Thanks everyone for the helpful responses. I think I understand the process better now: 1) For my application, I'll select July as my start month to begin benefits at age 65. 2) For my wife, she'll wait until her FRA and then apply directly for spousal benefits. 3) We'll need to have our marriage certificate ready, and it sounds like an in-person appointment might be the way to go to avoid delays. I'll definitely look into that Claimyr service if we run into trouble making an appointment or getting through on the phone lines. Thanks again for all the advice!

Just want to add one more thing that helped us - when you're ready to apply, try to do it early in the month rather than waiting until the end. We applied on the 5th of the month and our benefits started that same month. But I've heard from others that if you apply too late in the month (like after the 15th), your benefits might not start until the following month, which could delay everything by a month. Also, make sure you have all your documents ready before you start the online application - it times out if you take too long to complete it, and you'll have to start over. We learned that the hard way!

Thank you everyone for all the helpful information! I've learned so much. Based on your advice, I'm going to: 1. Schedule an appointment with SSA to get exact calculations for my situation 2. Consider taking reduced survivor benefits now, even with the earnings test reduction 3. Plan to receive full survivor benefits when I reach my FRA at 67 4. Switch to my own retirement benefit at 70 if it would be higher It sounds like this approach will allow me to get some additional income now while maximizing my benefits in the long run. I'll update after my SSA appointment if I learn anything else useful!

Great summary of your plan, Yuki! Just wanted to add one more consideration - make sure to ask SSA about any potential tax implications when you meet with them. Since you'll be receiving survivor benefits while still working and earning $72K, the combined income might push you into a higher tax bracket or make more of your Social Security benefits taxable. It's not a reason to avoid claiming the benefits, but it's good to factor into your overall financial planning. Also, keep all your documentation from the appointment - I've found it helpful to have written confirmation of what they tell you in case you need to reference it later or if you get conflicting information from different representatives.

Just to add a bit more info - as the representative payee, you should have received a "Representative Payee Report" form from SSA to complete each year. This isn't a tax form, but it's the SSA's way of making sure the benefits are being used properly for your daughter. Make sure you complete and return that form when it arrives (usually around the anniversary of when you began receiving benefits). The SSA can suspend payments if they don't receive this form.

I went through something similar when my nephew came to live with me after his mom passed. One thing I learned that might help - even though you don't report the survivor benefits on YOUR tax return, it's still a good idea to keep records of all the payments. I created a simple folder with the monthly benefit statements and any correspondence from SSA. This helped me when I had to complete that representative payee report form someone mentioned, and it's also useful if you ever need to show proof of income for things like school lunch programs or other assistance programs your daughter might be eligible for. The benefits often qualify kids for reduced-price meals and other programs, so having that documentation handy can be really helpful.

When you make your appointment in April, bring your most recent W-2s or tax returns for the past 3 years. This will help ensure all your recent earnings are properly credited. In the meantime, you can get a rough idea of your benefit by taking the current estimate and adding the COLA increases: - 2023 COLA: 8.7% - 2024 COLA: 3.2% - 2025 COLA: Not yet announced So if your current estimate is $2,650, it might be closer to $2,960 after accounting for recent COLAs and earnings (depending on your specific situation). I recommend applying 3 months before you want benefits to begin, so your April timeline sounds perfect for a July start date.

This is such a common issue! I went through the exact same thing with my mySocialSecurity account showing the same benefit estimate for over 2 years. What I learned is that the SSA typically updates their earnings database in batches, usually in the fall after they receive all the W-2 data from employers. The good news is that when you apply, they'll use your complete, up-to-date earnings record to calculate your actual benefit. This includes all your recent work history and applies every COLA adjustment since you turned 62. I've seen people get pleasant surprises of $200-400 more per month than their online estimate showed. One tip: when you go to your appointment, ask them to walk through how they calculated your PIA (Primary Insurance Amount). They should be able to show you exactly which years of earnings they used and how the COLA adjustments were applied. This will give you confidence that everything was calculated correctly. Your April appointment timeline is perfect for a July benefit start date. Don't stress too much about the outdated online estimate - you'll likely be pleasantly surprised by your actual benefit amount!

I went through a similar situation last year when I applied at 66. I was also divorced after a long marriage but my own benefit was higher. The key is being very clear and consistent about what you're applying for. When I applied online, I answered "No" to all questions about wanting benefits based on a former spouse's record. I only submitted my birth certificate initially. However, about 3 weeks later, SSA called me for a phone interview to verify my application details. The representative asked if I had ever been married, and when I said yes, they explained they needed to document my marital history "for their records" even though I wouldn't get spousal benefits. I ended up having to provide my marriage certificate and divorce decree anyway, but it didn't delay my benefits - they processed everything while waiting for those documents. So my advice would be to start getting those documents now, but don't let it delay your application. You can submit your birth certificate and application first, then send the marriage docs when you get them.

I just went through this process myself about 6 months ago and wanted to share my experience! I was in almost exactly the same situation - divorced after a long marriage but my own benefit was higher than any potential spousal benefit. I decided to call SSA first before applying (used that Claimyr service someone mentioned - worked great!) and spoke with a really helpful representative. I explained my situation clearly: "I'm only applying for retirement benefits on my own work record and I'm not seeking any benefits based on my ex-spouse's record." The rep told me that since I was being explicit about not wanting spousal benefits, I would only need my birth certificate for the initial application. However, she also mentioned that if the topic of my previous marriage came up during processing, they might still request documentation "for completeness of records." I ended up getting my marriage certificate and divorce decree anyway (through my state's online system - took about 10 days and cost $30 total), and I'm so glad I did! Sure enough, about 3 weeks after my online application, I got a call asking for those documents even though my benefits weren't affected by them. Having them ready meant no delays - my first payment came right on schedule. The whole process from application to first payment took about 6 weeks total. My advice: call first, be crystal clear about your intentions, but get those documents ready just in case!