One thing I'd add is to make sure you have all your documents ready when you apply - W-2s, tax returns, birth certificate, etc. The SSA will ask for verification of your earnings history and age. Also, if you're married, they'll need your spouse's Social Security number even if they're not applying for benefits yet. Having everything organized upfront can help avoid delays in processing your application. Good luck with your retirement!

Just wanted to share my experience since I went through this exact situation last year! My FRA was also in April (April 22nd) and I applied in January. Everything went smoothly and I got my first payment in May right on schedule. One tip - when you apply online, make sure to create a my Social Security account if you don't have one already. It makes tracking your application status much easier, and you can see your estimated benefit amount before you even apply. Also, don't stress too much about the timing - the SSA has this process pretty well streamlined. The hardest part for me was just waiting for that first payment to show up! Good luck with your retirement!

Thanks to everyone who's replied! I feel so much better knowing I don't have any immediate responsibilities. I was stressing about this for days thinking I might be neglecting some important duty. Sounds like this is just my husband planning ahead (which is very like him). I appreciate all the information and personal experiences shared here.

Smart planning by your husband! Just to add one more reassuring point - you can even decline to serve as representative payee if/when the time comes and SSA contacts you. The Advanced Designation form expresses his preference, but it's not a legally binding commitment on your part. If circumstances change or you feel unable to take on those responsibilities in the future, you have the right to decline and SSA would then look for another suitable person or organization to serve as payee.

I work at a local senior center and deal with this issue every year! Here's what I've learned: The SSA usually updates the online benefit verification letters in the first week of December, which is your best bet for meeting that December 10th deadline. Since you have POA, you can definitely set up the mySSA account for your mom. Just make sure to have her Social Security card, birth certificate, and a utility bill handy when you create it - they're pretty strict about identity verification. Also, pro tip: some assisted living facilities will accept a printed email from SSA customer service confirming the new benefit amount if you explain the urgent housing deadline when you call. Worth asking your mom's facility if they'd accept that as backup documentation!

I went through this exact same situation with my grandmother last year! The mySSA online account route is definitely your best option. Just wanted to add - when you're setting up the account with POA, you'll need to upload a copy of the power of attorney document during the verification process. They usually approve it within 1-2 business days. Also, I found it helpful to call the assisted living facility's billing department directly (not just the office manager) to ask about their flexibility with documentation timing. Some facilities have internal policies that allow a few extra days grace period for SSA letters specifically because this timing issue is so common. The billing person might have more authority to work with you than the front desk staff.

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say how impressed I am with the quality of help and information shared here! I'm still a few years away from needing Social Security myself, but I've been trying to educate myself about how the system works. This thread has been incredibly enlightening - I had no idea about the rounding policy at all. It's amazing how something that seems so technical and confusing (like why deposits don't match verification letters) can be explained so clearly by knowledgeable community members. The fact that @Natasha Romanova got such thorough, helpful responses so quickly really shows what makes this place special. I'm definitely going to be sticking around to learn more and hopefully contribute when I can. Thanks to everyone who makes this such a welcoming and informative space!

This has been such an educational thread! I'm new to this community and currently helping my elderly neighbor understand her Social Security benefits. She's been worried about a similar $2 discrepancy for months, and after reading all these explanations about the rounding policy, I'm confident that's exactly what's happening in her case too. It's really frustrating that SSA doesn't make this clearer on their statements - such a simple explanation could prevent so much anxiety for people on fixed incomes. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge, especially the detailed explanations from @Malik Thomas and @Ravi Kapoor. I'll definitely be sharing this information with my neighbor to put her mind at ease. This community is exactly what I was hoping to find when dealing with confusing government systems!

Just came back to say I called SSA today and spent TWO HOURS on the phone. Turns out I WAS getting the wrong amount all this time!!! They're going to adjust my survivor benefit to what my husband was actually receiving at 70, not his FRA amount. And they're supposed to pay me back for the difference going back 4 years. So THANK YOU to everyone in this thread because I would've never questioned this if I hadn't read these comments!

This thread has been incredibly educational! As someone new to understanding Social Security benefits, I'm amazed at how complex these rules can be. Reading through everyone's experiences really drives home the importance of getting accurate information directly from SSA - and questioning their answers if something doesn't sound right. The fact that delayed retirement credits transfer to survivor benefits is such an important detail that I hadn't heard before. It really reinforces why financial planning around Social Security timing decisions needs to consider both spouses' situations, not just individual benefits. Thank you to everyone who shared their personal experiences, especially those who followed up with their outcomes. These real-world examples are so much more helpful than trying to decipher the official SSA publications alone.