I just went through this exact process a few months ago! For line 4 on the W-4V, your Social Security number is correct - that's the identification number they're looking for. Regarding timing with your husband's form, definitely wait until his benefits are approved. I made the mistake of trying to submit my spouse's W-4V before approval and they couldn't process it because there was no active benefit record to attach it to. For the name change issue, I wouldn't worry too much. My brother had a similar situation from childhood and SSA never requested additional documentation during his application process. If there were any red flags in their system, they would have mentioned it during the initial application. But it's smart to have those papers on hand just in case they do ask later. One tip - when you do go to submit your W-4V, bring a copy of your benefit award letter. It helps speed up the process since they can quickly verify your information. Good luck with everything!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! Just got my approval letter last week and was confused about the same things. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - especially about using the SSN on line 4 and waiting for my spouse's approval before submitting his form. One thing I wanted to add that I learned from my local SSA office - they actually prefer if you call ahead to make an appointment for forms like the W-4V rather than just walking in. The wait times are much shorter with an appointment, and they can block out enough time to make sure everything is filled out correctly. My local office books appointments about 2-3 weeks out, so it's worth calling soon if you want to go the in-person route. Also, totally agree with everyone about having those name change documents ready just in case. My husband had a similar childhood name change and we're taking the same approach - have the papers ready but not worrying about it unless they specifically ask.

I'm also new to this community and currently dealing with a very similar situation. I'm 61 and planning to file for early Social Security benefits next year, but I have about $16,800 in tax debt from my small marketing business that struggled during COVID. I've been on an IRS payment plan for about 18 months now, paying $425 monthly, and have never missed a payment. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring! I had been putting off applying for benefits because I was terrified the IRS would immediately garnish everything, but seeing so many real success stories gives me confidence to move forward. The advice about calling the automated IRS line to verify payment plan status is excellent - I'm definitely doing that before I apply. It's amazing how much peace of mind this community provides by sharing actual experiences rather than just theoretical advice. Thank you all for being so generous with your stories and helping those of us who are navigating this stressful situation!

I'm also new to this community and wanted to share my recent experience since it's so relevant to your situation. I'm 64 and just started receiving my Social Security benefits two months ago while owing the IRS about $10,300 from my failed consulting business. I had been on a payment plan for over a year, paying $320 monthly, and I was absolutely terrified they would garnish my first check. But just like everyone here has said, having that active installment agreement completely protected my benefits. I've now received two full monthly payments with zero interference from the IRS. The peace of mind is incredible! Your consistent $325 payments for a year put you in an excellent position. I'd definitely recommend calling that IRS automated line others mentioned to verify everything is documented correctly - I did that right before my first benefit arrived and it gave me such reassurance. You should be able to enjoy your retirement benefits without worry as long as you keep up those payments. This community has been such a blessing for navigating these stressful situations!

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is the potential impact of Medicare premiums on your Social Security benefits. When you turn 65 and enroll in Medicare, your Part B premiums (and potentially Part D) will be automatically deducted from your Social Security check if you're already receiving benefits. For 2025, standard Medicare Part B is $185/month, but if you're in a higher income bracket, you could pay more due to IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount). This means your actual net Social Security benefit will be lower than the gross amounts you've been calculating. Also, since you mentioned you're tired and considering the quality of life aspect - have you looked into whether your employer offers any phased retirement options? Some companies allow you to reduce hours gradually rather than going straight from full-time work to full retirement. This could give you more flexibility while you're making your Social Security decision. The stress relief alone from reducing work obligations might be worth considering, especially given your family health history. Sometimes the peace of mind from having guaranteed income (even if it's less) outweighs the potential financial benefits of waiting.

The contractor arrangement your supervisor mentioned could be a game-changer! Many people don't realize that if you're working as a 1099 contractor rather than a W-2 employee, you have much more control over your income timing, which can help with both the Social Security earnings limit and Medicare IRMAA thresholds. As a contractor, you could potentially structure your payments to stay under the $22,320 earnings limit if you claim Social Security at 62, or manage your income in retirement to avoid higher Medicare premiums. Plus, you'd get to test out a reduced workload before making any permanent decisions about Social Security. I'd suggest running some scenarios: What if you negotiate a 20-hour/week contractor role starting at 62, claim Social Security, and see how that feels for a year or two? You could always adjust either the work arrangement or delay your Social Security claim if needed. The flexibility might be exactly what you need while you're figuring out the bigger retirement picture. Just make sure to understand the tax implications of contractor income versus W-2 wages, especially regarding self-employment taxes and quarterly payments. But honestly, the stress reduction combined with some income certainty sounds like it could be the perfect bridge solution for your situation.

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for this incredibly informative discussion! I'm 68 and honestly had no clue about the age 70 cutoff for delayed retirement credits. Like many others here, I was under the impression that you should wait to apply for Social Security until you actually retire from work. Reading through all these real experiences - especially the confirmation from the retired SSA employee - has been a huge wake-up call. It's concerning how many people seem to fall into this same trap of thinking they're being smart by waiting past 70. I really appreciate communities like this where people share practical knowledge that can save others from costly mistakes. The government really should make these critical deadlines clearer in their communications!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely stunned by this discussion! I'm 69 and have been working part-time consulting while putting off my Social Security application because I thought I was being financially responsible by not "taking" benefits while still earning income. Reading through everyone's experiences here - especially hearing from the retired SSA employee who confirmed the 70 cutoff rule - has been a complete game-changer for my understanding. I had no idea that delayed retirement credits stop at 70 or about the 6-month retroactive limit. Like so many others here, I genuinely believed the benefits would keep growing as long as I waited, similar to how they increase from full retirement age to 70. This thread has potentially saved me from a very expensive mistake! It's remarkable how many newcomers to this community are all discovering the same critical information. Thank you all for sharing your real-world experiences and expertise!

Thanks everyone for the helpful insights! Based on your feedback, it seems like I might see around a $60-90 monthly increase by working that extra year. I'm leaning toward doing it since I don't mind my job, and that additional amount will add up over time with COLAs. I also appreciate the explanation about the bend points - that helps me understand why the increase isn't proportional to the earnings difference. I'm going to try to speak with SSA directly to get an exact calculation for my situation.

One thing to consider is the tax implications too. If you're making $82K this year, you might be paying more in taxes on that income than you would on Social Security benefits (depending on your other retirement income). SS benefits are only partially taxable for most people, while your work income is fully taxable. So the net difference between working vs. collecting might be smaller than the gross numbers suggest. Just something to factor into your decision along with the benefit increase calculations everyone else mentioned.