Thank you everyone for the helpful responses! I feel much better now knowing this is normal. I'll check back around July or August to make sure my 2023 earnings show up correctly. It's frustrating that there's such a long delay, but at least I know not to worry about it now.

my mom had this happen and it was fine. she called ssa and they said something about quarterly filing periods and batch processing. basicaly your 2024 work wont show up until like march 2025 lol. as long as u got your w2 and your taxes match youre good

Another important thing to consider - Social Security follows a quirky payment schedule based on birth date. Once benefits start, if your wife was born between the 1st-10th of her birth month, she'll get paid on the 2nd Wednesday; 11th-20th, she'll get paid on the 3rd Wednesday; 21st-31st, she'll get paid on the 4th Wednesday. So even after you figure out which month her benefits start, the actual payment date will depend on her birth date. Just another wrinkle to factor into your financial planning!

Based on everything in this thread, here's a summary that might help: 1. If your wife retires March 1, 2026: - March earnings likely exceed the limit - First benefit would be for April, paid in May 2. If your wife retires February 28, 2026: - No March earnings - First benefit would be for March, paid in April The February 28th retirement date gives her benefits one month earlier. Just make sure any vacation/sick payouts are properly accounted for in the month they're attributed to, not when they're paid. And remember that the annual earnings test will still apply for total 2026 earnings.

Just a heads-up about benefits calculation: Since you're applying at your Full Retirement Age (67), you'll get 100% of your benefit amount. If your marriage lasted at least 10 years (which you mentioned it did), you potentially have the option to claim on your ex-spouse's record if that would give you a higher benefit amount. This is something you should ask about during your application call. When you apply, they'll automatically calculate whether your own benefit or the spousal benefit (50% of your ex's) would be higher, and give you the higher amount. You don't need to make this decision yourself. For the application itself, having your bank information ready for direct deposit setup will make things go faster. They'll ask for routing and account numbers during the call.

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I feel much better prepared now. I think I'll try applying online first based on several suggestions here, but have all my information ready in case I need to call instead. I'll definitely remember to write down the confirmation number (in multiple places!) and keep an eye out for any mail that follows. And I'll make sure to ask about potentially claiming on my ex's record since his earnings were higher. Really appreciate all your advice!

I wanted to address what happens during the SSDI application process specifically for spinal osteoarthritis: 1. After applying (online, by phone, or in person), SSA will review your work history to verify you're insured for SSDI. 2. Your case goes to your state's Disability Determination Services (DDS) where a medical consultant and examiner evaluate your medical evidence. 3. For osteoarthritis claims, they'll likely request detailed imaging and may send you for a consultative exam (CE) with their doctor. 4. They'll assess whether your condition meets Listing 1.15 OR if your limitations prevent all types of substantial work. 5. For back conditions, they look specifically at your ability to: sit/stand/walk for periods of time, lift/carry objects, bend/stoop/crouch, and maintain concentration despite pain. The approval rate for musculoskeletal conditions at the initial application stage is only about 35%, but increases to nearly 60% at the hearing level. Having a longitudinal medical history (consistent treatment over time) significantly improves your chances.

my friend with back problems got denied and she said her mistake was she was TOO HONEST in her application! She said she could grocery shop (with breaks) and they used that against her. Be careful what you say you can still do!!!!

Isn't there some rule about if your husband had 30+ years of substantial earnings under SS that WEP doesn't apply at all? Maybe that's why you got different answers - they might need to check his full earnings record to see if that exception applies?

One thing that hasnt been mentioned - you should bring your marriage certificate, his death certificate, and your birth certificate to your SSA appointment. They'll need these to process any survivor benefit claim if you haven't already filed. And get there first thing in the morning when they open - the wait times get crazy after about 10am!

So here's what you need to know - at 62, you can apply for divorced spouse benefits IF: 1. You were married at least 10 years (you qualify) 2. You're currently unmarried (assuming you are) 3. Your ex is entitled to benefits (even if they haven't filed yet, they need to be 62+) BUT - and this is the big change since 2016 - you MUST file for your own benefits simultaneously. They'll pay you whichever amount is higher. If your work record gives you $800/month and your ex-spouse benefit would be $900/month, you'd get $900. If your own benefit is higher, you'd just get that. The old strategy was eliminated for anyone born after 1/1/1954. I found all this out the hard way last year!

To directly answer your original question: No, a 62-year-old who was married 10+ years cannot apply for ex-spouse benefits without applying for their own if they were born after January 1, 1954. The SSA office gave you correct information. Whether to claim at 62 depends on your financial situation, health, and life expectancy. Remember that claiming at 62 means: 1. Your personal benefit is reduced by approximately 30% 2. Any spousal/ex-spousal benefit is reduced to about 35% (instead of 50%) 3. These reductions are permanent The key question is: do you need the income now, or can you afford to wait for a larger benefit later?

There's no specific SSA form for breaking down cross-month earnings. A simple typed or handwritten note attached to your wage report is sufficient. I recommend something like: "For pay period 5/26/25-6/8/25 (paid 6/15/25), earnings were earned as follows: $X.XX earned in May and $X.XX earned in June based on attached timesheet." Keep copies of everything you submit. And when you report through the my Social Security portal, take screenshots as proof of submission. One important point nobody has mentioned: After the 9-month TWP is complete, your son will enter the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) for 36 months. During EPE, he can still receive SSDI benefits in any month he earns below Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level ($1,550/month for 2025). This is when precise tracking becomes even more important.

Thanks everyone for your helpful responses. It sounds like officially SSA counts when the money is EARNED, but in practice they often go by the pay period end date on the paystub unless there's a specific reason to look more closely at it. I'm going to: 1. Keep detailed records of which hours my son works on which days 2. Submit all paystubs promptly through his my Social Security account 3. Include notes explaining the breakdown for pay periods that cross months 4. Keep all timesheets as backup documentation It's frustrating that something seemingly so simple is actually so complicated! But I appreciate all your insights and experiences.

OMG I didn't realize Social Security was this complicated!!! I'm turning 60 next year and haven't even started looking into all this. Now I'm stressed out!!! 😱

Thank you all so much for the helpful advice! I've made an appointment with a financial advisor who specializes in federal benefits, and I'm going to apply for my own benefits next month when I turn 62. Based on the numbers we worked through here, that seems to make the most sense for now. I also plan to look into part-time work that stays under the earnings limit. Feels good to have a clearer plan now!

does anyone know how much theyll take back if you go over? is it like dollar for dollar or some weird calculation?

Thanks everyone for your help! After checking my W-2 more carefully, I see the auto allowance is included in Box 1, so it does count toward my earnings. I calculated that I exceeded the limit by about $3,200, which means SSA will probably withhold around $1,600 of my benefits based on the $1-for-$2 rule. I called my employer and confirmed the auto allowance is considered additional compensation, not a direct reimbursement of expenses. I'm going to try using that Claimyr service to reach SSA and ask about my options. Would it be better to proactively pay back some benefits now, or wait for them to send me a notice? I'd rather deal with this before filing my taxes if possible.

My neighbor went through something similar with her ex. She ended up just claiming at her FRA because her health wasn't great and she figured the bird in hand was worth two in the bush, if you know what I mean. Sometimes waiting until 70 sounds good on paper but you never know what life will bring. Just something to consider.

One more important thing to note: Even though you can't do the restricted application strategy, you should still compare three numbers: 1. Your benefit at FRA 2. Your benefit at age 70 (with the 24% increase) 3. Your ex-spouse benefit (up to 50% of his PIA) Create a breakeven analysis to see how long you'd need to live for waiting until 70 to make financial sense. For most people, if you live past 80-82, waiting until 70 provides more lifetime benefits. You can use the SSA calculator online to get estimates, or schedule an appointment to get precise numbers for your situation.