I'm a newcomer to this community and dealing with almost the identical situation! I just had my SSA appointment last week and the agent told me the same thing about Michigan taxing Social Security - I walked out of there so confused because everything I'd read online said otherwise. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. It's clear that the SSA agent was mixing up federal and state tax rules, which seems to be a widespread training issue based on everyone's experiences here. I'm 65 and will have similar retirement income to yours - about $48,000 combined between SS and my pension. Based on what everyone has shared, I think I'll go with 11% federal withholding to start and can always adjust it later with Form W-4V if needed. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and clarify the Michigan tax situation. This is exactly the kind of practical, real-world advice that's so hard to find elsewhere!

I'm new to this community and just wanted to add my voice to everyone else's experiences. I'm a recent retiree in Michigan and ran into the exact same confusion about state tax withholding on Social Security benefits. Like many others here, my SSA agent incorrectly told me that Michigan taxes Social Security benefits and recommended withholding for state taxes. After reading all these responses, I called the Michigan Department of Treasury myself to get a definitive answer - they confirmed that Michigan does NOT tax Social Security benefits, period. It's really concerning how widespread this misinformation seems to be among SSA agents. Based on what I'm seeing in this thread, this appears to be a training issue that's affecting retirees across the state. I ended up choosing 10% federal withholding for my situation, but the key takeaway for anyone reading this is: always verify state tax information with your state's tax department directly rather than relying on federal SSA agents. They're knowledgeable about federal rules but clearly need better training on state-specific tax policies. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - it's incredibly valuable to have this kind of real-world confirmation when making important financial decisions!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share some perspective as someone who works with seniors facing similar situations. Your dad's Social Security benefits are indeed protected from garnishment for private debts like this promissory note, but I want to emphasize something crucial that others have touched on - time is really important here. The sooner he takes protective steps with his banking, the better. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that your dad should also check if the promissory note has any specific language about what happens in case of default. Sometimes these documents include clauses about payment acceleration, additional fees, or even personal property as collateral. Understanding exactly what he signed can help determine negotiation leverage. Also, since this involves family and the emotional toll is so high, I'd suggest your dad consider reaching out to a senior counseling service or support group. The financial stress is one thing, but the betrayal by his son adds another layer of trauma that shouldn't be ignored. Many Area Agencies on Aging offer both legal resources AND emotional support services specifically for seniors dealing with family financial conflicts. The community here has given excellent practical advice - definitely prioritize protecting that bank account and documenting everything. Your dad sounds like he has a caring advocate in you, which makes all the difference in situations like this.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that might help your dad's situation. As a senior on fixed income myself, I went through a similar scare when my daughter defaulted on a credit card I co-signed for. What really saved me was learning about "judgment proofing" - basically making sure all your assets are legally protected before creditors can touch them. Beyond the excellent advice about protecting his Social Security through Direct Express or a separate account, your dad should also know that in many states, creditors have to follow specific procedures before they can even freeze bank accounts. They need a court judgment first, which takes time and money on their part. During this period, he can take protective steps. One thing I did was keep detailed records of every penny that went into my account from Social Security - bank statements, benefit letters, deposit records. If they ever did freeze the account, this documentation proves the funds are exempt. Also, some banks are more "creditor-friendly" than others when it comes to freezing accounts, so switching to a credit union (which your dad's lender apparently is) for his banking might actually work in his favor. The family betrayal aspect is the hardest part. I'm so sorry your dad is going through this - he was just being a loving father. Don't let him carry guilt for your brother's choices.

Just to add one more important consideration - taxes. Survivor benefits are potentially taxable depending on your other income. If your provisional income (adjusted gross income + nontaxable interest + 1/2 of Social Security benefits) exceeds certain thresholds, up to 85% of your benefits may be taxable. With your strategy of claiming survivor benefits now and switching to your own at 70, consider how your income might change over time and whether it makes sense to have additional tax withholding from your benefit payments. Form W-4V allows you to request voluntary withholding from Social Security.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Yara. What you're going through is unfortunately very common - the SSA system is complex and they don't do a great job of proactive outreach to eligible survivors. A few additional points that might help: **On retroactive benefits:** When you apply, specifically ask about "protective filing date" - sometimes if you made any inquiry about survivor benefits (even a phone call where you asked questions), that date can be used to extend your retroactive period slightly beyond the standard 6 months. **Documentation to bring:** In addition to what others mentioned, bring your husband's most recent Social Security statement if you have it, and any Form 1099-SSA from his benefits. This will help them calculate your exact benefit amount more quickly. **Local office vs phone:** Definitely go in person if possible. The representatives there have more tools and authority to resolve complex situations. Call ahead to make an appointment - walk-ins can mean very long waits. **One thing to verify:** Make sure to confirm whether your survivor benefit will be reduced for early claiming. Since you're past 60, you might be eligible for an unreduced survivor benefit depending on your full retirement age. The strategy of taking survivor benefits now and switching to your own at 70 is solid if your projected age-70 benefit will be higher. Don't let anyone pressure you into claiming your own benefits early - those delayed retirement credits are valuable! You've got this. It's overwhelming now, but once you get through the application process, you'll have clarity on your situation.

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say thank you for asking such an important and well-thought-out question! I'm 57 and my wife is 55, so we're a few years away from these decisions but already starting to plan our Social Security strategy. What's been absolutely incredible about this discussion is seeing so many consistent real-world experiences from people like Josef, Charity, and Carmen who actually received those enhanced survivor benefits. Before reading this thread, I was getting mixed information from various sources, but having multiple people confirm they received the FULL amount their spouse was getting at death (not just the FRA amount) really validates this approach. I'm also grateful for all the practical tips that emerged - the Claimyr service for reaching SSA, setting up my Social Security accounts early, the importance of annual earnings record checks, and understanding timelines like the 30-day reporting requirement. These are exactly the operational details you need but don't always think to research ahead of time. Your strategy of delaying to 70 while considering both your immediate needs and your wife's long-term financial security seems very sound based on all the evidence shared here. It's encouraging to see someone planning so thoughtfully for both scenarios. This discussion has given me much more confidence about our own future planning - thank you for starting such a valuable conversation!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful for this comprehensive discussion! I'm 59 and my husband is 62, so we're right in the middle of trying to figure out our Social Security timing strategy. What gives me the most confidence is seeing all the consistent real-world experiences from Josef, Charity, Carmen, and others who actually went through the survivor benefit process and confirmed they received the full enhanced amounts from delayed claiming. Before finding this thread, I was getting so much conflicting advice from friends and online articles, but having multiple people with firsthand experience validate that this strategy actually works as intended is incredibly reassuring. I'm also taking notes on all the practical tips that came up naturally throughout this conversation - the Claimyr service for getting through to SSA (since their phone lines are impossible), setting up our my Social Security accounts to track benefits, and those important timelines like the 30-day reporting requirement. These are exactly the kinds of operational details you need to know but don't always think to research upfront. Your approach of optimizing for both your immediate retirement security AND your wife's long-term survivor benefits shows such thoughtful planning. It's clear this strategy benefits both of you, which makes the decision to wait until 70 even more compelling. Thank you for asking this question - it's helped so many of us newcomers feel more confident about our own Social Security planning decisions!

I'm glad I found this discussion! I'm 58 and widowed for three years now, so I'm in a similar planning phase. Reading through everyone's experiences has been so helpful, especially learning about the flexibility to switch between survivor and retirement benefits - that's a game-changer I never knew about. One thing I wanted to mention that might help others is that if you're still working and considering the earnings test, don't forget that the limit applies to your gross wages, not your take-home pay. I made the mistake of calculating based on my net income at first and got confused about whether I'd be over the limit. Also, for anyone dealing with the challenge of getting through to SSA - I had success calling right when they opened at 8 AM on Wednesdays. Seemed to be the least busy time in my experience. The representative I spoke with was incredibly patient and walked me through multiple scenarios for claiming strategies. Jessica, your situation with the VA benefits plus pension sounds very manageable based on what everyone's shared. The fact that your pension is from SS-covered employment really simplifies things. Best of luck with your planning!

I wanted to add one more consideration that might be helpful - if you're planning to claim survivor benefits at 60 while also receiving your VA benefits and pension, make sure you understand how this might affect your taxes. While the VA benefits are tax-free, both your Social Security survivor benefits and your pension will likely be taxable income. Depending on your total income, up to 85% of your Social Security benefits could be subject to federal taxes. It might be worth consulting with a tax professional as you get closer to retirement to plan for the tax implications of having multiple income streams. Some people are surprised when they start receiving benefits and find their tax burden is higher than expected. Just something to factor into your overall retirement planning! Also, I want to echo what others have said about checking your earnings record on the SSA website. I found an error from 15 years ago that took several months to correct, so it's definitely worth doing this sooner rather than later.