btw make sure ur wife knows about the earnings test if shes only 62 and still working! they take back $1 for every $2 she earns over $22,320 in 2025 until she reaches her FRA

One thing to keep in mind - when you get your first combined payment, it might be prorated if you're starting mid-month. Don't panic if the first deposit looks lower than expected! SSA typically pays benefits for the month after you're entitled, so if you became eligible in February, your first payment in March might only cover part of February. The following month should be the full combined amount. Also, if there are any delays in processing the spousal benefit portion, they'll send you retroactive payments to make up the difference.

my condolences on ur loss. when my wife died it was so confusing. i think they said widows benefits but the check just says social security. good luck

I'm a Social Security caseworker and wanted to clarify a few things that might help. The terminology confusion is very real - we use "survivor benefits" as the umbrella term, but "widow's benefits" specifically for surviving spouses. They're the same benefit, just different ways of referring to it. Given your mom's situation at 62, she has two main strategies: 1. File for reduced widow's benefits now (roughly 82.5% of your dad's benefit) and delay her own retirement until 70 for maximum credits 2. File for her own reduced retirement now and switch to full widow's benefits at her Full Retirement Age (66-67 depending on birth year) The key is comparing benefit amounts. If your dad's benefit was significantly higher than what her own would be, option 1 usually works better. If they're closer in amount, option 2 might be better. Also, don't forget about the $255 lump-sum death benefit if you haven't already received it. And yes, being married 35 years definitely qualifies her - you only need 9 months minimum. I'd recommend calling the national number (1-800-772-1213) and specifically asking to schedule an appointment to compare both benefit options with actual dollar amounts. That's the only way to know for sure which strategy maximizes her lifetime benefits.

one thing nobody mentioned is taxes. my friend gets a UK pension and had to file some complicated tax form for foreign income. something to think about too

As someone who recently went through this process with a UK pension, I can share some practical insights. First, definitely pursue the UK pension - even with WEP, you'll likely come out ahead financially. The UK State Pension system is pretty straightforward to navigate, and you can check your eligibility online through the UK government's website. A few key points from my experience: 1. The WEP reduction formula is complex but there are online calculators that can give you estimates 2. You'll need to report the UK pension to SSA using Form SSA-308 as others mentioned 3. Consider the currency exchange rate fluctuations - your £230 could vary in dollar value over time 4. The UK may withhold taxes on your pension, but you can often claim this back or get credit on your US taxes One thing I wish I'd known earlier: if you haven't claimed your UK pension yet, you might be able to get back payments for years you were eligible but didn't claim. This could be a substantial lump sum, though it would also affect your WEP calculation. The bureaucracy is annoying but the extra income is worth it. Just make sure to keep detailed records of all communications with both systems!

I'm so sorry for your loss and can completely relate to the confusion you're experiencing. I went through something very similar when my husband passed away three years ago. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track all the different scenarios once I finally got the complete information from SSA. I compared taking survivor benefits at 60, 62, and at my FRA, then looked at what my own retirement benefit would be at 67 and 70. A few practical tips from my experience: - When you go back to SSA, ask to speak with a claims specialist who handles survivor benefits specifically, not just any available agent - Bring a notepad and don't be afraid to ask them to repeat information or explain things differently - If possible, try to go mid-week and earlier in the day when they're less rushed The decision you're making will affect your finances for the rest of your life, so don't let anyone rush you through it. You have every right to understand all your options completely. The fact that you're asking these questions now shows you're being smart about this difficult situation. Hang in there - once you get the full picture with all the numbers, the decision becomes much clearer.

I'm dealing with a similar situation and wanted to share something that might help. When I was getting nowhere with the regular SSA phone line and office visits, I discovered that you can actually request a "Social Security Statement" online at ssa.gov/myaccount that shows your earnings history and benefit estimates. While it won't give you the complete 60-70 projections you need, it can help you verify that your husband's earnings record is accurate before your next visit. Also, I learned that there's a difference between the basic benefit estimate they give you and what's called a "detailed benefit calculation." The detailed version shows exactly how they arrived at each number and includes more scenarios. When you go back, specifically ask for the "detailed benefit calculation for both survivor benefits and retirement benefits from age 60 through 70." One more thing - if you're planning to stop working early, ask them to run the calculation showing what your benefit would be with zero earnings from whatever age you plan to stop. This will give you a more realistic picture of your actual retirement benefit rather than the projected one that assumes continued earnings. The whole process is frustrating but you're asking all the right questions. Don't let them rush you - this is too important to get wrong.

When I turned 65 last year my SSDI just automatically switched to retirement. They sent me a letter about a month before saying it would happen. My payment amount stayed exactly the same. I still work part-time and since I'm over my FRA now I don't have any limits on what I can earn. It's actually easier than when I was on SSDI and had to report my earnings all the time.

This is really helpful information everyone! As someone who's been hesitant to try working again, reading about all these protections and experiences is encouraging. One thing I'm still wondering about - if I start the Ticket to Work program now at 58, and let's say I'm successful and working full-time by age 62, what happens to my benefits then? Do I lose them completely, or is there still some safety net if my health deteriorates again before I reach retirement age? I know there's the 5-year expedited reinstatement period mentioned, but I'm not sure how that works in practice.