Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - when you do apply online, make sure you complete the application in one sitting if possible. The system times out after a certain period of inactivity and you might lose your progress. I learned this the hard way! Also, double-check that all your personal information matches exactly what's on file with SSA (name spelling, date of birth, etc.) to avoid any delays in processing. The online application is actually pretty user-friendly once you get started, and it will clearly prompt you for your spouse's information when needed. You're doing the right thing by researching this beforehand!

I just went through this process myself about 6 months ago at age 67! The automatic calculation definitely works as others have described. When I applied online, there was a specific section asking about my marital status and spouse's information. The system calculated both my own benefit and my spousal benefit, then awarded me the higher amount (which ended up being spousal in my case). One thing I'd add is that you can actually create a my Social Security account online first to review your estimated benefits before applying - it helped me understand what to expect. Also, if you're planning to continue working part-time after filing, make sure you understand the earnings test rules, though they don't apply once you reach your full retirement age. The whole process took about 3 weeks from application to first payment, and they did request my marriage certificate about 10 days after I applied. Much easier than I expected after reading all the horror stories online!

Regarding your question about the reduction for claiming spousal benefits early: The reduction is approximately 25/36 of 1 percent for each month before your FRA, up to 36 months, and 5/12 of 1 percent for each additional month. With your FRA at 66 and 10 months, filing at exactly 65 means a reduction of about 10.56%. So instead of 50% of your husband's PIA, you'd receive about 44.7%. If your husband receives $2,750/month, his PIA is likely around $2,400-$2,500 (depending on when he started collecting). So your spousal benefit at FRA would be ~$1,200-$1,250, but at age 65 would be reduced to ~$1,075-$1,120. Is waiting 22 months worth approximately $125-$130 more per month? That's a personal decision, but mathematically it would take about 15 years of receiving the higher amount to make up for the 22 months of benefits you'd forgo by waiting.

One thing I'd add about the Medicare enrollment - don't forget about Part D (prescription drug coverage)! Even if you don't take many medications now, you'll face a late enrollment penalty if you don't sign up during your Initial Enrollment Period and decide you need it later. The penalty is 1% of the national base premium for each month you delay, and it's permanent. Also, if you have any current health insurance through your husband's employer or COBRA, make sure to coordinate the timing. You don't want a gap in coverage, but you also don't want to pay for overlapping coverage unnecessarily. Some employer plans work as secondary to Medicare once you're 65, others might terminate when you become Medicare eligible. The my Social Security online portal really is the easiest way to apply for both benefits simultaneously. You can even estimate your spousal benefit amounts using their calculators before you officially apply.

I'm going through the exact same situation right now! Filed in January for benefits starting April 2025, and my 2024 earnings aren't showing up online either. After reading everyone's experiences here, it sounds like the automatic adjustment is pretty reliable - just takes time. I'm budgeting conservatively based on my current benefit estimate and treating any future increase as a bonus. The peace of mind is worth more than stressing over the exact timing. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it really helps to know this is normal!

As someone who just started receiving benefits last year, I can confirm what others are saying about the automatic adjustment process. My 2023 earnings took about 6 months to get processed and added to my benefit calculation. The frustrating part is that there's really no way to speed it up - it's just a waiting game. But the good news is that when the adjustment finally came through, I received all the back pay from when my benefits started. Since you only have 28 years of earnings, that 2024 income will definitely help your calculation more than someone who already has 35+ years. I'd recommend keeping detailed records of your 2024 earnings just in case you need to provide documentation later, though in most cases the W-2 data flows through automatically. Hang in there - the system works, it's just painfully slow!

I switched from widow's benefits to my own retirement benefits about 3 years ago and my payment date stayed exactly the same - 2nd Wednesday of the month. However, I did experience what some others mentioned about there being a gap between payments during the transition. I think it was about 5 weeks between my last widow's payment and first retirement payment, which caught me off guard since nobody warned me about it. The SSA rep I spoke with was helpful and confirmed in writing that my payment date would remain unchanged, which gave me peace of mind. I'd definitely recommend getting that confirmation in writing when you make the switch, and like others have said, keep some extra money set aside just in case there's a processing delay. Good luck with your transition!

I'm currently receiving survivor benefits and will be eligible for my own retirement benefits next year. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like the official policy is that payment dates shouldn't change, but there are definitely real-world issues that can happen during the transition. The advice about getting written confirmation and budgeting for a potential payment gap is really valuable. I'm curious though - for those who experienced processing delays, did SSA provide any kind of interim payment or was it just a matter of waiting it out? Also, has anyone had success getting the payment gap issue resolved by escalating to a supervisor or regional office? It seems like better communication about these potential delays during the application process would prevent a lot of stress and financial hardship for people making this transition.

I'm a retired firefighter dealing with the same GPO nightmare! Been married 31 years and my wife has been collecting Social Security since 2019. My pension is about $3,100/month so I won't see any spousal benefits until probably 2028 based on these calculations. What really gets me is that I paid into Social Security for 12 years before joining the fire department, but because my pension doesn't have SS taxes, I get penalized twice - once with GPO on spousal benefits and again with WEP on my own benefits from those early working years. The system is broken! At least this thread helped me understand the timeline better than any government website I've found. Going to start gathering my documents now so I'm ready when the time comes.

I'm a newer member here but have been following all these GPO discussions with great interest. My situation is a bit different - I'm 68 and worked as a county clerk for 25 years with a pension that didn't pay into Social Security. My husband passed away last year and I've been trying to figure out if I can get survivor benefits under the new law changes. From what I'm reading here, it sounds like the same GPO phase-out applies to survivor benefits too, not just spousal benefits? My pension is $1,800/month and my husband's Social Security was $2,200/month. Does anyone know if the calculations work the same way for widow benefits? I've been living on just my pension since he passed and could really use some clarity on this. Thanks to everyone sharing their knowledge - this community has been more helpful than months of trying to get answers from SSA directly!