One more thing i learned the hard way - make sure you specificlly tell them you want your benefits to START in January. Don't just say you're applying for benefts AT age 70. If your birthday is in Jan. but you file in Dec. be VERY CLEAR about this!!!

As someone who just went through this process myself (turned 70 last month), I can confirm what others have said about the timing. I applied in November for December benefits and received my full DRCs, though it took about 2 months for the final adjustment to show up correctly. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned - when you apply online or at the office, there's actually a specific question asking what month you want your benefits to BEGIN. Make sure you select January 2025, not December 2024. This prevents any confusion about whether you're trying to claim benefits before your 70th birthday. Also, keep copies of everything and take screenshots of your online application if you file that way. Having documentation makes it much easier to resolve any issues if they come up later.

Well EXCUSE ME for trying to help!!!!! I was just saying she should look into ALL options!!!! Some people have very little in savings after a spouse dies!!!! 🙄

I'm so sorry for your loss, Miguel. Losing a spouse suddenly is devastating, and navigating the benefits system while grieving makes it even harder. Based on what others have shared, here's a quick summary to help you plan: **Your options:** - Age 60: Reduced survivor benefits (about 71.5% of his full amount) - Age 67: Full survivor benefits (100% of what he would have received) **Key things to remember:** - The reduction is permanent if you claim early - You can't collect both survivor and your own retirement benefits simultaneously - Since you have some work credits, you might benefit from the "claim one, switch later" strategy others mentioned **Next steps I'd suggest:** 1. Check your Social Security statement online (ssa.gov/myaccount) to see your exact work credits 2. Get an estimate of both your potential survivor benefit and your own retirement benefit 3. Consider whether you can work part-time now to build up more credits The strategy Liam and Amara mentioned about claiming survivor benefits at 60 then potentially switching to your own benefit later (if higher) could be really valuable in your situation. Hang in there - you've got this! 💙

As someone who just went through this process last year at age 62, I can definitely confirm what everyone is saying - only your earned income (wages/self-employment) counts toward the earnings limit, NOT your pension or 401k withdrawals. I was in a very similar situation with a state pension, some 401k distributions, and part-time consulting work. I was terrified I'd be way over the limit until I called SSA directly and they explained it clearly. Your $15,000 from part-time work is the ONLY thing that matters for the $22,320 limit. One tip I wish someone had told me earlier - if you're unsure about anything, create a "my Social Security" account online. You can actually report your estimated earnings for the year proactively, which helps avoid any surprises. The website also has a really helpful earnings test calculator where you can plug in different scenarios. Also, keep every paystub and track your earnings monthly. Part-time work can be unpredictable, and you don't want to accidentally go over because you picked up extra shifts during the holidays or something. Good luck with your retirement planning!

I'm going through a similar situation right now - turning 62 in a few months and trying to figure out all these earnings limits! This thread has been incredibly helpful. What I'm curious about is the timing aspect. Since you're turning 62 next month, are you planning to file for benefits immediately, or waiting until later in the year? I've read that the timing of when you first claim can affect how they calculate the earnings test in that first year. Also, has anyone dealt with the situation where your part-time employer offers you overtime or bonus pay? I'm wondering if there's a way to decline extra compensation if it would push you over the limit, or if you're just stuck once they pay it to you. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice you can't find in the official SSA publications!

I'm in a similar situation and went through this research last year. One thing that helped me was using the SSA's online calculators to model different scenarios. You can estimate your benefits at different claiming ages on ssa.gov, which gives you a baseline to compare against the ex-spouse benefit once you get that information from SSA. Also, don't overlook the impact of Medicare timing if you're considering working past 65. If you delay Social Security until 70 but need Medicare at 65, you'll need to enroll in Medicare Part A (which is free) but can delay Part B if you have qualifying employer coverage. This gets complicated fast, so factor healthcare costs into your decision timeline. The "break-even" analysis is crucial here - calculate at what age the higher lifetime benefit from waiting until 70 would outweigh the years of missed payments from claiming earlier. For many people, it's somewhere in their early 80s, but everyone's situation is different.

One more thing to consider - if your ex-spouse is currently receiving SSDI, you might want to confirm his exact birth date and when his benefits will convert to retirement benefits. The timing could affect your planning since you mentioned he's 5 years older. Also, keep in mind that if he files for early retirement benefits before his FRA (which he can't do while on SSDI, but just for future reference), it could potentially reduce the spousal benefit calculation. Since his SSDI will convert automatically at his FRA without reduction, this shouldn't be an issue in your case, but it's worth understanding how these interactions work when you speak with SSA about your benefit estimates.

As someone who just went through this exact process with my Swedish wife last year, I can confirm that the agent you spoke with gave you completely incorrect information on both points! 1. The tax withholding: Yes, there's typically 30% withholding for non-US citizens, BUT Germany has a tax treaty with the US that should eliminate this. You'll need to file Form W-8BEN to claim the treaty benefits. We did this for Sweden and my wife pays no US taxes on her spousal benefits. 2. The residency requirement: This is 100% FALSE. There is absolutely no requirement for your wife to spend any time in the US to receive spousal benefits. We've been living in Stockholm for 8 years and my wife has never had to return to the US for her benefits. I'd strongly recommend calling the Office of International Operations directly rather than the general SSA line. The regular agents often have no clue about international cases, but the international specialists know exactly how these situations work. The misinformation you received is unfortunately very common - we went through three different agents before getting accurate information. Your wife should qualify for spousal benefits without any residency strings attached. Don't let bad information from an uninformed agent discourage you from pursuing what you're entitled to!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation for my Canadian spouse and can confirm that the agent gave you completely wrong information! We've been living in Toronto for 7 years and my wife receives her spousal benefits with zero issues and no residency requirements whatsoever. The 30% withholding is standard for non-US citizens, but as others have mentioned, the US-Canada tax treaty eliminates this. We filed the W-8BEN form and now she receives her full benefits without any withholding. The process was straightforward once we got connected with someone who actually understood international cases. That "2 months in the US" requirement is absolute nonsense - I've never heard anything so ridiculous! My wife hasn't been to the US in over 3 years and her payments continue without interruption. It sounds like you got an agent who was either completely new or just making things up. Definitely call the Office of International Operations at the number Victoria provided. They sorted everything out for us in one phone call after we wasted weeks getting conflicting information from regular SSA agents. Don't let this bad experience discourage you - your wife is absolutely entitled to those benefits without jumping through imaginary hoops!