Welcome to the community, Emma! I'm glad you found this information helpful. Just wanted to add one more thing to consider - since you're planning to wait until 70, make sure you sign up for Medicare at 65 even though you won't be taking Social Security yet. Medicare enrollment is separate from Social Security benefits, and you could face penalties if you delay Medicare without qualifying employer coverage. Also, consider doing annual reviews of your Social Security statement to make sure your earnings are being recorded correctly, especially in these final high-earning years before retirement. Any errors now could affect your benefit calculation later. You can check this easily through your MySocialSecurity account. Best of luck with your retirement planning! It sounds like you're making a smart financial decision by waiting to maximize your benefits.

I just want to echo what others have said about the Medicare enrollment - it's so important! I made the mistake of thinking I could delay Medicare along with Social Security and ended up with a penalty that I'm still paying. Even if you have employer coverage, you'll want to understand the rules about creditable coverage and whether your plan qualifies. One resource that really helped me was the Medicare.gov website - they have a tool called "Get Ready for Medicare" that walks you through the timing. Since you're planning to work until 65 and then wait until 70 for Social Security, you'll definitely want to map out your Medicare strategy separately. Also, since you mentioned having trouble getting through to SSA on the phone, you might try visiting your local Social Security office if phone wait times are too long. Sometimes it's easier to get specific benefit estimates and scenarios explained in person, especially for complex situations like yours with the ex-spousal benefit comparison.

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this stressful situation. As a newcomer to this community, I've been reading through all the excellent advice here and wanted to add one perspective I haven't seen mentioned yet. Since your wife just lost her employer life insurance due to downsizing, you might want to act quickly on getting new coverage. If her job loss was recent, she's probably still in relatively good health for underwriting purposes, but sometimes the stress of unemployment or financial worry can affect health over time. Getting quotes and applying for new coverage sooner rather than later could be beneficial. Also, while everyone's focused on the amount of coverage (which the $800k-1M+ recommendations seem very reasonable), don't forget to consider the insurance company's financial stability ratings. With coverage this large, you want to make sure the insurer will be around and financially sound when benefits might be needed years from now. The systematic approach you've outlined based on everyone's advice sounds perfect - create the Social Security account, get those personalized benefit estimates, and then shop comprehensively for coverage. You're clearly being very thoughtful about protecting your family's future. I hope you never need to use any of this planning, but having it in place will definitely provide peace of mind.

I'm really sorry you're having to plan for such a difficult scenario, especially with the added stress of your wife's recent job loss. As someone new to this community, I've been learning a lot from reading through all the detailed responses here. One thing I wanted to add that I haven't seen mentioned is the importance of considering your own survivor benefits planning as well. While you're focused on protecting your family if something happens to your wife (which is absolutely the right priority), don't forget that if something happened to you, your wife would face the challenge of being the sole provider for three children. Since she's currently unemployed due to the downsizing, this might actually be a good time to review both of your life insurance coverage comprehensively. Many families focus on insuring the primary breadwinner but underestimate the financial impact of losing the secondary earner, especially when there are childcare and household management considerations. The systematic approach you've outlined - creating the my Social Security account, getting personalized benefit estimates, and shopping for comprehensive coverage in that $800k-1M+ range - sounds exactly right based on all the expertise shared here. The fact that you're being so proactive about this planning shows you're really looking out for your family's future security. I hope your wife's job search goes well and that you never need to use any of this survivor benefits knowledge, but having solid planning in place will definitely give your whole family peace of mind during this transition period.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm 64 and took early retirement last year, but recently developed chronic kidney disease that's progressing rapidly. My nephrologist says I'll likely need dialysis within the next 6 months, which would make working impossible. Reading about the disability freeze and potential benefit increase gives me hope that I might have options. Has anyone here dealt specifically with kidney disease for SSDI approval? I'm wondering if conditions that worsen over time (rather than sudden onset) face different challenges in the approval process.

I've been following this discussion as someone who went through a similar process recently. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the importance of timing your application strategically. Since you're already 65 and receiving reduced retirement benefits, you have a limited window to apply for SSDI before reaching your full retirement age (which sounds like it's 66 and 6 months for you). What really helped in my case was filing the SSDI application as soon as possible after my diagnosis, even while I was still gathering medical records. SSA allows you to submit additional evidence after filing, but they can't backdate your application beyond when you actually filed. Given that you mentioned your health has "gotten much worse" since starting retirement benefits, you'll want to establish a clear timeline showing when your conditions became disabling. Also, don't be discouraged if you get conflicting information from different SSA representatives - this is unfortunately common with these crossover cases between retirement and disability. The policy is clear that you can apply, but not all front-line staff are familiar with these more complex situations. Stay persistent and document everything!

One important clarification about ex-spouse benefits that sometimes confuses people: applying for benefits on your ex's record does NOT reduce their benefits or notify them that you've applied. This is a common concern, but your application is completely confidential. Your ex won't know you've applied or be affected financially.

Just wanted to add from my recent experience - I was in a similar situation last year and ended up doing the online application first, then when it asked for documents I chose to mail them. Here's what worked for me: I made copies of my certified divorce decree and marriage certificate, wrote a cover letter with my full name, SSN, and reference to my online application, and sent everything via certified mail with return receipt. It took about 2 weeks but they processed everything fine. The key is making sure you have CERTIFIED copies from the court, not just notarized photocopies. Also, start the online application even if you're not sure about the documents - you can always complete that part later and it gets your case in the system. Good luck with your retirement!

Does anyone know if the Social Security office tells u all this stuff when u go in for an appointment? I want to retire next year but so confused about all these rules!!

I went through this exact same situation last year! Born in June 1958 as well, so I can share what actually happened. Your FRA is definitely 66 years and 8 months, which means February 18, 2025 for you. I applied in November 2023 (about 3 months early) and my first payment came in March 2024 on the third Wednesday as expected - no delays because I applied early enough. One thing that really helped me was setting up my online Social Security account beforehand to track the application status. Also, make sure you have all your documents ready - W-2s, tax returns, birth certificate, etc. The application process was actually smoother than I expected when I was prepared. The key is definitely applying early. I saw friends who waited until their birthday month and then had to deal with processing delays and gaps in income. You're smart to plan ahead!