I'm new to this community and just went through this exact transition a few months ago! After reading through all these incredibly helpful responses, I wanted to add my experience to reinforce what everyone is saying. I started my Social Security benefits in August and was terrified about messing up my Medicare coverage. Here's what worked for me: I called Medicare at exactly 8 AM (set my alarm!) and got through in about 18 minutes. The key was asking specifically for someone who handles "Social Security benefit coordination" - this got me transferred to a specialist who knew exactly what I was dealing with. She explained that I should pay just one month directly while their system synced with Social Security, which would take 4-6 weeks. She also set up automatic notifications in my account so I'd get alerts when the transition was complete. The whole process went smoothly, and the automatic deductions started with my third Social Security check, exactly as predicted. My biggest tip: don't just rely on verbal confirmations - ask for everything in writing! I requested email confirmation of our conversation, which saved me when there was a small billing question later. This community is amazing for getting real-world guidance that you just can't find in the official documentation. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences!

I'm new to this community and facing this exact transition next month! Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly reassuring - I was honestly panicking about potentially losing Medicare coverage or accidentally double-paying. The consistent advice about calling Medicare early in the morning (around 8 AM) and asking specifically for the "Social Security benefit coordination" department seems like the key to getting through to someone who actually understands these transitions. I'm definitely going to set up that documentation system everyone mentioned before I even start making calls - tracking confirmation numbers, case references, and getting everything in writing sounds crucial. It's amazing how much clearer this process becomes when you hear from people who've actually navigated it successfully. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their detailed experiences - you've probably saved me and many others from making costly mistakes! This is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that makes this community so valuable.

I'm new to this community and wanted to thank everyone for this incredibly detailed discussion! I'm about to start my own Social Security application and was dreading the marriage history section. My previous marriage lasted only 4 years, and I was worried it would complicate everything unnecessarily. After reading through all these experiences, I feel so much more confident about the process. The consensus is clear - be honest, answer "yes" to previous marriages, provide the basic information (dates, spouse name, how it ended), and let the system handle the rest. It's reassuring to know that most people had smooth experiences with short marriages and that the system automatically recognizes when a marriage doesn't meet the 10-year threshold. For those dealing with the red error bug that's preventing submission - that sounds incredibly frustrating! Definitely seems like a technical issue SSA needs to fix rather than expecting people to omit accurate information. This thread has been such a valuable resource for understanding what to actually expect versus just trying to interpret the official forms. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their real experiences!

I'm new to this community and just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire discussion has been! I'm currently preparing to file for my own Social Security benefits and was really anxious about how to handle my previous marriage that lasted only 5 years. Reading through everyone's real-world experiences has been so much more valuable than trying to decode the official SSA documentation on my own. The clear consensus from all of your experiences is really reassuring - answer honestly about previous marriages, provide the basic information when prompted (dates, spouse name, how it ended), and trust that the system will automatically handle marriages under 10 years appropriately. It's great to know that most people had smooth experiences without unnecessary paperwork requests for short marriages. I feel so much more confident about starting my application now. For those dealing with that red error bug that's blocking submissions - that sounds incredibly frustrating and definitely seems like a technical issue SSA needs to address urgently. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and advice here!

I've been working as a Social Security disability attorney for over 15 years, and while my expertise is primarily in disability claims, I handle enough retirement benefit issues to offer some additional perspective on your situation. You're absolutely correct that this is worth pursuing aggressively. The retroactive benefits you're entitled to aren't just about the immediate lump sum payment - changing your benefit start date from February to December will also increase your monthly payment amount for the rest of your life, since you'll be receiving your full retirement age benefit instead of the reduced early retirement amount. One strategy I haven't seen mentioned yet is documenting the financial hardship this delay is causing you. When you do get through to someone at SSA, explain not just that you want the retroactive benefits, but that the delay in processing your request is causing you ongoing financial harm. Sometimes framing it as an urgent hardship situation can help move your case up in the queue. Also, make sure you're prepared to clearly explain that this was an error in your original application, not a change of mind. SSA treats these situations very differently - if they understand that you intended to claim at your FRA but made a mistake in the paperwork, they're generally much more accommodating than if they think you're trying to game the system after the fact. The timeline Mei Chen provided (6-8 weeks for processing) is realistic, but congressional inquiries really do work miracles with SSA. I've seen cases that were stuck for months get resolved within days once a congressional office got involved. Don't hesitate to use that option if the direct approaches don't work by next week.

I just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through this exact process last year. After reading through all these excellent responses, I can confirm that the strategies people are sharing really do work, especially the 7 AM calling approach and having multiple backup plans. One thing I'd emphasize that hasn't been mentioned directly - when you do get through to an SSA representative, ask them specifically about the "protective filing date" for your retroactive benefit request. This ensures that even if there are delays in processing, your request is officially on record from the date you first contacted them (or faxed your SSA-795). Also, I noticed several people mentioned the financial impact over your lifetime, and I want to reinforce just how significant this is. When I calculated my situation, the difference between my reduced early retirement benefit and my FRA benefit was about $220/month. Over 20 years, that's over $50,000 - definitely worth taking time off work if needed! The community support in this thread has been amazing. It's clear you have a solid action plan now with multiple strategies to try. Keep us posted on your progress - success stories like this help other community members who might face similar situations. You've got this!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to reach out because I'm in a very similar situation as a retired librarian from Oregon. I worked 10 years in private sector bookkeeping before switching to public library work for 22 years where I didn't contribute to Social Security. My benefit was reduced to just $495/month due to WEP when I retired in early 2024. Nina, reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea about so many of the details around spousal benefits and the "deemed filing" concept that multiple people have explained. The practical advice shared here - especially about calling local SSA offices instead of fighting the main number - is exactly what I needed to hear. I'm particularly grateful for the tips about preparing an employment timeline and asking SSA to explain both the modified WEP calculation versus the standard calculation. It sounds like being organized with all these details upfront can make the conversation much more productive. Like many others have said, it's such a relief to finally connect with people who understand what we've been going through. After feeling penalized for choosing a career in public service, this WEP elimination feels like we're finally getting the fairness we deserve. I'm planning to call my local SSA office next week with all the great strategies I've learned from this thread. Thank you all for creating such a supportive and informative community!

Welcome to the community, Zane! As another newcomer who's been learning so much from this thread, I completely understand your situation as a fellow public servant. It's incredible how many of us have similar stories - split careers between private and public sector work, only to be penalized by WEP for our years of public service. I'm also planning to call my local SSA office next week after reading all the fantastic advice here. The tip about preparing that employment timeline beforehand seems crucial, and I love the idea of asking them to walk through both calculation methods so we can really understand the difference WEP elimination will make. Your benefit reduction to $495/month is heartbreaking - it really shows how dramatically WEP affected those of us in public service. But it sounds like we're all about to see some significant increases once these adjustments go through. The stories from people who've already successfully contacted SSA are so encouraging! It's amazing how this one thread has become such a valuable resource for navigating this complex process. Between the practical tips and the emotional support of connecting with others who truly understand what we've experienced, I feel so much more prepared and optimistic about moving forward. Good luck with your call next week - I hope you get the clarity and timeline you need!

I just went through this same situation 2 months ago! I was married for 14 years, divorced 23 years ago, and absolutely no contact with my ex-wife since then. The online application kept asking for her SSN and I was getting really frustrated. Here's what worked for me: I called the SSA number (1-800-772-1213) at 8:05 AM on a Monday morning and got through in about 18 minutes. The representative was fantastic and immediately put me at ease. She explained that the ex-spouse SSN is only required if you're applying for spousal benefits on their record, not for your own retirement benefits. She processed my entire application over the phone in about 35 minutes. When we got to the marriage history section, I told her I didn't have my ex-wife's SSN and couldn't obtain it. She simply noted "unavailable" in the system and we moved on. I did provide her maiden name and the approximate year she was born (which I remembered), but she said even that was optional for my own benefits claim. My retirement benefits started right on schedule with zero complications. No follow-up calls, no additional documentation requests - nothing. The representative even mentioned that this is a very common situation they deal with all the time, especially for people who've been divorced for many years. Don't let this delay your application! You've worked hard for those benefits and deserve to start receiving them when you turn 65. The early morning phone call approach really is the best way to handle this situation.

I'm currently going through this exact same situation and this entire thread has been incredibly reassuring! I'm 64 and planning to file for my Social Security benefits in the next few weeks. Like so many others here, I was married for over 10 years (13 years in my case), divorced many years ago (16 years now), and have absolutely no way to contact my ex-husband or obtain his SSN. Reading through everyone's successful experiences has completely changed my perspective on this issue. I was initially panicking thinking this one missing piece of information would somehow prevent me from getting the benefits I've earned through 40+ years of work. But the consistent message from everyone who's actually been through this process is clear: you absolutely DO NOT need your ex-spouse's SSN to file for your own retirement benefits. I'm definitely going to follow the advice about calling the SSA number early in the morning (around 8 AM) rather than struggling with the online application. It sounds like the phone representatives are much more knowledgeable about handling these common situations and can easily note "unknown" or "unavailable" in their system without it causing any delays. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their detailed experiences - you've turned what felt like an impossible bureaucratic nightmare into a straightforward phone call. It's amazing how much peace of mind comes from hearing real stories from people who've successfully navigated this exact situation! 🙏