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I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's absolutely ridiculous that they won't give you the information you need to make an informed decision! I'm a newcomer here but I've been researching this exact issue for my own situation. One thing I discovered is that you might want to try calling early in the morning (right when they open at 7 AM) or late in the afternoon - I've read that you sometimes get more experienced representatives during those times. Also, if you do get through to someone unhelpful, don't hesitate to politely end the call and try again. Different reps seem to have vastly different levels of knowledge about these procedures. I'm taking notes from all the great advice in this thread - especially about requesting the PEBES and using the specific terminology when scheduling an in-person appointment. The fact that so many people have had success with face-to-face meetings gives me hope that there's a way through this bureaucratic maze. Please keep us updated on what works for you - your experience could help others who are facing the same impossible situation!
Great advice about calling at different times of day! I never thought about timing potentially affecting which representatives you reach. That makes a lot of sense though - the more experienced reps probably work regular business hours. I'm definitely going to try the early morning approach before scheduling an in-person appointment. It's frustrating that we have to strategize just to get basic information about our own benefits, but at least this thread has given us all some concrete steps to try. Thank you for sharing what you've learned from your research - every little tip helps when dealing with this system!
I'm new to this community but dealing with this exact same issue! Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly eye-opening. I had no idea about the PEBES option or that you could request a "benefit comparison for survivor vs. retirement benefits" when scheduling an in-person appointment. What really concerns me is learning that the switch from survivor to retirement benefits is permanent - that's such crucial information that should be clearly explained upfront! It's outrageous that SSA expects us to make life-changing financial decisions without providing the basic information we need. I'm going to try calling early morning first (thanks for that tip!) and specifically ask for a PEBES using the exact terminology mentioned here. If that doesn't work, I'll schedule an in-person appointment using the language that worked for others. One question for those who've been through this - when you finally got the comparison, was there a significant processing time between getting the information and when you could actually make the switch if you chose to? I'm wondering if there are any other timing considerations I should be aware of. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and strategies. This thread has been more helpful than hours of trying to navigate SSA's phone system!
Welcome to the community! I'm also new here and going through this same frustrating situation. Your question about processing time is really important - I hadn't thought about that aspect. From what I've gathered reading through these experiences, it seems like once you get the comparison information and decide to switch, the actual processing might take some time, so timing could definitely be a factor. I'm planning to try the early morning call strategy too, and I'm writing down all the specific terminology people have mentioned (PEBES, "benefit comparison for survivor vs. retirement benefits") so I don't forget to use the exact words. It's crazy that we need a cheat sheet just to get basic information about our own benefits! Has anyone mentioned anything about how long the actual switch takes once you decide to proceed? That could be really important for financial planning purposes, especially if there's a gap between when survivor benefits stop and retirement benefits begin.
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ugh why does the government make everything so complicated? 🙄 good luck OP, hope you figure it out!
Ikr? It's like they want us to mess up or something 🤦♀️
Another thing to keep in mind - if you're divorced, you might still be eligible for spousal benefits on your ex-spouse's record even if they've remarried! The marriage has to have lasted at least 10 years and you need to be unmarried currently. It's called "divorced spouse benefits" and a lot of people don't know about it. Definitely worth asking about if it applies to your situation.
Wow, I had no idea about the divorced spouse benefits! That's really good to know. Do you happen to know if there's a time limit on when you can apply for those? Like, do you have to wait a certain amount of time after the divorce is finalized?
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To summarize what everyone's shared (and clarify some confusion): 1. Since your own benefit at FRA ($1,800) exceeds half of your partner's PIA ($1,375), you won't receive additional money from spousal benefits. 2. This means your claiming strategy should focus solely on optimizing YOUR retirement benefit timing. 3. Each year you delay claiming between now and 70 adds approximately 8% to your lifetime benefit amount. 4. The one-year marriage requirement doesn't impact your optimal strategy in this case. The decision ultimately comes down to: do you need the money now (claim early) or can you afford to wait for a larger monthly amount later (delay claiming)?
Thank you everyone for the helpful information! Based on all your advice, I think I'll delay my benefit claim a bit longer since the marriage timing won't affect my benefit amount. I appreciate all of you taking time to explain this complicated system!
Great discussion everyone! As someone who just went through this process myself, I wanted to add one more consideration that might be helpful. Since you're 63 and considering delaying benefits, make sure you factor in healthcare costs if you're not yet Medicare eligible. I delayed my benefits from 62 to 65, but the extra money I gained was almost entirely eaten up by COBRA premiums and higher healthcare costs during those years. Sometimes the "mathematically optimal" choice isn't the practically optimal choice when you consider all expenses. Also, if you do decide to claim early, remember that the earnings test might apply if you're still working - you could temporarily lose some benefits if you earn over the annual limit ($22,320 for 2024). Just something else to factor into your decision-making process!
This is such a valuable point about healthcare costs! I hadn't really thought about the gap between leaving employer coverage and Medicare eligibility. That's exactly the kind of real-world consideration that can completely change the math. Do you mind sharing roughly how much those COBRA/healthcare costs added up to during your delay period? I'm trying to figure out if the 8% annual increase would actually offset those expenses in my situation.
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This is such valuable information! I'm a newcomer to this community and this thread has been incredibly helpful. I'm in a similar situation - my spouse has been on SSDI for about 8 years and will reach FRA in two years. I had no idea that suspension after conversion was even possible. The local SSA office told us the same thing about automatic conversion with no options, but clearly we need to speak with a Technical Expert who actually understands these rules. One question for those who've gone through this - is there any paperwork or documentation you'd recommend keeping during the conversion process? I want to make sure we're prepared when the time comes to request suspension for delayed credits. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and knowledge!
Welcome! Great advice from Omar about documentation. I'd also suggest requesting a copy of your spouse's complete earnings record (Form SSA-7050-F4) before the conversion happens. This shows the work history that qualified them for SSDI and can be helpful if there are any questions during the suspension process. Also, make sure you understand exactly when the conversion will occur - it should happen automatically the month your spouse reaches FRA, but sometimes there can be delays in processing. Having a clear timeline will help you know exactly when to call and request the suspension to maximize those delayed retirement credits.
Welcome to the community! This thread has been such an eye-opener for me too. I'd add one more piece of advice - when you do call SSA to request suspension after conversion, make sure to get confirmation in writing. Several people here mentioned having to call multiple times or getting conflicting information from different representatives. Having written documentation of your suspension request and the effective date will protect you if there are any issues later. Also, don't forget that during suspension you'll need to handle Medicare Part B premiums directly since they won't be deducted from your suspended Social Security payments. Good luck with your planning!
As someone new to this community, I just want to say thank you all for this incredibly detailed discussion! My mother-in-law is currently on SSDI and approaching her FRA in about 18 months, so this information is absolutely invaluable. It's shocking how much misinformation exists, even from SSA representatives themselves. The fact that multiple people here had to fight through incorrect initial responses really highlights the importance of asking specifically for a Technical Expert who understands these complex rules. The financial impact is enormous - we're talking about potentially tens of thousands of dollars in additional lifetime benefits. For families already dealing with the challenges of disability, every dollar matters tremendously. I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread and share it with my mother-in-law. When her time comes, we'll be prepared to wait for the automatic conversion and then immediately request suspension through the proper channels. Thanks again to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - this kind of peer knowledge is absolutely priceless!
Welcome to the community, Giovanni! I completely agree - this thread has been a goldmine of practical information. As another newcomer, I've been taking notes on all the key points people have shared. It really is eye-opening how much the initial representative can get wrong on such an important financial decision. The persistence that folks like Sofia showed in calling back multiple times until they reached someone knowledgeable is inspiring. I'm also dealing with a family member approaching this transition, and now I feel much more prepared to advocate for the correct information. The community knowledge here is definitely more reliable than what we initially got from the official channels!
Brian Downey
This thread has been incredibly educational! As someone who's just starting to research Social Security benefits, I had no idea about the calendar year rule - it makes perfect sense once explained but definitely isn't intuitive. I'm curious about one thing though - does this same principle apply if someone starts benefits mid-year? For example, if someone starts collecting in June 2025, would their January-May 2025 earnings be subject to the earnings test, or only earnings from June onward? I assume it would be the full year since it's still the same calendar year, but want to make sure I understand correctly. Also, huge thanks to everyone who mentioned Claimyr and the SSA online tools - I'm definitely bookmarking those resources for when I get closer to retirement. The practical tips in this thread are worth their weight in gold!
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AstroAdventurer
•Great question about mid-year benefit starts! You're absolutely right - if someone starts benefits in June 2025, the earnings test would apply to their ENTIRE 2025 earnings, including January through May. The annual earnings limit looks at your total yearly income while you're receiving benefits, regardless of when in the year you started collecting. However, there is one important exception called the "monthly earnings test" that applies in your first year of retirement. In the months before you start receiving benefits (January-May in your example), you can earn any amount without it affecting your benefits. But once you start collecting, if your monthly earnings exceed 1/12th of the annual limit, that could trigger benefit withholding. It's definitely confusing, which is why getting official clarification from SSA is so important for individual situations. The calendar year rule that helped the original poster is really specific to earnings in the year BEFORE benefits start versus the year benefits begin.
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Zoe Dimitriou
This has been such a comprehensive and helpful discussion! As someone who's new to understanding Social Security benefits, I'm amazed by how much practical wisdom has been shared here. The calendar year rule really is the key insight - December 2024 earnings won't affect January 2025 benefits because they're in separate tax years. It seems so obvious once explained, but definitely not something I would have figured out on my own from reading SSA materials. I'm particularly grateful for all the real-world tips shared here: using Claimyr to get through to SSA quickly, keeping detailed records, having your Social Security statement ready when calling, and using the online tools at ssa.gov. These practical strategies are just as valuable as understanding the actual rules. What's really impressed me is how this one specific question opened up such a thorough discussion about retirement planning in general. From earnings tests to Full Retirement Age calculations to the monthly versus annual earnings considerations - there's so much nuance to navigate. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise. This thread is going to be an invaluable resource for anyone dealing with similar retirement timing questions!
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