Wow, I'm blown away by all the helpful responses! Thank you everyone. So to summarize what I've learned: 1. I don't need to notify SSA about delaying retirement benefits 2. I SHOULD apply for Medicare now (will do that this week) 3. When I decide to collect (probably at 70), I just apply then 4. There's an earnings limit before FRA but not after 5. I need to be aware of the 6-month retroactivity limit This forum has been so much more helpful than the official SSA website! I feel much better informed now.

Great thread! I'm going through something similar - just turned 64 and planning my strategy. One thing I'd add is to create a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov if you haven't already. It shows your earnings record and benefit estimates at different claiming ages, which really helps with planning. You can see exactly how much you'd get at 62, FRA, and 70. Also, don't forget that Social Security benefits may be taxable depending on your other income - something to factor in when deciding on timing. The online account also lets you get benefit verification letters if you need them for other purposes while you're waiting to claim.

Just wanted to add that if you're still working part-time, make sure to let SSA know about your earnings when you apply. Even though you're past 70 and there's no earnings limit, they'll need this info for tax reporting purposes. Also, since you mentioned the rep seemed confused - I'd recommend getting everything in writing or asking for a supervisor if you have any doubts. With retroactive benefits potentially worth thousands of dollars, it's worth making sure they process everything correctly the first time. Good luck with your application!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - turning 70 next month and planning to file soon after. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! It sounds like the 6-month retroactive benefit is definitely something you're entitled to, but the key seems to be making sure you get a knowledgeable SSA representative. One thing I'm curious about - for those of you who successfully received the retroactive payments, did you have to provide any special documentation about when you became eligible, or was it all handled automatically based on your birth date and application date? I want to make sure I have everything ready when I apply to avoid any delays or confusion. Also, it's really concerning how many people are reporting that SSA reps don't seem to know these rules. Makes me wonder if there's some kind of training issue going on. Either way, thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread is going to save me a lot of headaches when I apply!

One more thing to consider - sometimes when there's a representative payee involved, or if there were any changes to direct deposit information around the time of conversion, it can cause delays. Did your cousin make any banking changes recently or does she have someone managing her benefits?

UPDATE: My cousin finally got through to someone helpful at SSA! Turns out her payment date IS changing from the 3rd of the month to the 4th Wednesday (since her birthday is on the 28th). But the representative also found that there was a processing flag on her account that shouldn't have been there, which was holding up the payment. They're removing the flag and she should receive both her regular payment and any backpay within 3 business days. Thank you all so much for your help and suggestions!

Just wanted to add another perspective here - make sure your wife understands that once she starts receiving her own retirement benefit at 62, she'll be locked into that reduced amount forever (about 75% of her full benefit). The spousal top-up decision is separate, but her own benefit reduction is permanent. Also, I'd suggest calling SSA multiple times if you get conflicting information. I've found that different representatives sometimes give different answers, so it's worth getting a second or third opinion, especially for something this important. Document who you spoke with and when - ask for their employee ID if possible. One more thing - if your wife has any earnings between 62 and her FRA while collecting benefits, be aware of the earnings test limits. For 2024, she can earn up to $22,320 without affecting her benefits, but this changes annually.

As someone who just went through this process with my parents last year, I can confirm what others have said about needing to be very explicit with SSA about your timing preferences. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - when your wife does eventually apply for the spousal benefit (whether at 5 months before FRA or at FRA), make sure she asks about retroactive benefits. If there's any delay in processing her application, she might be entitled to back payments to her eligibility date. Also, consider setting up a my Social Security account for both of you if you haven't already. It makes tracking everything much easier and you can send secure messages to SSA through the platform instead of waiting on hold. The message center has been a lifesaver for documenting our requests and keeping records of their responses.

I'm new here but going through a very similar situation! My husband is 69 and still working, planning to file at 70, and I'm 63 trying to figure out the best timing for my benefits. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - especially learning that spousal benefits are based on his FRA amount, not his age-70 amount. That was news to me! One thing I'm still wondering about though - if I start my own benefits early (say at 64), would that reduce the spousal benefit calculation later? Or would I still get bumped up to the full 50% of his PIA when he files at 70, even if my own benefit was reduced for filing early? Also, has anyone here actually used that Claimyr service mentioned above? I'm getting desperate trying to reach SSA directly and might be willing to pay for help at this point!

Hi everyone! I'm also navigating this confusing maze of Social Security timing. Reading through this thread has been incredibly enlightening - thank you all for sharing your experiences! I wanted to add something that might help others in similar situations: I recently discovered that you can create a my Social Security account on the SSA website (ssa.gov) and use their retirement estimator tools to run different scenarios. While it's not as detailed as speaking with an actual agent, it can give you ballpark figures for your own benefits at different filing ages. Also, for those struggling to get through to SSA by phone, I found that calling right when they open (8 AM local time) on Tuesdays or Wednesdays gave me the best chance of getting through. Still took about an hour on hold, but I eventually got connected to a helpful representative. One more tip: if you're working with a financial advisor, many of them have specialized Social Security software that can model different claiming strategies. Mine was able to show me side-by-side comparisons of lifetime benefits under various scenarios, which really helped clarify the decision. @Carmen Reyes - based on what everyone has shared here, it sounds like your plan to file for your own benefits at FRA and then add the spousal portion when your husband files at 70 is a solid strategy! Good luck with everything!