my uncle waited til 70 too and got the max amount so ur making a smart choice dont worry about the notification thing

You're making a smart financial decision by waiting until 70! Just to reassure you further - I work with Social Security matters regularly, and there's absolutely no "notification requirement" for delaying benefits. The SSA operates on an application-based system, meaning benefits only start when you actively apply for them. Your delayed retirement credits have been accumulating automatically at 8% per year since your FRA. The only thing you need to remember is to apply about 3-4 months before your 70th birthday so your first payment arrives on time. You've done everything correctly by simply not applying yet!

Thank you everyone for all your helpful responses! I feel much more confident now about how to approach this. I'm going to call back tomorrow and specifically request the childhood disability determination using the exact phrasing suggested. I'll also gather all her recent medical documentation to have ready. If I have trouble getting through, I'll try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. I'll update once I get this sorted out!

As someone who's navigated this maze before, I want to echo what others have said - you're absolutely right to question that information! The SSA rep gave you incorrect guidance about CIC benefits stopping at 16 for disabled children. Here's what helped me when I was in a similar situation: Keep a detailed log of every call you make - date, time, name of rep if they give it, and exactly what they tell you. This documentation becomes invaluable if you need to escalate or appeal later. Also, when you call back, don't just ask for the childhood disability determination - ask them to cite the specific POMS (Program Operations Manual System) section they're referencing. If they can't provide it or seem unsure, that's your cue to ask for a supervisor or Technical Expert. One last tip: If possible, try to handle this in person at your local SSA office rather than over the phone. It's harder for them to rush you off or give incomplete information when you're sitting right there, and you can get any determinations in writing immediately. You've got this! Don't let them intimidate you - you know your daughter's needs better than anyone.

As a newcomer to this community, I want to add my voice to thank everyone for this incredibly thorough and educational discussion! I'm currently helping my elderly aunt navigate some Social Security questions, and reading through this entire thread has been like taking a masterclass in retirement benefit planning. What really impresses me is how this conversation demonstrates the critical importance of getting personalized advice from SSA directly rather than relying on general information. The Claimyr recommendation seems like it could save people so much frustration - I'm definitely sharing that resource with my aunt and bookmarking it for my own future needs. I'm also struck by how these remarriage rules create such heart-wrenching dilemmas for seniors. The fact that people have to choose between love and financial security after already contributing to the system for decades feels fundamentally unfair. While the individual strategies shared here (comprehensive financial planning, early SSA consultations, considering all interconnected factors) are incredibly helpful, it also seems like these policies themselves might benefit from legislative reform. For the original poster - I truly hope you were able to find a path forward that honors both your financial needs and your desire for companionship. This community's willingness to share knowledge and support each other through these complex decisions is really remarkable. Thank you to everyone who contributed their experiences and expertise!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful for this comprehensive and supportive discussion! Reading through everyone's experiences has been so educational about the complexities of Social Security remarriage rules. What really stands out to me is how this thread has become a valuable resource not just for the original poster, but for anyone facing similar decisions. The practical advice shared here is outstanding - especially the Claimyr recommendation for reaching SSA representatives quickly, and the emphasis on getting exact benefit calculations rather than making assumptions. I'm bookmarking these resources for future reference! What strikes me most is how these policies force people into impossible choices between financial security and personal happiness. It seems particularly unfair that seniors who've contributed to the system for decades have to weigh love against their economic survival. While the individual strategies discussed here are incredibly helpful (comprehensive financial planning, early SSA consultations, considering Medicare and tax implications), it also highlights how these remarriage penalty rules might benefit from policy reform. To the original poster - I hope your SSA consultation and financial discussions with your fiancé helped you find a solution that works for your unique situation. Whatever path you choose, you're making it with excellent information thanks to this community's support. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences - this is exactly the kind of mutual aid that makes navigating complex systems more manageable!

One additional thing to be aware of: if you're receiving SSI (Supplemental Security Income) rather than regular Social Security retirement benefits, different rules apply. For SSI, selling your home could potentially affect your benefits because SSI has asset limits. But since you mentioned early retirement benefits at 62, I'm assuming you're on regular Social Security retirement, not SSI, so the earnings test is what applies to you - and home sale proceeds don't count toward that.

Just wanted to add one more reassuring point - I work in real estate and see this question come up a lot with clients who are on Social Security. The distinction everyone's making here is absolutely correct: the SSA earnings test is very specific about what counts as "earnings." It's really just wages from employment and net earnings from self-employment (like if you run a business). Capital gains from selling your primary residence, investment income, pensions, annuities, and other types of income don't count toward the earnings limit. So you can proceed with your home sale and move closer to your daughter without any worries about your Social Security benefits being affected! The fact that you're using the proceeds to buy another home makes it even clearer that this is just a housing transition, not an income-generating activity. Best of luck with your move!

I'm sorry for your loss, Ethan. Navigating survivor benefits while grieving can be overwhelming, especially with SSA's phone system being so difficult to reach. One important detail that hasn't been fully addressed yet: since you're 63, you're past the earliest age for survivor benefits (60) but still under your full retirement age. This means your survivor benefit will be reduced by approximately 19% from the full amount. However, this reduction is permanent - it won't increase when you reach your FRA like your own retirement benefits would. Given your husband's benefit history (SSDI converting to retirement at his FRA), your survivor benefit would indeed be based on 100% of what he was receiving at death, minus the early claiming reduction. If he was receiving delayed retirement credits past his FRA, those would be included too. For your work situation with variable retail hours, I'd strongly recommend keeping detailed monthly earnings records and reporting quarterly to SSA. The earnings test can be tricky with seasonal work, but being proactive about reporting changes can help you avoid the overpayment situations others have mentioned. Also consider whether waiting until your FRA (around 66-67) might make more sense if your own retirement benefit could be higher - you'd have more flexibility with earnings limits too.

You can get estimates of your own retirement benefits at different claiming ages by creating a my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Your annual Social Security Statement will show projected benefits at age 62, full retirement age, and age 70. This will help you compare whether taking reduced survivor benefits now versus waiting for potentially higher retirement benefits later makes financial sense. Another consideration: if you do take survivor benefits now, you're not locked into that decision forever. You have what's called a "do-over" option within 12 months of first receiving benefits - you can withdraw your application, repay what you've received, and reapply later. There's also the strategy others mentioned of taking survivor benefits now and switching to your own retirement benefit at 70 if it would be higher. Given your retail work with seasonal variations, I'd also suggest asking SSA about setting up quarterly reporting when you apply. This way you can adjust your estimated earnings throughout the year and avoid surprises. Some field offices are better about explaining these options than the phone system, so if you have a local SSA office, an in-person appointment might be worth trying. The fact that you're thinking through all these angles shows you're approaching this thoughtfully despite a difficult situation.