As a newcomer to this community, I'm amazed at how thorough and helpful this discussion has been! I'm currently 68 and was planning to wait until 70 to claim benefits, but like Yara, I had some completely wrong assumptions about how Social Security works. Reading everyone's responses has been a real wake-up call. I was under the impression that the benefit amount was largely standardized with maybe small variations based on income level. Learning that it's calculated using your highest 35 years of earnings and that gaps or low-earning years can significantly impact your benefit is news to me. I'm particularly concerned now because I took about 8 years off from the workforce to care for aging parents, and during that time I had zero Social Security earnings. Based on what everyone is saying, those zero years could be dragging down my average significantly. The practical advice about creating a my Social Security account resonates with me - I keep putting it off because government websites intimidate me, but clearly I need to face the music and see what my actual projected benefits look like. Justin's point about potential errors in the earnings record is also making me nervous - I've had several different employers over the decades and moved states multiple times. Thank you to everyone who shared their real numbers and experiences. It's sobering but necessary information for making informed decisions about when to claim!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really grateful I found this discussion! I'm 64 and have been getting so much conflicting advice from friends about Social Security that I was starting to feel completely overwhelmed. Like many others here, I had bought into the myth that there was some standard maximum amount everyone could get at 70. What's particularly helpful is seeing all the real-world examples people have shared - the teacher getting $2,200 versus the corporate executive getting $4,300 really drives home how personalized these benefits are. I have a similar mixed work history with about 30 years of traditional employment plus some consulting work where I wasn't always consistent about paying self-employment taxes. Reading through everyone's advice, I'm realizing I need to stop procrastinating and create that my Social Security account to see my actual numbers. The point about potential errors in earnings records is especially concerning given that I've had probably 15+ different employers over my career and moved across several states. One question for the group: for those who discovered errors in their earnings history, how difficult was the correction process? I'm worried about getting into a bureaucratic nightmare if I find discrepancies, especially for older years where I may not have good documentation. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed and honest information. This thread has been more educational than anything I've read elsewhere about Social Security planning!

One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're working and earning income while collecting Social Security, suspending your benefits might actually save you from the earnings test complications too. Even though the earnings test doesn't apply after FRA, some people don't realize they're still subject to it in the year they reach FRA for months before their birthday month. Also, since you mentioned your financial situation changed and you don't need the income right now, consider whether you might want to do some Roth conversions during the suspension period while your taxable income is lower. The delayed retirement credits are guaranteed, but having more tax-free income in retirement through Roth accounts could be another nice benefit of this strategy. Good luck with the process!

Just wanted to add a few practical tips from my recent experience with this process: 1. **Best time to call SSA**: Try calling right at 8am when they open - I got through in about 15 minutes vs. hours later in the day 2. **What to have ready**: Your SSN, confirmation that you want to "suspend" (not terminate) benefits, and the month you want suspension to start 3. **Ask for confirmation**: Request the representative's name/ID and ask them to note in your file exactly what was discussed I suspended mine 6 months ago and it's been smooth sailing. The delayed retirement credits really do add up - my projected benefit at 70 will be about 24% higher than what I was getting at 67. One other tip: if you have a my Social Security account online, bookmark the page that shows your payment history. It's helpful to check that your payments actually stopped when expected, and later you can see when they resume at the higher amount.

Great summary! You've got all the key points down. One additional thing to keep in mind - since you mentioned having a progressive neurological condition, if your health situation changes significantly, that could potentially affect your disability status and benefits down the road. It might be worth discussing with SSA how transitioning from SSDI to retirement benefits (which happens automatically at your FRA) could interact with any future divorced spouse benefits you might claim. Also, make sure to keep records of your marriage duration and divorce decree - you'll need those documents when you do apply. Best of luck navigating this system!

One more thing to consider - if you're currently receiving Medicare due to your SSDI, you'll want to understand how any change in your benefit amount might affect your Medicare Part B premiums. Sometimes people don't realize that Medicare premiums can be income-adjusted (IRMAA), so if your divorced spouse benefits significantly increase your total income, you might end up paying higher Medicare premiums. It's probably worth asking SSA about this when you call for your estimate, especially since you mentioned wanting to increase your monthly income. You want to make sure the net benefit after any premium increases is still worthwhile!

Since you were born in 1956, your Full Retirement Age is indeed 66 and 4 months (July 2022 if you turned 66 in March). You're making a smart move by gathering all your documents first. Just a heads up - when you call SSA, they'll likely want to verify your deceased husband's Social Security number and his work history to confirm he earned enough credits for survivor benefits. If you don't have his SSN memorized, try to locate any old tax returns or documents that might have it. Also, be prepared for them to ask detailed questions about the marriage dates to verify the 9+ month requirement. Good luck with your call tomorrow!

I'm so glad to see everyone helping you navigate this process! As someone who works with Social Security cases regularly, I wanted to add that having that old tax return with his SSN is going to make your application much smoother. One thing I'd suggest - when you call tomorrow, ask them to also check what his Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) was at the time of his death. Since it's been 26 years, they may need to do some calculations to determine your potential survivor benefit amount. Also, don't be discouraged if the first person you talk to seems unsure about the 9+ month rule - ask to speak with a claims specialist if needed. You've got all the right documentation and it sounds like you clearly meet the requirements. Wishing you the best of luck with your call!

I'm really sorry for your loss, Ezra. Losing a spouse is incredibly difficult, especially when you're also dealing with health challenges. From what I understand about SSA rules, your survivor benefits should automatically increase to 100% of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount when you reach your Full Retirement Age of 67, since he hadn't started collecting benefits yet. However, given all the stories here about SSA's systems not always working perfectly, I'd definitely recommend being proactive about it. The advice about contacting them 2-3 months before you turn 67 is spot on. You might also want to document everything - keep records of your current benefit amounts and any communications with SSA. This will help if you need to follow up later. The online my Social Security account is also a great tool for sending secure messages when phone waits are impossible. Take care of yourself, and don't hesitate to lean on family or friends for help navigating this process.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ezra. I went through a very similar situation when my wife passed away two years ago. I was 58, on SSDI for multiple sclerosis, and getting reduced survivor benefits. The good news is that yes, your benefits should automatically increase to 100% of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount when you reach your FRA at 67. Since your husband hadn't started collecting his benefits yet, you won't have to deal with the RIB-LIM reduction that others mentioned. However, I want to stress what others have said about being proactive. My benefits didn't adjust automatically - I had to contact them twice before it got sorted out. I'd recommend reaching out about 3 months before you turn 67 to make sure everything is set up correctly in their system. One practical tip that helped me: I found the best time to call SSA is Tuesday or Wednesday morning right at 8 AM when they open. The wait times are usually shorter then compared to Mondays or Fridays. Also, if you do decide to try that Claimyr service someone mentioned, just be aware there's a fee involved - but it might be worth it given your mobility challenges. The financial relief when the full benefit kicks in should help significantly with those medical costs. Hang in there - you're asking all the right questions and planning ahead, which puts you in a much better position than many people in similar situations.