As someone who recently went through this exact situation, I can confirm what others have said - FICA taxes are mandatory as long as you're working, regardless of age. I hit my FRA at 66 and 8 months and kept working until 69, and every single paycheck had those deductions. It's frustrating at first, but I found it helpful to think of it as an investment rather than a tax loss. Those extra high-earning years at the end of my career significantly boosted my monthly benefit calculation. When I finally claimed, my benefit was about $380 higher per month than it would have been if I had stopped working at FRA. Over the course of retirement, that more than makes up for the FICA taxes I paid during those extra working years. Your HR department really should get their facts straight on this - it's causing unnecessary confusion for employees planning their retirement.

I went through something similar when I reached my FRA two years ago. My company's benefits administrator initially told me the same wrong information about being able to opt out of FICA taxes. What I discovered is that many HR departments aren't well-trained on Social Security rules because they don't deal with these questions very often. I ended up printing out the official SSA publication on this topic and sharing it with HR so they could give accurate information to other employees approaching retirement age. The bottom line everyone has mentioned is correct - FICA taxes are mandatory as long as you're earning wages, period. But like others have said, those continued contributions during your highest earning years will likely increase your eventual benefit. I'd recommend getting your official Social Security statement from ssa.gov to see your projected benefits at different claiming ages - it really helps with planning!

One suggestion I want to make: request an appointment with a Claims Specialist at your local office rather than trying to resolve this by phone. Bring your husband with you if possible, as they may need information from both records. In-person appointments often result in more thorough explanations and accurate calculations since they can show you the numbers directly on their system. And make sure to ask them to provide you with a breakdown of the calculation in writing. This will be valuable for your records and for verifying that everything was done correctly.

I went through this exact same scenario with my parents a few years ago. The key thing to remember is that spousal benefits have a "deemed filing" rule that applies when you've already claimed your own retirement benefits early. Since you took your retirement at 62, when you apply for spousal benefits at your FRA, SSA will calculate what's called an "excess spousal benefit" - basically the difference between 50% of your husband's PIA ($2,270) and your own PIA ($975), which would be $1,295. But this excess amount gets reduced because you filed early. The reduction is roughly 25/36 of 1% for each of the first 36 months early, then 5/12 of 1% for each additional month. Since you filed 60 months early, your excess spousal benefit will be reduced by about 30%. So your total benefit would be approximately your current $687 plus an excess spousal benefit of around $906 (the $1,295 reduced by 30%), giving you a total of about $1,593 per month. This is significantly less than the $2,057 some others estimated, but the deemed filing rules are what make the difference. Definitely get this calculated properly by SSA, but this should give you a more realistic expectation.

I went through this process about 6 months ago and ended up using the online application after doing some preparation first. Here's what I learned: Before applying anywhere, definitely create your my Social Security account online and review your earnings history - this is crucial regardless of which application method you choose. I found a couple of small discrepancies that I was able to get corrected beforehand. For the actual application, I chose online because my situation was straightforward (steady employment history, no government pensions, no disability claims). The process took about 45 minutes, and I appreciated being able to save my progress and double-check everything before submitting. One tip: even if you apply online, you can still call the SSA afterward if questions come up. I had one small question about my application status and was able to get through to someone within about 30 minutes (called early morning around 8 AM). The key is being honest about how complex your situation really is. If you truly have a standard case like you described, online is efficient and reliable. But if you discover any earnings discrepancies or have lingering questions after reviewing your records, don't hesitate to use the phone or in-person options for that extra support. Good luck with your application! September will be here before you know it.

I'm facing the same decision and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm leaning toward the online application after reading everyone's experiences, but I have one specific question: if you apply online and then realize you made an error or want to add information, how difficult is it to make corrections after submission? Can you call to make changes, or do you have to start over? I'm particularly worried about accidentally entering the wrong date for something or missing a piece of employment history that I remember later.

This entire thread has been incredibly comprehensive and helpful! As someone who works with seniors on Social Security planning, I want to add one more important consideration that hasn't been mentioned yet - the potential impact of state taxes on your Social Security benefits. While Social Security benefits are federally taxable if your combined income exceeds certain thresholds, some states also tax these benefits while others don't tax them at all. Since you're maximizing your benefit by waiting until 70, you'll likely have a higher monthly payment that could push you into taxable territory if you have other retirement income sources. It's worth reviewing your overall tax situation before your benefits begin, especially if you're planning to continue working part-time or have significant retirement account withdrawals planned. Some people are surprised by the tax implications in their first year of receiving benefits. @Carmen Ruiz - given all the excellent advice you've received here, you're clearly going to be well-prepared for your October application. The community here has really covered all the bases - from timing and documentation to technical tips for the online application. Best of luck with the process!

This thread has been absolutely fantastic! As someone who's been dreading the Social Security application process, reading through all these detailed experiences and practical tips has made me feel so much more confident about what to expect. I particularly appreciate the emphasis on applying 4 months early rather than just 3 - that extra buffer seems really important given all the potential processing delays people have mentioned. The advice about checking your earnings history for employer reporting errors is something I never would have thought of, but as @Ryan Andre demonstrated, it can make a real difference in your monthly benefit amount. One thing I'm curious about - for those of you who have gone through this process, did you find it helpful to call SSA to confirm your application was received and being processed, or is it better to just rely on the online status updates through MySocialSecurity? I tend to be a worrier and would love to have that human confirmation, but I also don't want to tie up their phone lines unnecessarily if the online system is reliable enough. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice that you can't get from the official SSA website!

I'm so sorry you're facing this incredibly stressful situation. As someone who's been through the SSA maze myself, I can confirm what others have said - unfortunately, your daughter's survivor benefit won't increase when your benefits stop at her age 16. The system just doesn't work that way, which is really frustrating when you're already dealing with financial strain. One thing that might help during this transition period is to look into your state's disability waiver programs. Many states have Medicaid waivers specifically for individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities that can provide additional support services and sometimes even financial assistance. Since your daughter already has state Medicaid, she might qualify for expanded services that could help offset some of the financial impact. Also, I'd encourage you to document everything related to her daily care needs in writing. Things like how much supervision she needs, her inability to handle money, safety concerns, medication management - all of these functional limitations are crucial for both the current DAC application and the adult disability claim you'll file when she turns 18. The DAC benefits are absolutely worth fighting for because they continue for life as long as she remains disabled. Even if this first application gets denied, don't give up. Many families have to appeal or reapply multiple times before getting approved. You're doing an amazing job advocating for your daughter. This system is broken and confusing, but your persistence and planning ahead show what an incredible parent you are. Hang in there!

I'm so sorry you're going through this difficult situation. As someone who has navigated similar challenges with SSA, I can confirm what others have shared - unfortunately, your daughter's survivor benefit won't increase when your benefits stop at her age 16. Each beneficiary receives their own calculated amount, and when one person loses eligibility, that portion simply ends. However, I want to offer some hope: the fact that your daughter previously qualified for SSI disability is actually a positive indicator for the DAC application. It shows there's already been a determination that her conditions significantly impact her functioning. Make sure to reference that prior SSI approval in your DAC documentation - it can help establish a pattern of disability recognition in SSA's system. One practical tip that helped me: create a comprehensive "day in the life" document that shows exactly what your daughter needs help with from morning to night. Include things like medication reminders, meal preparation assistance, money management, social interaction difficulties, and safety supervision needs. This real-world picture often carries more weight than medical reports alone. Also, don't be discouraged by that letter from SSA. Their correspondence can be confusing, and sometimes what looks like bad news is just part of their standard process. Keep pushing for that DAC approval - those benefits could provide lifelong financial security for your daughter. You're being an incredible advocate for her future. The system is frustrating, but your persistence and forward planning show what an amazing parent you are. Keep fighting - she's worth it!