I'm in a similar boat and just wanted to share what I learned from my local SSA office visit last week. The representative confirmed that while they can accept spousal applications before the primary worker's benefits begin, they recommend applying about 4-6 weeks before the first payment is scheduled. This gives them time to process the paperwork and have everything ready to go. She also mentioned something that might be helpful - if your wife applies online and doesn't hear anything for a few weeks, she should call to confirm they received it. Apparently their online system sometimes has glitches where applications don't get properly submitted, but you won't know unless you follow up. One more tip: when she fills out the online application, there's a question about "when do you want benefits to start" - she should put the same month as your first payment (January 2025 in your case). If she puts an earlier date, it could cause processing delays since spousal benefits can't actually start before the primary worker's benefits begin.

As someone who's been helping family members navigate Social Security for years, I wanted to add a few points that might save you some headaches. First, when your wife applies online, make sure she has all her documents ready beforehand - her Social Security card, birth certificate, and marriage certificate. The online system will ask for this info and having it handy speeds things up. Second, I've noticed that SSA processing times can vary dramatically by region. Some areas are much faster than others. If you're in a busy metropolitan area, expect longer delays. Rural offices often process things quicker but may have limited appointment availability. Third, and this is important - once your wife's spousal benefit starts, keep an eye on the first few payments to make sure the amount is correct. I've seen cases where the initial calculation was wrong and it took months to get corrected. If the amount seems off, don't wait - call immediately. Finally, for anyone else reading this thread who's in a similar situation: if you're close to Medicare enrollment age, coordinate that timing too. Sometimes people get so focused on the Social Security timing that they forget about Medicare deadlines, which can create expensive problems later. Good luck with everything - it sounds like you've got a solid plan based on all the great advice in this thread!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Yuki. Losing a parent is heartbreaking, and please don't feel guilty about not immediately handling government paperwork during such a traumatic time - that's completely normal and understandable. You've received excellent advice here, and I just wanted to add one small tip that helped me when my mother passed away last year. When you do get through to SSA (whether by phone or in person), ask them to email or mail you a summary of what was discussed and what steps they're taking. Having that written confirmation gave me such peace of mind that everything was properly documented. Also, if you're the executor of your father's estate or handling his affairs, you might want to ask SSA about getting a "no benefits due" letter once everything is resolved. Some financial institutions and other agencies ask for this documentation when closing accounts or transferring assets. You're handling this with such care and responsibility during an incredibly difficult time. Your father would be proud of how thoughtfully you're managing everything. Take care of yourself, and remember that this administrative piece is temporary - it will get resolved so you can focus on healing and remembering the wonderful memories you shared with your dad.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Yuki. Losing a parent is one of life's most profound losses, and please know that not thinking about government paperwork immediately is completely understandable - you were focused on what truly mattered during an incredibly difficult time. Reading through all the responses here, it's clear you've received excellent guidance from this community. You now have a solid plan: call SSA Monday at 8 AM, visit in person if phone calls don't work, bring certified copies of the death certificate, get everything documented in writing, and notify your bank about the upcoming reclamation. I wanted to add one small thing that helped me when my father passed - consider setting up a simple folder (physical or digital) to keep all the documentation related to this process together: copies of death certificates, confirmation numbers from SSA, bank records showing the reclamation, etc. When you're grieving, it's easy to misplace important paperwork, and having everything in one place can save stress later. You're handling this with such thoughtfulness and care. Your proactive approach shows tremendous responsibility during one of life's most challenging times. This administrative matter will be resolved properly, and then you can focus your energy on honoring your father's memory and taking care of yourself. The support you've received here really shows how this community comes together during difficult times. Wishing you peace as you navigate this process.

One more thing i learned the hard way - make sure you specificlly tell them you want your benefits to START in January. Don't just say you're applying for benefts AT age 70. If your birthday is in Jan. but you file in Dec. be VERY CLEAR about this!!!

As someone who just went through this process myself (turned 70 last month), I can confirm what others have said about the timing. I applied in November for December benefits and received my full DRCs, though it took about 2 months for the final adjustment to show up correctly. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned - when you apply online or at the office, there's actually a specific question asking what month you want your benefits to BEGIN. Make sure you select January 2025, not December 2024. This prevents any confusion about whether you're trying to claim benefits before your 70th birthday. Also, keep copies of everything and take screenshots of your online application if you file that way. Having documentation makes it much easier to resolve any issues if they come up later.

I'm going through this exact same thing! Filed my application in late November and still waiting - coming up on 7 weeks now. Reading through everyone's experiences has been so helpful and reassuring. I was starting to worry that something went wrong with my application, but it's clear from all your stories that 6-8 weeks is just the new reality despite what their website says. My MySocialSecurity account also just shows "processing" with zero useful details. I'm also hoping to start benefits in January, so it's really comforting to hear from folks like Evan that the processing delay shouldn't affect the actual benefit start date. The complete lack of communication during this process is definitely the most stressful part - you'd think they could at least send an acknowledgment or give more realistic timeframes on their website. Thanks everyone for sharing your timelines - this community has been way more helpful than anything I could find from SSA directly!

I'm also dealing with this same frustrating wait! Filed my retirement application in mid-November and it's been about 7.5 weeks now with absolutely no updates. Like everyone else here, my MySocialSecurity account just shows that useless "processing" status with zero helpful information. I was really starting to panic that maybe I made an error somewhere or that my application got lost, but reading through all these responses has been such a relief. It's clear that SSA is just completely overwhelmed right now and their 30-day estimate is completely unrealistic. I'm also planning to start benefits in January, so it's really reassuring to hear from the more experienced folks here that processing delays don't affect the actual benefit start date. The total lack of communication during this process is honestly maddening - even a simple automated email saying "we received your application, expect 6-8 weeks" would help so much with the anxiety. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this thread has been more helpful than anything I could find on the SSA website!

Great decision to suspend, Leila! One more thing to consider - since you're still working full-time at your accounting firm, make sure you understand how the earnings test might have affected your current benefits if your income is high. Even though you're at FRA and the earnings test no longer applies going forward, any benefits that were withheld due to excess earnings in the months before you reached FRA would be recalculated and added back to your benefit amount when you restart. This could make your eventual age 70 benefit even higher than the standard 8% per year delayed retirement credits. Just something to keep in mind when you're doing the math on your decision!

Just wanted to share my recent experience with this process! I suspended my benefits about 6 months ago after starting them at FRA. The whole process was surprisingly straightforward once I got through to SSA. I called early in the morning (around 8:15 AM) and only waited about 20 minutes. The representative was very knowledgeable and confirmed that I wouldn't need to repay anything I'd already received. She also set up automatic payments for my Medicare premiums since those would no longer be deducted from my Social Security payments. The suspension went into effect the month after I requested it, so there's typically about a 30-day processing period. One tip: ask for an email confirmation if possible, or at least get the representative's name and a reference number for your records. It's nice having that peace of mind!