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One thing that might be helpful as you approach your filing date - consider doing a "practice run" of your monthly budget including your SS benefits before you actually start collecting. Since you'll be getting around 132% of your FRA benefit amount (thanks to those delayed retirement credits!), plus whatever your work income is, it's good to see how that total income affects your overall financial picture. I'd also suggest checking if your employer offers any "phased retirement" options - some companies let you reduce hours gradually while still maintaining benefits, which can be a nice bridge between full-time work and complete retirement. And don't forget that even though there's no earnings limit, you'll still need to report your work income on your annual tax return, so keeping good records throughout the year will make tax time much easier. You're really in an enviable position having waited this long - enjoy those maximum benefits!
This is such thoughtful advice! The "practice run" idea for budgeting with SS benefits included is brilliant - I hadn't thought about actually mapping out what my monthly finances would look like with that income stream added. And you're right about the record keeping for taxes - I should probably start a dedicated folder now for all SS and work-related tax documents. The phased retirement suggestion is interesting too - I'll definitely ask HR if we have any options like that. It would be nice to have a gradual transition rather than going from full-time work to whatever comes next. Thanks for reminding me about those delayed retirement credits - 132% of FRA does sound pretty good when you put it that way! I'm feeling more and more confident that the wait was worth it.
As a newcomer here, I'm really impressed by all the detailed and helpful responses! This thread has been incredibly educational. I'm in a somewhat similar situation - turning 66 next year (my FRA) but planning to keep working for a few more years. Reading about Natasha's strategy of waiting until 69 is making me reconsider my timeline. The 132% benefit amount from delayed retirement credits sounds amazing, but I'm curious - for those who waited past FRA, how did you handle the psychological aspect of "leaving money on the table" each month you delayed? Sometimes I worry about the what-ifs, like what if something happens to my health or the program changes. Did anyone else struggle with this decision, or was it pretty clear-cut once you ran the numbers?
Welcome to the community! Your question about the psychological aspect really resonates with me. I'm actually in a similar boat - currently 67 and still debating whether to file now or wait longer. The "leaving money on the table" feeling is so real! What's helped me is thinking about it differently - you're not leaving money on the table, you're investing in a higher guaranteed monthly payment for life. I've been tracking what my benefit would be each month if I wait vs. the cumulative amount I'm "missing" by not filing yet. The break-even point for waiting until 70 vs. filing at FRA is around age 82-83 for most people. Since I'm in good health and have family longevity on my side, the math works in favor of waiting. But honestly, some days I still second-guess myself! One thing that's given me peace of mind is having a backup plan - I know exactly what paperwork I need and could file quickly if my health or financial situation changed. Maybe that approach could help with your decision too?
@Zoe Papadopoulos Great question about the psychological aspect! As someone who s'currently going through this exact decision-making process, I totally understand that leaving "money on the table anxiety." What s'helped me is reframing it as buying insurance for longevity - each month I delay is essentially purchasing a higher guaranteed monthly payment for the rest of my life. I ve'also found it helpful to calculate the crossover "point where" waiting pays off usually (around age 82-84 ,)and since my family tends to live into their 90s, the math supports waiting. That said, I keep all my application documents ready just in case my situation changes. The peace of mind from having a Plan B has made the waiting much more manageable. One thing I remind myself is that unlike other investments, these delayed retirement credits are guaranteed by the government - you can t'get that kind of certainty elsewhere. But ultimately, everyone s'health, financial situation, and family history are different, so what works for one person might not work for another.
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Hi Linda! Based on all the experiences shared in this thread, survivor benefits payment dates follow YOUR birthday, not your late husband's birthday. Since your birthday is June 9th, you would fall into the second Wednesday payment schedule (birthdays on the 1st-10th of the month get paid on the second Wednesday). Your husband's September 12th birthday doesn't determine your payment schedule. This has been confirmed by multiple people in this community who have gone through the same situation. The Social Security Administration treats survivor benefits as YOUR benefit (even though it's calculated from your spouse's earnings record), so all payment scheduling is based on your information, including your birth date. I hope this helps clarify things for you!
Dylan is absolutely correct, Linda! I'm also new to this community and have been following this entire thread - everyone who has shared their actual experience confirms that survivor benefits follow YOUR birth date for payment scheduling, not your late husband's. With your June 9th birthday, you'll receive payments on the second Wednesday of each month. This seems to be one of those details that the SSA doesn't explain clearly, which is why so many people have the same confusion. It's really helpful to have this community where people can share their real experiences to clear up these important questions!
Hi Linda! I can see you've posted this question multiple times, and I completely understand the confusion - this is such an important detail for budgeting! Based on all the experiences shared in this thread, your survivor benefits payments will definitely follow YOUR birthday (June 9th), not your late husband's birthday (September 12th). Since you were born on June 9th, you fall into the "1st-10th of the month" category, which means your payments will come on the second Wednesday of each month. This has been consistently confirmed by everyone in this community who has actually received survivor benefits. The Social Security Administration treats these as YOUR benefits once you start receiving them, even though they're calculated based on your husband's work record. I hope this gives you the clarity you need for your financial planning!
Hi Linda! I'm new to this community but have been reading through this entire thread, and I wanted to add my voice to confirm what Ashley and others have said. Your survivor benefits will absolutely follow YOUR birth date (June 9th), which puts you in the second Wednesday payment schedule. I know it can be confusing because you're receiving benefits based on your husband's work record, but the Social Security Administration processes these as your benefits once approved, so everything - including payment timing - is based on your information. This thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding these details that aren't clearly explained on the official SSA website. I hope this gives you peace of mind about when to expect your payments each month!
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Hey just wondering - does anyone know if the OP could have done something different? Like if he had waited until Full Retirement Age instead of taking benefits at 65? I'm trying to figure out what to do with my own situation and don't want to make the same mistake!
Yes, there was a potentially better strategy. Prior to 2016, someone at their Full Retirement Age could file a "restricted application" for just spousal/ex-spousal benefits while letting their own benefit grow until age 70. Unfortunately, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 eliminated this option for anyone born after January 1, 1954. For someone in the original poster's position today, the best strategy would depend on whose record would provide the higher benefit. If their own record would ultimately be higher, waiting until 70 to file would maximize their monthly benefit (though they'd miss several years of payments). If the ex-spouse's record would provide the higher benefit, then timing would depend on when the ex-spouse files and when the maximum spousal benefit would be available.
I'm sorry to hear about your financial struggles, Natalie. This is unfortunately a common misunderstanding about Social Security benefits. The key thing to remember is that you always receive the HIGHER of either your own benefit OR the spousal/ex-spousal benefit - never both combined. Since you're already receiving $1,425 monthly on your own record, your ex-wife would need a Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) of at least $2,850 for you to qualify for any additional ex-spouse benefit. That's because the maximum ex-spouse benefit is 50% of her PIA. While you can't change your past filing decision, I'd recommend looking into other assistance programs that might help with your financial situation. Your local Area Agency on Aging can help you find programs for utilities assistance, food support, prescription drug help, and other resources specifically designed for seniors facing financial hardship.
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I'm so sorry for your loss, Serene. This is unfortunately a very common situation for working widows. The SSA rep was correct - with your $85,000 income, you're well above the 2025 earnings limit of $22,320, so any widow's benefits would be completely offset by the earnings test reduction. However, I'd strongly recommend getting a written benefit estimate that shows the exact calculations. Sometimes if the deceased spouse's benefit was very high, there might be edge cases where a small amount could still be payable. Also, definitely consider whether reducing your hours might make financial sense - you'd need to run the numbers on lost wages vs. potential widow benefits. And remember, once you hit your FRA at 66 and 10 months, you can earn unlimited income without any reduction in benefits. The waiting is frustrating, but those benefits will be there when you're ready to claim them!
Thanks Quinn, that's really helpful advice. I keep hearing about getting written estimates and I think that's definitely my next step. It would be good to see the actual numbers rather than just being told "you can't get anything." I'm curious about the edge cases you mentioned - my husband was receiving about $2,800/month when he passed, which seemed pretty high to me. I have no idea what my own benefit will be since I've had some years with lower earnings when I was raising kids. Do you know if there's a specific form I should ask for when requesting the written estimate? I want to make sure I get all the details about the earnings test calculations.
@c3c812885916 You're absolutely right about getting those written estimates! With your husband receiving $2,800/month, that's definitely on the higher side. You'll want to ask for Form SSA-7004 (Social Security Statement) which will show your projected benefits, and specifically request a widow's benefit estimate. Also ask them to show you the earnings test calculation in writing - how much would be withheld at different income levels. Given that your husband's benefit was $2,800/month, your widow benefit could potentially be around that amount (maybe slightly less depending on his age when he started collecting), so it's definitely worth seeing if reducing to part-time work might make financial sense. The math could surprise you!
I'm really sorry for your loss, Serene. This is such a difficult situation to navigate while you're still grieving. The SSA representative was technically correct about the earnings test, but I'd definitely encourage you to dig deeper into the specifics of your case. With your husband receiving $2,800/month, that's a substantial benefit amount - and your potential widow's benefit could be close to that figure. Here's what I'd suggest: Request a detailed written analysis showing exactly how much your widow's benefit would be before any reductions, then ask them to calculate the earnings test at different income levels. For example, what if you reduced your hours to earn $60k? $50k? $40k? You might find there's a sweet spot where the combination of reduced wages plus partial widow's benefits actually puts you ahead financially. Also, definitely ask about filing strategies for when you reach your FRA. You might be able to claim widow's benefits then while letting your own retirement benefit grow until age 70 - but only if your own projected benefit would eventually be higher than the widow's benefit. The timing and strategy can make a huge difference in your lifetime benefits. Good luck navigating this complex system!
This is such valuable advice, thank you! I never thought about calculating the "sweet spot" between reduced wages and partial benefits - that's brilliant. You're right that $2,800/month was a substantial benefit, and if my widow's benefit could be close to that, the math might actually work out better than I initially thought. I'm definitely going to request those detailed calculations at different income levels. The strategy about claiming widow's benefits at FRA while letting my own benefit grow to age 70 is also something I hadn't considered - I'll need to find out what my own projected benefit would be to see if that makes sense. It's overwhelming trying to figure out the best approach, but having a clear plan with actual numbers will help so much. Thanks for breaking this down so clearly!
CaptainAwesome
I'm glad to see you figured out the birth year error in your account! That's actually more common than people realize. Just wanted to add that when you do call SSA to correct your birth year, make sure to have your original birth certificate handy - they'll likely need the document number and issuing authority to verify the correction. Also, after they fix it, I'd recommend taking a screenshot of your updated MySocialSecurity account showing the correct FRA, just for your records. It's smart that you're planning to wait for your full FRA at 66+10 rather than taking the early reduction. That extra 1.1% might seem small now, but over 20+ years of retirement it really adds up!
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StarSailor
•Great advice about having the birth certificate ready! I just went through something similar with my mom's Medicare enrollment and they needed all those specific document details. One more tip - if you can, try to call SSA first thing in the morning (like right at 7am when they open) or later in the afternoon around 3-4pm. Those seem to be the times when wait times are shorter. I've heard Tuesday-Thursday are better days to call too, avoiding Mondays when everyone calls after the weekend. Good luck getting this sorted out!
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Javier Mendoza
I went through something very similar last year! My SSA account had my birth year wrong by one year, which completely threw off my FRA calculation. Here's what I learned from the experience: First, definitely get that birth year corrected ASAP - it affects not just your FRA but potentially other benefits calculations too. When you call SSA, ask them to email you a confirmation of the change or give you a reference number for the correction. I'd also suggest checking your earnings record while you're at it to make sure all your work history is accurate. The good news is that once they fix the birth year, your online account updates pretty quickly (mine updated within 24 hours). Since you've already given notice at work, you might want to have a backup plan ready - either negotiate extending your end date by 2 months or be prepared for a small gap between employment and full benefits if you decide to retire early. The peace of mind of getting your full benefit amount is usually worth the wait!
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