I'm 63 and planning to delay my benefits until 70, and this entire thread has been incredibly reassuring! I had the exact same worry about whether I needed to formally notify SSA when I reach my FRA in about a year. Seeing so many people share their successful experiences with delaying - from those just starting the journey like Dylan to those who are almost finished like Mason, and especially hearing from Lucas and Leslie who actually completed the process - gives me complete confidence in this strategy. The consistent message is crystal clear: no notification required, delayed retirement credits accumulate automatically at 8% per year, and the system works exactly as designed. I'm definitely going to create that SSA online account and monitor my earnings record like Ashley suggested. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical guidance that makes all the difference!

I'm 62 and have been researching the optimal Social Security claiming strategy, and this discussion has been absolutely invaluable! Like many others here, I was concerned about whether there were formal steps I needed to take when delaying benefits past my FRA. The consistency in everyone's experiences is remarkable - from Sophia who's planning ahead at 63, to Mason who's just months away from claiming at 70, to Lucas and Leslie who successfully completed the process. What really stands out is how the SSA system is designed to work automatically when you delay - no notifications required, just the discipline to wait while those 8% annual delayed retirement credits accumulate. I'm definitely going to set up my online SSA account early to monitor my earnings record as Ashley suggested. It's so reassuring to hear from real people who've walked this path successfully rather than just reading official guidelines. Thank you to everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread should be required reading for anyone considering the delay strategy!

One thing I'd like to add from my experience working with SSA benefits: Don't forget that divorced spouse benefits are based on your ex's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), not what they're actually receiving if they filed early or late. So even if your ex filed at 62 and gets a reduced benefit, your divorced spouse benefit would still be calculated from their full retirement age amount. This is actually favorable for you! Also, just to confirm what others have said - you'll definitely need to call after filing online to make sure they calculate both options. The online system just doesn't have that comparison feature built in unfortunately.

As someone who just went through this process 6 months ago, I can confirm what most others have said - you won't see a side-by-side comparison during the online application. However, I want to add a couple of practical tips that helped me: 1. When you fill out the online application, be very thorough in the marriage history section. Don't just put dates - include your ex-spouse's full name and SSN if you have it (from old tax returns, etc.). This will help speed up the process when they research the divorced spouse benefit. 2. After submitting online, wait 3-5 business days before calling SSA. This gives them time to process your initial application and pull up your records. When I called the same day I applied, they couldn't see my application yet. 3. When you do call, ask specifically for them to calculate your "divorced spouse benefit" and compare it to your "retirement benefit on your own record." Use those exact terms - it helps ensure they understand what you're asking for. In my case, my own benefit was actually higher than the divorced spouse benefit, but I'm glad I had both calculated to be sure. The whole process took about 6 weeks from application to first payment, but having the comparison done upfront gave me peace of mind that I made the right choice.

This is such valuable information everyone is sharing! As someone new to navigating survivor benefits, I'm learning so much from reading about your experiences. One thing I'd add - I've heard that it's really important to apply for survivor benefits in person at a local SSA office rather than online, especially for complex situations like switching strategies. The online system apparently doesn't handle the nuances well, and you need an experienced representative who can walk through all the scenarios with you. Also, @Zadie Patel, you might want to consider getting a written benefit estimate for both scenarios before making your final decision. That way you have documentation of what SSA calculated and can refer back to it if there are any issues later. The stories about people missing out on thousands because they weren't told about all their options are really concerning. It seems like you really have to advocate for yourself and ask specifically about switching strategies.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Zadie. This is exactly the kind of complex situation where getting the right information upfront can make a huge difference over your lifetime. From everything shared here, it sounds like the survivor-first strategy could work well for you. Taking survivor benefits at 60 (around $2,038/month based on the calculation above) gives you income when you need it, then switching to your own benefit at 70 maximizes those delayed retirement credits. One thing I'd strongly recommend - before making any decisions, schedule an appointment at your local SSA office and ask them to run a detailed "what-if" analysis for BOTH scenarios: 1. Survivor benefits at 60, switch to your own at 70 2. Wait until FRA for full survivor benefits Get those calculations in writing! As others mentioned, representatives sometimes give different answers, so having documentation protects you. Also ask specifically about: - Exact reduction percentages for early survivor benefits - How the earnings test applies if you're working - The process for switching between benefit types - Any potential impacts on Medicare eligibility timing The break-even analysis Emma provided is really helpful, but getting official SSA numbers for your specific situation will give you the confidence to move forward with the best strategy for your circumstances.

Thank you all for the helpful information! This clears up so much confusion. I think my wife will apply for spousal benefits soon, but we'll calculate whether waiting until her FRA makes more financial sense given the permanent reduction. Good to know she doesn't need those extra quarters for spousal benefits, but interesting to consider if working just a bit more to get her own benefit might be worthwhile. I'll definitely use that Claimyr service when we're ready to apply - those wait times were my biggest concern!

One thing to consider that hasn't been mentioned yet - if your wife does decide to work those additional 3 quarters to qualify for her own benefits, she should be aware of the earnings test if she claims benefits before her FRA. Since she's 64, if she starts collecting spousal benefits now AND works, any earnings over $23,400 (2024 limit) will reduce her benefits by $1 for every $2 earned above that threshold. This doesn't apply once she reaches FRA. So if she's planning to work anyway to get those final quarters, it might make sense to wait until FRA to start collecting to avoid any earnings test complications.

Just wanted to add something that might help with your planning - make sure to check if your wife's employer has any specific policies about retirement date requirements. Some companies require you to work the full month to get benefits coverage, while others are more flexible. I found out the hard way that retiring on the last day of February versus March 1st affected my health insurance transition timing, which was something I hadn't considered when focusing just on the Social Security aspects. Also, since you mentioned she'll be 63, don't forget that she won't be eligible for Medicare until 65, so you'll need bridge coverage. The timing of when her employer benefits end could be another factor in choosing between Feb 28th vs March 1st retirement dates. Sometimes an extra day or two can make a big difference in benefit coordination!

I went through this exact situation last year when my husband retired at 62. Here's what we learned from our SSA appointment (after finally getting through!): The key is understanding that SSA looks at when you EARN the money, not when you receive it. So if your wife works through February and gets her final paycheck in March, that paycheck counts toward February's earnings test, not March's. We ended up having him retire on the last day of February specifically to avoid this issue. His March benefits started right away (paid in April) because he had zero earnings in March, even though his final paycheck came that month. One thing that surprised us - make sure to ask about any bonuses, unused sick time, or vacation payouts. These might be paid months after retirement but still count toward the month they were "earned." My husband's company paid out his unused sick days 6 weeks after he retired, but SSA counted it toward his final working month, not when he received the payment. Also, keep detailed records of everything. SSA initially miscalculated his earnings test and we had to provide pay stubs and documentation to get it corrected. The February 28th retirement date definitely worked in our favor!