Thank you all for the fantastic advice! I just finished submitting my application online and it was so much easier than I expected. I was able to specify February 2025 as my benefit start month, and the whole process took about 30 minutes (would have been faster but I had to hunt down some documents). The confirmation page says I should receive a decision within 30 days, which is such a relief compared to waiting for that December appointment! I did have one question pop up that wasn't covered in the application - if I continue to work part-time after starting benefits in February (just a few hours a week at my current job), do I need to notify SSA about that income? Since I'm past FRA, I know there's no earnings limit, but I wasn't sure about reporting requirements.

Congratulations on getting your application submitted! That's such a relief compared to waiting until December. Just wanted to add - since you mentioned you might continue working part-time, make sure to keep good records of your earnings for tax purposes. Even though there's no earnings limit after FRA, the combination of your Social Security benefits plus work income could push you into a higher tax bracket or make more of your benefits taxable. It's worth running some numbers with a tax calculator or talking to an accountant before you start receiving benefits in February, especially if your part-time work income varies from month to month.

One thing I didn't see mentioned yet is the potential issue with bank transfers. Some US expats have problems with their Social Security payments because of FATCA requirements. Some foreign banks don't want to deal with the reporting requirements for US citizens. Do you have a US bank account you've maintained? If so, you might want to have your benefits deposited there and then transfer to Australia yourself. That's what I ended up doing because my local bank in New Zealand started giving me problems once they saw US government payments coming in regularly. Also, the SSA's online account system (my Social Security) can be problematic to access from overseas. They use US-based identity verification systems that sometimes can't verify foreign addresses or phone numbers. I'd recommend setting up your online access before you apply if possible.

I went through this exact process two years ago as a US-Australian dual citizen living in Melbourne for 28 years. Here's what worked for me: Applied online through the SSA website - surprisingly smooth process. The key forms you'll need are the standard retirement application plus SSA-21 (supplement for overseas residents). I declined Medicare Part B during the application process since I have no plans to return to the US and didn't want to pay premiums for unusable coverage. For banking, I kept my US account and have SS deposited there, then transfer to Australia monthly. The exchange rate fees are manageable and it avoids potential FATCA headaches with Australian banks receiving US government payments. Tax-wise, yes you'll report the SS benefits on your US return, but the US-Australia tax treaty helps prevent double taxation. I use a tax preparer who specializes in US expat returns - worth the cost for peace of mind. One surprise: I did get hit by WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision) since I have an Australian superannuation pension. It reduced my SS benefit by about $400/month, but it was still worth claiming. The Federal Benefits Unit at the US Embassy in Sydney was incredibly helpful throughout the process. They know all the expat-specific issues and can walk you through everything. Definitely recommend contacting them before you apply. Feel free to ask if you have specific questions about any part of the process!

If you can afford to wait until 70, that's often the optimal strategy for someone still working full-time. Your benefit increases by 8% per year beyond FRA up to age 70. Plus, continuing to work might increase your AIME (Average Indexed Monthly Earnings) if these are high-earning years for you, potentially increasing your benefit even further. But this is very specific to your individual situation - definitely worth consulting with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security planning.

As someone who went through this exact situation two years ago, I can confirm what others are saying - you really won't see any monthly payments at that income level. I was earning $6,800/month when I filed at 63, thinking I'd get at least something, but they withheld everything. The math is brutal: they look at your ANNUAL excess earnings and withhold $1 for every $2 over the limit. What really caught me off guard was that they don't prorate it monthly - they just stop ALL payments until the withholding amount is satisfied. In hindsight, I should have either reduced my work hours significantly or waited until FRA. The only silver lining is that the recalculation at FRA does help somewhat, but you're still stuck with the permanent early filing reduction. Given your situation, I'd seriously consider waiting until FRA or even 70 if you can swing it financially.

Just a practical tip - if this rounding issue bothers you, consider it when planning your claiming strategy. Since they always round down, if your calculated benefit would be $2,000.01 or $2,000.99, you'd get the same $2,000 payment either way. Sometimes delaying benefits by just a month can push you over to the next dollar in your monthly payment. It's a small difference, but over many years of retirement, an extra dollar per month adds up. This is especially relevant when deciding exactly which month to start benefits.

I had no idea about this rounding policy until I started receiving my disability benefits last year. My calculated amount was $1,456.73 but I only receive $1,456. At first I thought there was an error in my payment, but after reading this thread it makes sense now. It's frustrating that they don't explain this clearly in the benefit letters - they should mention that the final payment will be rounded down to the nearest dollar. Would save a lot of confusion and phone calls to SSA!

One more thing - if you withdraw his application make SURE you understand you have to repay ALL the money he already got from SS!!! They won't process the withdrawal until every penny is paid back. If he got a big retroactive payment this could be thousands you need to have ready!

I'm so sorry you're going through this difficult situation with your husband's health. I wanted to add some practical advice about timing since you mentioned having an appointment next week at the SSA office. Given that your husband filed just three weeks ago, you're still well within the 12-month window for withdrawal, but I'd recommend acting as quickly as possible. A few additional considerations: 1) Make sure to get a letter from his doctor specifically stating his current mental capacity and inability to make financial decisions - this will be crucial for the representative payee process. 2) Consider bringing a financial calculator or having someone help you verify the long-term math during your appointment. 3) If the local office can't help immediately, ask them to escalate to a supervisor given the time-sensitive nature and medical circumstances. The potential difference in lifetime benefits could be substantial - even beyond the monthly increase, remember that any cost-of-living adjustments would be applied to the higher base amount. Wishing you and your husband the best during this challenging time.