As someone who recently navigated this same situation, I wanted to share a few additional insights that might be helpful! The automatic calculation system really does work as described by others here, but I found it helpful to call SSA about a month before I planned to apply just to verify they had my current marital status on file. Sometimes there can be discrepancies in their records that are easier to fix before you apply rather than after. Also, when you do apply online, pay close attention to the questions about when you want your benefits to start - you can choose to have them begin with the month you turn 67 or delay them if you prefer. The online application will give you a summary screen before you submit showing exactly what benefits you're eligible for and which amount you'll receive, so you'll know right away if the spousal calculation worked correctly. One last tip: if you have any name changes from marriage or divorce in your past, make sure SSA has records of all those documents too, as it can affect benefit calculations. Best of luck with your application - you're asking all the right questions!

I'm glad I found this thread! I'm in a similar situation - turning 66 next year and my spouse has been collecting for a while now. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly educational. One thing I'm curious about that I haven't seen mentioned: if my spouse passes away before I apply, would that change how the spousal benefits work? I know there are survivor benefits, but I'm wondering if I should apply sooner rather than later to lock in the spousal benefit calculation. Also, has anyone had experience with how Medicare enrollment timing relates to Social Security applications? I want to make sure I don't miss any important deadlines for either program. Thanks to everyone who has shared their experiences - this community is so much more helpful than trying to decipher government websites!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Aaron. I went through this exact same frustrating experience when my husband passed away about 8 months ago. The complete lack of online visibility for survivor benefits applications is honestly one of the most broken aspects of dealing with SSA during such a difficult time. What I learned after weeks of anxiety and multiple phone calls is that survivor benefits are processed through a completely separate legacy system that has zero connection to the MySocialSecurity portal. It's not that your application is lost or there's a problem with your account - it's just that their technology infrastructure for survivor claims is stuck in the stone age. Here's what helped me get through this process: - Call SSA at exactly 8:00 AM when they open (much shorter wait times than calling later) - Ask specifically for your "survivor benefits application status" and request your claim control number - Have your late husband's SSN and the exact date you applied ready when you call - Try to get the name and direct contact info for your assigned Claims Representative if possible My application took about 6.5 weeks from submission to receiving the approval letter, then another 10 days for the first payment. Most importantly, I received full backpay covering everything from my application date, so no benefits were lost during the waiting period. At 5 weeks, you're actually well within the normal processing timeframe based on all the experiences shared here. I know how incredibly stressful this uncertainty is when you're grieving and need that financial security, but your application is almost certainly progressing normally through their manual review process - you just can't see any of it. The system is completely broken for transparency, but your claim isn't lost. Hang in there, and definitely call for a status update since you're getting close to the typical approval window.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Aaron. I went through this exact same frustrating situation when my mother passed away last year. The complete lack of online visibility for survivor benefits is honestly one of the most maddening aspects of SSA's system, especially when you're already dealing with grief and financial stress. What I discovered after several anxiety-filled weeks is that survivor benefits applications are processed through a completely separate legacy system called MACADE that has absolutely zero integration with the MySocialSecurity portal. It's not that your application is lost - it's just that their technology for survivor claims is stuck decades in the past. Here's what helped me when I was in your exact situation: - Call SSA at exactly 8:00 AM when they open for much shorter wait times - Ask specifically for your "survivor benefits claim status" and request your application control number - Have your husband's SSN and the exact date you applied ready before calling - Request the name and direct contact info for your assigned Claims Representative if possible My mom's application took about 7 weeks from submission to approval letter, then another week for the first payment. The relief when that letter finally arrived was incredible. Most importantly, she received full backpay covering the entire period from her application date. At 5 weeks, you're definitely within the normal processing window. I know the uncertainty is incredibly stressful when you need that financial security, but based on everyone's experiences here, your application is almost certainly progressing normally - you just can't see it because of their antiquated systems. The lack of transparency is absolutely maddening, but you're not alone in this experience. Hang in there.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through something similar! I received a delayed profit sharing payment from a company I worked for in the late 90s, and it had zero impact on my Social Security benefits. The key thing that helped me was having the original employment agreement and profit sharing plan documents to show SSA that this money was earned decades ago. When I reported it (which I definitely recommend doing), the SSA representative was actually quite knowledgeable about these situations and immediately understood it wasn't current earned income. They made a note in my file and that was it - no reduction in benefits, no complications. The peace of mind from being upfront about it was worth it. Plus, having it properly documented in their system prevents any future questions if they ever audit or review your case. Good luck with your windfall!

Welcome to the community! As someone new to Social Security, I found this thread really helpful since I'm in a somewhat similar boat - not with profit sharing, but trying to understand all the income rules before I file next year. Reading through everyone's responses, it seems like the consensus is pretty clear that your 1994 profit sharing shouldn't affect your current benefits since it's not considered "earned income" for the earnings test. But I'm curious - when you do report it to SSA (which sounds like the smart thing to do), do you call them or is there a specific form you need to fill out? Also, has anyone had experience with how long it typically takes SSA to process this kind of information and confirm it won't affect your benefits? I imagine it would be nerve-wracking to wait and wonder if your next check might be reduced while they figure it out!

Just to provide a bit more context on why this system exists this way: The intention of SSDI is to provide income to those who cannot work due to disability, essentially replacing the income you would have earned until retirement age. The intention of delayed retirement credits is to compensate people for delaying the start of their benefits. Since SSDI recipients already receive benefits early, the system doesn't allow for both advantages (early receipt and delayed credits). There's no way to "pause" SSDI at FRA and then restart as retirement at 70 with increases.

As someone new to this whole SSDI system, I really appreciate this detailed discussion! I'm currently going through the application process and was wondering about these same things. It's disappointing to learn that we can't get those delayed retirement credits, but like others have said, at least we're getting our full benefit amount years earlier than we would otherwise. One question though - does anyone know if there are any other ways our benefits might increase over time besides the annual COLA adjustments? I'm trying to understand what to expect for long-term financial planning.

I'm dealing with a somewhat similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My husband passed away 6 months ago, and I'm currently 61. I was planning to wait until my FRA at 67 to claim survivor benefits to get the full 100%, but I'm wondering if there's any advantage to claiming reduced survivor benefits now and then potentially switching later if I remarry and that spouse passes away. Does anyone know if the "switch at FRA" rule still applies if you're switching FROM survivor benefits TO different survivor benefits, rather than from your own retirement benefits to survivor benefits? The scenarios discussed here mostly seem to cover people who started with reduced survivor benefits early, but I'm curious about the strategy of waiting for full benefits versus claiming early and keeping options open. Also, has anyone had experience with getting written confirmation from SSA about these switching rules? Given all the conflicting information people seem to get over the phone, I'm thinking it might be worth getting something in writing before making any decisions.

I want to add some clarification about the timing aspects that might help others in similar situations. The switching rule for survivor benefits is indeed very favorable - you can take reduced survivor benefits from one deceased spouse early and then switch to full survivor benefits from another deceased spouse at your FRA. But there's an important timing consideration many people miss. When you switch at FRA, the new survivor benefit starts the month you reach FRA (or the month you apply, if later). So if you're planning to switch, make sure to apply for the new benefit in the month you turn your FRA age, not months later. SSA won't make it retroactive beyond the month you reach FRA. Also, for anyone dealing with this situation, I'd suggest keeping detailed records of your conversations with SSA representatives - dates, names, what was discussed. Given how many people report getting conflicting information, having a paper trail can be really helpful if you need to escalate or correct misinformation later. The survivor benefit switching rules are actually quite generous compared to other Social Security provisions, but the complexity means even SSA staff sometimes get it wrong. Don't give up if the first person you talk to seems uncertain - these are specialized situations that not every representative handles regularly.