anyone approaching 65!

I'm approaching 65 myself and this entire discussion has been absolutely invaluable! Like so many others here, I was operating under the assumption that 65 was still the standard retirement age and was planning to start Social Security benefits right away. The clarity everyone has provided about selecting July (the month after your June 28th birthday) makes perfect sense now - you need to be 65 for the entire month to be eligible for that month's benefits. But the real eye-opener has been learning about the permanent 13% reduction for taking benefits before Full Retirement Age of 67. That's a substantial amount of money to give up for life! The advice about separating Medicare enrollment (which should happen at 65) from Social Security timing is particularly helpful since it gives us more flexibility in our planning. I had never heard of the SSA retirement estimator tool that everyone keeps mentioning, but I'm definitely going to use it to see the actual dollar impact before making any decisions. The stories from people who took benefits early and regretted it, versus those who waited and benefited financially, are really compelling. Thank you to all the SSA professionals, financial planners, and people who've been through this process for sharing your expertise. This thread should honestly be pinned as a resource for anyone approaching retirement - it's filled with exactly the kind of practical, real-world advice that's hard to find elsewhere!