I want to add one important thing I didn't see mentioned: If you decide to receive survivor benefits now while caring for your daughter (the "mother's/father's benefit"), those benefits will STOP when your daughter turns 16, regardless of your age at that point. You would then need to wait until 60 (which you've already passed) to restart survivor benefits at a reduced rate or wait until FRA for full survivor benefits. Also, if you're planning long-term, consider that: 1. Your daughter will receive survivor benefits until age 18 (or 19 if still in high school) 2. You can switch between survivor and retirement benefits to maximize your lifetime payout 3. Taking your own retirement benefits at 70 would give you the maximum monthly amount (132% of your FRA amount) If you can afford it, working part-time until your FRA while collecting some survivor benefits (below the earnings limit) and your daughter's benefits, then switching to your own maximum benefit at 70, might be your optimal financial strategy.

Thank you all SO MUCH for your incredibly helpful advice. I've learned more here than in all my conversations with friends and family about this situation. Based on your suggestions, I'm going to: 1. Schedule an in-person appointment with SSA (with all documents ready) 2. Apply for my daughter's survivor benefits immediately 3. Strongly consider reducing my work hours to get under the earnings limit so I can also claim some survivor benefits while caring for her 4. Plan to switch to my own retirement benefit at FRA or 70 I feel like I finally have a roadmap now! If anyone has additional thoughts or suggestions, I'd love to hear them. And I'll try to come back and update on how things go with SSA. Thanks again for all your help!

My wifes cousin took hers at 62 also and her husband waited til 70!! They said it was the best of both worlds - some money now and bigger checks later. Seems like a smart plan to me

Thanks everyone for the great advice! I think I'm going to go ahead and file now at 62 since we could use the extra income, and it sounds like it won't hurt my husband's benefits when he files at 67. I'm especially relieved about the survivor benefits situation. I'll definitely check out that Claimyr service to get through to SSA - I have a few more questions I'd like to ask them directly.

There's a special provision for divorced spouses - you can actually receive benefits on your ex's record if you've been divorced for at least two years, even if he hasn't filed yet, as long as he's eligible (62+). This is called the two-year divorce rule or "independently entitled divorced spouse" provision. Since he's 66 and eligible, you should be able to get your benefits regardless of whether he's filed yet. When you contact SSA, specifically mention this provision if they try to tell you that you have to wait for him to file. Not all representatives are familiar with this rule.

Thank you all for the helpful information! I'm going to try the Claimyr service tomorrow to actually get through to someone. Then I'll specifically ask about the "independently entitled divorced spouse" provision since we've been divorced for 7 years. I'll also look into emergency assistance through my county as a backup plan. Will update here if I make any progress. Fingers crossed I can get this resolved before the alimony stops!

I don't have advice but I'm in a similar situation. Turned 65 last month and just got laid off after 20 years with the same company. So confusing trying to figure out Medicare + Social Security + job hunting all at the same time. It's overwhelming!!! I'm leaning toward taking SS now because honestly who knows what will happen with the program in the future? Bird in hand and all that...

After reading all the comments, here's what I'd suggest based on my own experience and financial background: 1. File for benefits now to preserve your savings 2. Continue looking for work (remember, at FRA there's no earnings limit) 3. If you find work within 12 months, consider the withdrawal option if it makes financial sense 4. If your savings are in growth investments, definitely lean toward taking SS now to avoid selling investments in a down market The peace of mind of regular income shouldn't be underestimated either. Retirement is supposed to be a time of reduced stress, not increased anxiety about finances.

ur hubby and mine should talk my husband had that exact surgery they said paralysis might happen but he was up walking 2 days later back to work in 3 months doctors always say the worst case scenario but most ppl do fine

To summarize the correct information: 1. Since 2025 is your FRA year, the higher earnings limit ($62,160) applies for the ENTIRE year. 2. For January and February (before you reach FRA), Social Security will deduct $1 for every $3 you earn above that limit. 3. Starting in March when you reach FRA, there is NO earnings limit at all - you can earn any amount without reduction. 4. If you start benefits in January, you'll receive slightly reduced benefits (approximately 1.1% reduction for each month before FRA). Given your husband's health situation, starting in January makes perfect sense. You'll have the security of income if you need to reduce work hours, but still have substantial room to earn under that higher limit if his recovery goes well and you can continue working.

dont bother with the form right now. u cant do anything til your in payment status thats what the lady at the office told me when i tried last yr. they just put the form in a pile and forget about it i swear!! best thing is to go IN PERSON to local office if u can get appointment bring the form and ask them to put it in system right there while u watch

Update on my earlier comment - I just remembered that while I did submit my W-4V before getting my verification letter, I had already received confirmation that my application was approved. So that might be the key distinction. You might want to wait until you at least get the approval notification (which usually comes before the verification letter) before submitting the W-4V.

Just to share my experience - I had a horrible time trying to figure all this out when I was applying for benefits on my ex's record. The SSA website is confusing, and getting someone on the phone was nearly impossible. Once I finally got through to SSA, the person I spoke with was very helpful and walked me through everything. But it took weeks of frustration to reach that point. For what it's worth, no, they never contacted me about being eligible for ex-spouse benefits. I only found out from a financial advisor who happened to mention it during a consultation about retirement planning.

i forgot to mention - when ur ex applies for benefits on ur record, you will NEVER get any kind of notification from SSA. they wont tell u that someone filed on ur record or is getting paid based on ur work. complete privacy both ways. they take that super serious.

Make sure they check if your ex has multiple exes filing on his record! Many people don't realize there's no 'family maximum' for divorced spouse benefits - each eligible ex-spouse can receive benefits without reducing the others. But it DOES affect survivor benefits later, which is something to keep in mind for future planning.

On your call, request a complete breakdown of your benefit calculation in writing. SSA should send you an award letter after your claim is processed, but it doesn't always show the detailed math. Specifically ask for: 1. Your PIA based on your own work record 2. The spousal benefit amount you're eligible for (up to 50% of ex's PIA) 3. The excess amount (the difference between #2 and #1) 4. How continuing to work might change these calculations Keep detailed notes during your call - write down the name and direct extension of anyone helpful that you speak with. If you need clarification later, it's much easier if you can get back to the same person rather than explaining everything to someone new. Also, while your current earnings won't reduce benefits at FRA, they could potentially increase your own PIA if these are high-earning years for you, which might reduce the spousal excess portion (though your total would remain the same or increase).

I'm still confused about one thing - does the annual earnings limit ($22,320 for 2025) get prorated if you're only subject to the limit for part of the year? Like if OP starts benefits in August, does the limit for Jan-July become 7/12 of the annual amount?

To simplify what's been said and clarify a key point: if you wait until August 2025 (your FRA month) to START collecting Social Security benefits, then: 1. Your January-July 2025 earnings won't affect your benefits at all, regardless of amount 2. From August onward, you can earn unlimited income with no benefit reduction The earnings test only applies when you're actually receiving benefits before FRA. Since you're planning to start benefits exactly at your FRA month, the earnings test essentially doesn't apply to your situation at all. This is one of the advantages of waiting until exactly your FRA month to start benefits.

btw are you sure your own benefit is only $1450? might be worth checking your earnings record on the ssa website to make sure they have all your working years correct. my wife found they were missing 3 years of her work and it bumped her benefit up almost $200

To summarize the key points about spousal benefits for anyone else reading this thread: 1. Spousal benefits are based on 50% of the higher earner's PIA (benefit at Full Retirement Age) 2. Delayed retirement credits earned by the higher earner (by waiting past FRA up to age 70) do NOT increase spousal benefits 3. The excess spousal benefit is the difference between your own benefit and the spousal benefit (if the spousal is higher) 4. Claiming before your own FRA will reduce both your own benefit and your spousal benefit 5. Survivor benefits (after a spouse dies) ARE affected by delayed retirement credits This is definitely one of the most confusing aspects of Social Security for many people.