I just wanted to add my perspective as someone who went through this process about 8 months ago. I had the exact same panic about marriage/divorce dates from the 1980s and 1990s - I literally could not remember if my second marriage ended in 1994 or 1995! After calling SSA multiple times and getting conflicting information, I finally spoke with a supervisor who explained it very clearly: for YOUR OWN retirement benefits (not spousal benefits), they primarily need the marriage/divorce info to verify your legal name changes and to know if anyone else might be eligible for benefits on your record later. They don't expect perfect recall of events from 25-40 years ago. I ended up submitting with entries like "Marriage ended approximately 1995 - unable to recall exact month after 30 years" and my application was processed without any follow-up requests. The key is being honest about what you remember vs. what you're estimating. Don't let this paperwork anxiety delay your application when you're so close to 66! The SSA deals with incomplete historical information all the time. Submit with your best estimates and explanatory notes - you can always provide documentation later if they specifically request it (which they probably won't for your own retirement benefits).

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and this thread has been such a relief to find! I've been putting off my Social Security application for months because I was convinced I needed to track down certified copies of marriage and divorce certificates from the 1980s and 1990s. Like so many others here, I have multiple marriages/divorces from decades ago and honestly can't remember exact dates. I was losing sleep thinking I'd have to contact county clerks in different states and pay for certified copies before I could even submit my application. Reading everyone's experiences here has completely changed my perspective. It's clear that SSA understands people don't keep perfect records from 30-40 years ago and that approximate dates with honest explanations are perfectly acceptable for retirement applications based on your own work record. I'm planning to submit my application this week using language like "divorced approximately summer 1987 - exact date unavailable after 35+ years" and include brief notes explaining why I can't provide precise information. Based on all the success stories shared here, it sounds like this approach works well and rarely results in requests for additional documentation. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread has been more helpful than hours of trying to navigate the confusing SSA website! Don't let paperwork anxiety delay your benefits when you're eligible.

Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who works in tax preparation - the confusion around this topic is incredibly common! I see clients every year who are worried about the same thing. To put it simply: Social Security will NEVER reduce your monthly benefit payment once you've reached Full Retirement Age, no matter how much you earn. That's federal law. What CAN happen is that more of your Social Security becomes subject to income tax as your total income increases. Think of it this way - your gross Social Security payment stays the same, but your net take-home might be less due to taxes. That's probably what happened with your neighbor and why he thinks his "benefits got cut." For your situation with $3,000/month consulting income, you'll definitely want to make quarterly estimated tax payments. The IRS doesn't like waiting until April for their money on significant additional income like that. Your accountant can help you calculate what to set aside. Bottom line: take the consulting job! You earned the right to maximum Social Security by waiting until 70, and now you get to have your cake and eat it too. Just be smart about the tax planning piece.

I'm glad you found all this information helpful! As someone who's been collecting Social Security for a few years now, I can definitely relate to the confusion around these rules. The key takeaway that everyone has made clear is that your actual Social Security benefit amount is protected once you reach FRA - it's really just the tax implications you need to plan for. One small tip I'd add: when you do start that consulting work, make sure to keep detailed records not just for tax purposes, but also to track how the extra income affects your overall financial picture. Sometimes seeing the numbers laid out quarterly can help you make adjustments if needed (like changing your tax withholding strategy or deciding whether to take on more or less work). It sounds like you've got a great opportunity ahead of you. Getting to stay active, use your skills, and earn extra income while still receiving your full Social Security benefits - that's exactly what a successful retirement should look like! Best of luck with the consulting work.

I'm dealing with a similar situation with my elderly father right now. After reading through all these responses, I'm realizing there might be a pattern here where SSA doesn't automatically optimize benefits like they're supposed to. For anyone else in this situation, I'd recommend documenting everything when you contact SSA. I started keeping a log with dates, times, and names of who I spoke with because I was getting different answers each time I called. It's been really helpful when following up. Also, if your parent has any cognitive issues or gets easily confused (like many elderly people do when dealing with bureaucracy), consider going to the appointment WITH them rather than just sending them alone. I learned this the hard way when my dad came back from his first SSA visit with more questions than answers because he got overwhelmed. Good luck with your appointment next week! Really hoping your mom gets the higher survivor benefit she deserves.

I'm so glad you started this thread! As someone who works in elder care advocacy, I see this exact scenario constantly. The reality is that SSA's systems are not designed to proactively notify people when they could be getting higher benefits, especially with survivor benefits. Here's what I tell families in your situation: 1) Print out your mom's current benefit statement from her MySocialSecurity account before the appointment - having the exact monthly amount will help the SSA worker do the comparison 2) If possible, try to find any old Social Security statements your dad received that showed his estimated benefits. These usually arrive annually and would give you a ballpark of what your mom should be getting as a survivor 3) Don't let them brush you off if the first calculation seems wrong. I've seen cases where the initial comparison was incorrect due to data entry errors or not accounting for delayed retirement credits your dad may have earned 4) Ask about "protective filing" - if there's any delay in processing the switch, this can help preserve some retroactive benefits The unfortunate truth is that thousands of widows and widowers are likely receiving suboptimal benefits simply because they were never informed they could switch. Your persistence in figuring this out could save your mom hundreds of dollars every month for the rest of her life. Please keep us updated - these stories help other families realize they need to double-check their benefits too!

One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're planning to work while collecting benefits at 62, be aware of the earnings test. For 2024, if you earn more than $22,320, they'll reduce your benefits by $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit. This applies until you reach your full retirement age. Just something to factor into your planning since you mentioned needing the income now. The good news is that any benefits withheld due to earnings get added back to your monthly payment once you reach FRA, so it's not permanently lost.

I went through this exact same situation two years ago! The process was actually much smoother than I expected once I understood that SSA handles all the comparison work. I applied online at ssa.gov and it took about 6 weeks to get approved. One tip that really helped me: when you're gathering documents, also look for any old tax returns where you filed jointly - SSA sometimes asks for these to verify the marriage dates if there are any discrepancies with your other documents. I ended up getting the divorced spouse benefit which was about $200 more per month than my own would have been. Don't stress about not knowing your ex's benefit amount - the system really does work without you having to figure that out yourself!

After reviewing your complete situation: 1. For the earnings test, you're on the right track using the monthly test in your first year 2. Your strategy of taking reduced widow benefits now and switching to your own at 70 is actually optimal given the benefit amounts you've shared 3. For those vacation payouts, request Form SSA-131 (Employer Report of Special Wage Payments) from your employer to document that those payments were for work performed before your benefits began Keep all documentation showing your retirement date and submit the SSA-131 as soon as possible to avoid any incorrect application of the earnings test.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation (planning to file for widow benefits at 62 next year) and had no idea about the monthly earnings test for the first year. A few quick tips from my own research and experience with my late husband's benefits: - When you call SSA, ask to speak with a "claims specialist" rather than just any representative. They tend to be more knowledgeable about complex situations like widow benefits with earnings. - Document EVERYTHING in writing. I keep a log of every SSA interaction with date, time, rep name/ID, and what was discussed. - The Form SSA-131 mentioned by Luca is crucial! My sister had a similar vacation payout issue and that form resolved it completely. @Sean - your benefit strategy sounds smart given those amounts. Just make sure you understand that once you switch to your own benefit at 70, you can't go back to the widow benefit even if yours ends up being lower than expected. Good luck navigating this maze! The SSA system is confusing but this community really helps clarify things.