Just wanted to add one more consideration that might help with your decision - you can also use the SSA's online retirement estimator to see the actual dollar difference between taking retroactive benefits vs. keeping the DRCs. It's at ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/estimator.html The calculator will show you what your monthly benefit would be if you filed at FRA (which is essentially what you'd get with retroactive benefits) versus filing now with the DRCs included. For most people, the breakeven point is around 12-15 years, meaning if you expect to live that long past when you start benefits, the DRCs are usually worth more. Also, don't forget that your spouse's survivor benefits (if applicable) are based on your benefit amount including any DRCs, so that's another factor to consider in your decision.

This has been such an incredibly informative discussion! I've been reading through everyone's experiences and advice, and I'm feeling much more confident about my decision now. Based on all the real-world examples shared here - from Aisha's $160/month increase to Emma's $140+ boost - it's clear that preserving those DRCs is typically the smarter long-term financial choice. The math consistently shows that for someone in decent health expecting normal longevity, those delayed retirement credits are worth significantly more over a lifetime than a one-time retroactive payment. The additional considerations people brought up really sealed the deal for me: - Tax efficiency of higher monthly payments vs. a lump sum - How DRCs compound with future COLAs - The impact on survivor benefits for my spouse - The peace of mind of guaranteed higher monthly income I'm planning to apply online this week and will definitely be declining the retroactive benefits to preserve my DRCs. I'll make sure to take screenshots of every page (especially that retroactive benefits section) as several people recommended. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and real experiences - this community has been absolutely invaluable in helping me understand the nuances of this decision that I never would have figured out on my own. The consistency of advice from people who've actually been through this process really gives me confidence I'm making the right choice for my long-term financial security!

I am filing for social security online. I have 3 previous marriages - only one lasted past 10 years. The online application says to list all your marriages. When I add the 2 that were less than 10 years. I get a red error next to the end date and it says this marriage did not last 10 years. Yes, I know but you asked me to list all 3! If I leave those other 2 on the application, it does not let me proceed with reviewing, signing and submitting. There is a big red X next to the details. If I remove them, it will allow me to move forward with submitting. Anyone else experienced this?

Thank you all for your help. I did hit yes for prior marriage and it just asked if it lasted 10 years or more. It didn't ask for dates nor a name, though, I did put that name for a prior name. I did finish it and it did state that they needed proof of your marriage, which one? They will contact me if they need any document of it. My husband did not need to provide anything on his, no since like me I thought it was one that lasted 10 years or more. He has never been contacted.

I want to add something important that hasn't been mentioned yet - you should also consider the impact on your own future benefits if you continue working until 67. Every year you work and pay into Social Security, your benefit calculation gets updated if that year's earnings are higher than one of the 35 years currently being used in your calculation. Since you're still working full-time, you're likely earning more now than you did earlier in your career (due to inflation and career progression). This means delaying your claim until 67 isn't just avoiding the early filing reduction - you're also potentially increasing your benefit amount through continued earnings. Also, I'd suggest getting a copy of your Social Security Statement online at ssa.gov to see your projected benefits at different claiming ages. This will help you run the numbers and see exactly how much you'd lose by claiming early versus waiting. One more thing - make sure you understand what happens to your child's benefits if you do eventually claim on your own record. Sometimes families assume the child will automatically get switched to the higher-earning parent's record, but that's not always automatic and may require a separate application.

yes! child in care benefit are the exception to deem rule and do no effect your own retirement. Exceptions to deemed filing Regardless of the claimant’s DOB, you must consider the following two exceptions before applying deemed filing: a.  Child-in-care (C-I-C) A claimant who has in their care a child (under age 16 or disabled) entitled to a child’s insurance benefit on their spouse’s earnings record, and is filing for spouse's benefits is not deemed to have filed for RIB. They may exclude RIB from the scope of the application for spouse's benefits by providing an unequivocal statement.

Thank you for this update! I don't use Twitter so I would have missed this. At least there's an official timeline now. I appreciate everyone's help and suggestions!

I've been dealing with this exact same issue! Been locked out for about 10 days now with the same error message. I tried calling the 800 number yesterday and after waiting 2 hours and 45 minutes, I finally got through to someone who told me they're aware of the problem but couldn't give me any specifics on when it would be fixed. She did mention that if it's truly urgent (like needing to report a death or stop payments), they can sometimes handle certain things over the phone, but for most account access issues we just have to wait. So frustrating when you're trying to plan for retirement and can't access your own information!

I'm going through a CDR (diagnosed with bipolar, anxiety, diabetes and have been on disability since I was a child). I've worked part time jobs over the years (first paying job was in 2019) and I used up only four months of my trial work period. I graduated from college and university, and had special accommodations due to my disabilities (I don't know if this will be used against me). My last job which I was terminated from due to being "Too stressed" after three weeks and was part time and earned below the SGA. Filled out the long form right after I got the letter in the mail. I'm just scared and not trying to panic.

Hi Ruth, I can really understand your anxiety about the CDR - it's such a scary process even when you know you're still disabled. The fact that you were terminated from your job after just three weeks because of being "too stressed" actually demonstrates that you still can't sustain employment, even part-time work below SGA levels. That's important evidence that your disabilities still significantly impact your ability to work. Your educational achievements with accommodations shouldn't be used against you - they actually show that you needed special support to succeed academically, which is different from being able to handle the sustained demands of full-time employment. The fact that you've only used four months of your trial work period over several years shows you haven't been able to maintain consistent work. It sounds like you did the right thing by filling out the long form promptly. Since you mentioned multiple conditions (bipolar, anxiety, diabetes), make sure your documentation shows how these conditions work together to limit your functioning. The combination of mental health symptoms plus physical health issues can be particularly challenging. Try to focus on documenting your ongoing limitations and how they prevent you from working consistently, rather than worrying about things like your education. You've been on disability since childhood for valid reasons, and those underlying conditions haven't magically disappeared. Hang in there - you're not alone in this process!