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DONT FORGET about the COLA increases too!!! Each year you wait you also get whatever COLA adjustment was added. So your final amount at 70 will likely be even HIGHER than the estimate you're seeing now because of 3 years of potential COLA increases!!! This also gets passed on to your wife as part of survivor benefits!!!
That's an excellent point! The estimates provided by SSA generally don't include future COLA increases. So by waiting until 70, you not only get the 8% per year delayed retirement credits, but you also get 3 years of COLA adjustments applied to a larger base amount. This can significantly increase both your benefit and any eventual survivor benefit.
Just to summarize what's been covered for clarity: 1. If you wait until 70 to claim and then pass away, your wife would receive your full benefit amount including delayed retirement credits as her survivor benefit (assuming she's at her FRA when claiming survivor benefits) 2. This is often the optimal strategy for married couples with disparate benefit amounts 3. If she claims survivor benefits before her FRA, they will be reduced 4. She has flexibility to claim her own benefit and survivor benefit at different times 5. COLA increases that accumulate while you delay will also be included in the survivor benefit Based on what you've shared, your strategy of delaying to 70 seems very sound, especially given your family longevity history and the significant difference between your and your wife's benefit amounts.
Thank you for this clear summary! This discussion has been incredibly helpful in confirming my approach. I feel much more confident about my decision to delay benefits until 70 now that I understand how it affects survivor benefits.
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Real talk: get a FREE appointment with the SSA. Don't rely on internet strangers for something this important. Everyone's situation is different, and those calculators online don't take into account all the survivor rules. Call and MAKE them explain all your options with ACTUAL NUMBERS.
You're right - I definitely need to speak directly with SSA to get accurate information for my specific situation. I'll try to set up an appointment soon.
As others have mentioned, the optimal strategy depends on your specific numbers. However, I want to add one more crucial point: if you're planning to work past age 60, you need to consider how the earnings test might affect your survivor benefits. In 2025, if you earn more than $22,320 while collecting any Social Security benefit before your FRA, they will withhold $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit. This could significantly reduce or even eliminate your survivor benefits if you have substantial earnings. The good news: Once you reach FRA, these reductions stop completely, AND any benefits that were withheld due to the earnings test will be returned to you gradually in the form of a higher monthly benefit. Getting an exact calculation from SSA is essential to make the best decision for your situation.
Thank you for this additional information. I hadn't fully considered the earnings test. I'm planning to work until at least 65, so this might change my strategy entirely. Maybe it would be better to wait until closer to my FRA to claim anything if I'll just lose most of it to the earnings test? I definitely need to talk to SSA about my specific situation.
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Strongly recommend you create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov if you haven't already. You can get personalized benefit estimates there. Also, don't forget that the earnings test goes away completely once you reach your Full Retirement Age (around 67 for you). At that point, you can earn unlimited amounts without any reduction in benefits. Some people find it's actually better to wait until closer to FRA if they plan to continue substantial part-time work.
I do have a my Social Security account already - that's a good idea to look at the personalized estimates again. I've thought about waiting until closer to my FRA, but honestly, I'm ready to leave my full-time job soon. Maybe I'll need to keep my self-employment income lower until I reach FRA.
anyone know if IRA distributions count towards the earnings limit? i might retire next year too and was gonna use some of my IRA money
Good question - IRA distributions, 401(k) withdrawals, pension payments, annuities, and investment income do NOT count toward the earnings limit. The limit only applies to earned income (wages or self-employment). So you can withdraw from your IRA without affecting your Social Security benefits.
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i just remembered something important!! when i did mine last year they asked me if i wanted to claim 6 months of retroactive benefits because im past my FRA. make sure u think about this before u apply!! once u decide u cant change it and it affects your monthly amount forever!
Wait, what? I didn't know about this option! So I could potentially get benefits going back 6 months from when I apply? But would that reduce my monthly amount going forward? I need to look into this more - thanks for mentioning it!
This is an important point. After FRA, you can request up to 6 months of retroactive benefits. However, there's a trade-off: - If you take retroactive benefits, your claiming date moves back by however many months you choose (up to 6) - This means you'd lose the delayed retirement credits you would have earned for those months - Your monthly benefit amount would be permanently lower than if you claimed at your current age For example, if you're 3 months past FRA now and take 6 months retroactive, you'd effectively be claiming 3 months BEFORE your FRA, which means a slightly lower monthly amount forever. Do the math carefully. Sometimes the lump sum is worth it, but often the higher monthly amount for life is more beneficial, especially if you expect average or above-average longevity.
Thank you all for the incredibly helpful responses! Based on your advice, I'm going to: 1. Apply online in early June (about 3.5 months before my FRA) 2. Gather ALL my documents in advance (birth cert, marriage license, etc.) 3. Create a reminder to follow up if I don't see updates in my mySSA account after a few weeks 4. Consider that retroactive benefit option carefully - I didn't even know about this! It sounds like the online application is definitely the way to go for a straightforward retirement claim like mine. I feel much more prepared now!
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Has your SIL checked if she'd be subject to WEP or GPO??? My friend's wife thought she'd get spousal benefits too but got hit with the windfall elimination provision because she had a government pension!!! If your SIL worked for state govt or federal job without paying into SS, that could change EVERYTHING!!!!
Good point about WEP/GPO, though the original post mentioned both were high wage earners, which suggests they both paid into Social Security throughout their careers. But you're right that if either had non-covered employment (government jobs without SS taxes), that would significantly change the calculations.
Just wanted to share that I was in this exact situation - high earner husband, also good income myself. I got ZERO spousal benefits. My own benefit at FRA was about $2,800 and half of his PIA was only $1,900 so no excess for me. Probably same for your sister-in-law if she has a good earnings record.
Thanks for sharing your real numbers - that helps put things in perspective. I'm guessing she'll be in a similar situation based on her career, but at least now she knows what to expect!
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wait im confused now does railroad retirement pay more than social security? my uncle worked for freight company for like 10 years is he leaving money on the table by just collecting ss???
Railroad Retirement generally pays more than Social Security, but eligibility requires at least 10 years (120 months) of railroad service. If your uncle has exactly 10 years, he should definitely check with RRB about potential benefits. The two-tiered structure of RRB benefits typically results in higher payments than SS alone, especially for those with longer railroad service.
I took my SS at 62 and I'm kicking myself now at 68 because I could be getting so much more if I'd waited. If RRB might pay even more at 70, maybe consider waiting on both? Living on less for a few years might be worth thousands more for the rest of your life. Just my 2 cents from someone who jumped too early.
That's definitely something I'm considering too. The difference between age 62 benefits and age 70 benefits is substantial. My concern is that by taking SS early and then switching, I might end up with less overall than if I just waited on both. But the RRB rep seemed pretty confident that taking SS now was the better option in my specific case. It's so hard to know for sure without seeing all the calculations.
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When I applied last year they took forever then suddenly my account showed approved! No email, no call, nothing - just checked my account one day and it was done. First deposit came right on schedule. The waiting is the hardest part honestly.
my sister waited til she was 66 and 8 months (her FRA) and her application was approved in like 2 weeks!! seems like they prioritize people at full retirement age, so early filers like us wait longer. not fair but thats how they do it i guess
Interesting! I wonder if that's official policy or just how it worked out. Everything with SS seems so mysterious.
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Has anyone noticed that the online calculators are sometimes off? When I finally got my actual benefit amount, it was about $75 less than what the calculator estimated. Just something to keep in mind...
This thread is giving me anxiety. I'm turning 62 next month and STILL don't know when to file!!! Everyone has a different opinion and the SSA website is so confusing! I need the money but don't want to make a mistake I'll regret for the rest of my life!!!!!
Take a deep breath - this is an important decision but not one to panic about. The best approach is to calculate your break-even point (usually around age 80). If you think you'll live beyond that age, generally waiting gives you more lifetime benefits. If you need the money now or have health concerns, filing earlier might make sense. Consider consulting with a financial advisor who specializes in retirement planning.
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I'm confused about something... if OP suspends benefits, wouldn't they lose Medicare too? I thought Medicare was tied to receiving SS benefits? That would be a disaster if you're working and suddenly have no health insurance!
Good question! Suspending Social Security benefits does NOT affect Medicare coverage. Once enrolled in Medicare, you stay enrolled even if you suspend your SS benefits. You'll just need to pay the Medicare premiums directly instead of having them deducted from your SS payment. This is an important distinction that many people misunderstand.
Thank you all for the incredibly helpful responses! I think I'm leaning toward keeping my part-time job for now and then potentially suspending benefits to return to full-time work in a few months. My son mentioned his company is hiring for office positions that wouldn't be physically demanding like my old construction job. I'm grateful to learn that my current contributions might still help a bit, and that the suspension option is available if I want to maximize my benefits going forward. I'll definitely look into that Claimyr service to speak with SSA directly and get the specifics for my situation. It's reassuring to know I have options!
That sounds like a solid plan. Just remember to carefully evaluate your financial situation before suspending benefits to ensure you can manage without the monthly SS income. Also, when you do speak with SSA, ask them for an estimate of how much your benefit would increase if you suspend until 70 - this will help you make an informed decision based on your specific earnings history.
Amara Adeyemi
my sister swears that if u take ur ss early theres a penalty on ALL benefits forever even widows. but that doesnt sound right from what everyones sayin here
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Liam O'Connor
•Your sister is confusing two separate things. Taking your OWN retirement benefits early creates a permanent reduction to THOSE benefits only. However, that reduction doesn't affect widow benefits, which are calculated separately based on your age when you apply for THEM. The two benefit types have separate rules and calculations.
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CosmicCadet
Thank you all for the helpful responses! I'm feeling much more clear about how this works now. To summarize what I've learned: 1. Taking my own retirement benefits at 65 has no impact on my future widow benefit percentage 2. If my husband passes away, the widow benefit I'd receive is based solely on my age at the time I apply for widow benefits 3. At my FRA (67) I'd get 100% of his benefit, at 65 I'd get about 92% 4. I can switch from my own benefit to widow benefits at any time if my husband passes away I'll definitely document my conversations with SSA from now on and might try that Claimyr service if I need to call them again. This has been so helpful - the SSA website just doesn't explain these nuances clearly!
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