Thanks everyone for the helpful responses. I think I understand the process better now: 1) For my application, I'll select July as my start month to begin benefits at age 65. 2) For my wife, she'll wait until her FRA and then apply directly for spousal benefits. 3) We'll need to have our marriage certificate ready, and it sounds like an in-person appointment might be the way to go to avoid delays. I'll definitely look into that Claimyr service if we run into trouble making an appointment or getting through on the phone lines. Thanks again for all the advice!

Just want to add one more thing that helped us - when you're ready to apply, try to do it early in the month rather than waiting until the end. We applied on the 5th of the month and our benefits started that same month. But I've heard from others that if you apply too late in the month (like after the 15th), your benefits might not start until the following month, which could delay everything by a month. Also, make sure you have all your documents ready before you start the online application - it times out if you take too long to complete it, and you'll have to start over. We learned that the hard way!

This is such valuable information for families! I'm in a similar situation - my husband is planning to retire next year and we have a 14-year-old. I had no idea the children could get benefits even if I'm not collecting yet. One thing I'm wondering about - do the kids need to provide any special documentation when you apply for their benefits, like birth certificates or school enrollment records? And does it matter if they live with both parents or if there's a custody arrangement involved? Want to make sure I have everything ready when the time comes!

I just went through this process myself about 6 months ago when I retired early at 62. My twins were 16 at the time and I was worried about the same thing since my spouse won't be eligible for another 5 years. The good news is that your kids absolutely CAN get benefits based on just your record! When I filed for my retirement benefits, I made sure to mention I had minor children during the application process. The SSA representative walked me through everything and set up their benefits at the same time. Each of my kids now receives about 40% of my benefit amount (it would have been 50% each but the family maximum kicked in slightly). The whole process was actually smoother than I expected once I got the right person on the phone. My advice is to apply for everything together in one appointment - don't wait or try to add the kids later as a separate process. Also keep good records because you'll get annual forms to report how you're using the children's benefit money.

I'm in a very similar situation - widowed for 18 years and just learned about the GPO repeal affecting survivor benefits. From what I've gathered reading through everyone's experiences here, creating your own mySocialSecurity account is definitely the right move, even though you won't see your husband's records directly. It'll help you get familiar with the system before your February appointment. I'd also suggest having a list of specific questions ready, like the ones NeonNomad mentioned earlier. One thing I learned from my local SSA office is that they're still finalizing the implementation procedures for the GPO repeal, so don't be surprised if some details are still being worked out. The phased approach over 2025-2027 actually makes sense from a budgeting perspective. After 24 years of being affected by GPO, waiting a few more weeks for your appointment will be worth it to get accurate information directly from SSA rather than trying to estimate on your own.

I'm also a widow dealing with GPO issues and wanted to add something important that might help. When you create your mySocialSecurity account, make sure to also set up direct deposit information if you don't already have it on file with SSA. Once your survivor benefits start (even the partial amount in 2025), having direct deposit will make the process much smoother. Also, I'd recommend asking during your February appointment about filing a "protective filing date" - this establishes your intent to claim benefits and can be important for timing purposes, especially with the GPO changes coming. The representative can explain whether this applies to your situation. One more thing - if you worked under Social Security yourself in addition to your state pension, make sure they review both your own retirement benefit and the potential survivor benefit to determine which would be higher for you. Sometimes people are surprised to learn they have options. The fact that you're being proactive about this puts you ahead of many people who don't even know about the GPO repeal yet!

I work at a local post office and can confirm that mail theft has been a real problem in many neighborhoods lately. One thing that might help while you're setting up your paperless preferences - you can request "Hold for Pickup" service for your address through USPS. This means all your mail gets held at the post office and you pick it up when convenient. It's free for up to 30 days and can be extended. This could be a temporary solution while you get your PO box sorted out. Also, if you do get a PO box, make sure to update your address with SSA through your mySocialSecurity account - don't just rely on mail forwarding since some government mail doesn't get forwarded properly.

As someone who recently dealt with mail theft issues myself, I can add a few practical tips that helped me. First, if you're concerned about specific Social Security documents being stolen, you can actually request replacement copies through your mySocialSecurity account for most forms - this saved me when I suspected my benefit verification letter was taken. Second, I set up text alerts through my bank and credit monitoring services to catch any suspicious activity quickly, since stolen SSA documents are often used for identity theft. Also, if you do end up getting a PO box, consider getting the smallest size first - government mail doesn't take up much space and you can always upgrade later if needed. The monthly cost is pretty reasonable for the peace of mind. One last thing - document everything if you do have mail stolen. Take photos of your empty/damaged mailbox and file a report with both the postal inspector AND local police. Having that paper trail helped me when I had to prove to various agencies that my information might have been compromised.

I'm in a similar situation as a freelance writer at 64. What I've learned from my experience and talking to SSA is that documentation is absolutely key. I use a simple spreadsheet to track daily hours and project earnings, and I photograph my work calendar at the end of each week as backup. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you do go over the earnings limit accidentally, you can sometimes avoid penalties by stopping work immediately when you realize it. SSA has a monthly earnings test where they won't withhold benefits for any month you earn under $1,860 (in 2025), even if your annual total goes over. This can be helpful if you have an unexpectedly busy month. Also, as a graphic designer, your work would likely be considered "skilled" so SSA might scrutinize hours more closely than someone doing simpler tasks. I'd definitely stick to that under-40-hours plan you mentioned. Better safe than dealing with overpayments later!

I'm 65 and just went through this exact situation last year as a freelance photographer. Here's what I learned the hard way: SSA does distinguish between "employee" work and "self-employment" work, and the rules are definitely stricter for us self-employed folks. What saved me was creating a simple tracking system: I use a basic calendar app where I log start/stop times daily, plus a separate spreadsheet for income tracking. Every Sunday I total up my weekly hours and make sure I'm on track to stay under 40 hours for the month. The "substantial services" rule is real - I had a friend who got caught working 50+ hours even though his income was low, and SSA still considered it substantial work. They don't just look at your tax return; they can request detailed work logs during an audit. One tip: if you have months where you anticipate needing more hours, try to balance it with lighter months. I do more work in fall/winter and take it easier in summer to average out. Just make sure you document everything meticulously. The peace of mind is worth the extra paperwork!