Dont forget to look at other benefits too! My mom got widows benefits that were higher than her own SS check after my dad passed. They automatically should give you the higher amount but sometimes they miss things.

I'm sorry you're going through this confusion, Zoe. It's unfortunately very common for people to feel overwhelmed by the Social Security system after they've already made their filing decision. One thing I'd like to add that others haven't mentioned yet - since you mentioned you're widowed, you should definitely explore survivor benefits from your late husband's record. Even if he had reduced earnings in his later years, his earlier work history might still provide you with a higher monthly benefit than what you're currently receiving on your own record. Also, regarding the earnings limit that Santiago's sister experienced - that's only temporary while you're under your FRA (which for you is 66 and 10 months). Once you reach your FRA, you can earn as much as you want without any reduction to your Social Security benefits. So if you're considering part-time work, it might be worth waiting until after you reach your FRA next year to avoid the earnings test penalty. The system really could be explained more clearly upfront, but don't beat yourself up too much about the early filing decision. Many people in similar health and financial situations make the same choice, and having that income for the past few years may have been exactly what you needed at the time.

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I'll go ahead and apply in October for my January start date. It's a relief to know that SSA will automatically recalculate and make adjustments once my 2024 earnings are processed. I appreciate everyone sharing their personal experiences too - it makes navigating this whole process much less stressful!

Just wanted to add one more consideration - make sure you understand the timing of when your benefits actually start vs when you apply. Since your FRA is November 2024, you can start receiving full benefits then if you want, or delay until January 2025 as you mentioned. But remember that each month you delay past your FRA (up until age 70), you earn delayed retirement credits that increase your benefit by about 0.67% per month. So if you delay from November 2024 to January 2025, that's 2 months of delayed credits which would permanently increase your monthly benefit by about 1.33%. Just something to factor into your decision along with the automatic recomputation for your 2024 earnings!

When I was dealing with my WEP/GPO situation and couldn't get through to SSA on the phone, I tried Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they got me connected to a rep in about 10 minutes. Worth checking out if you're stuck in phone limbo - their video shows how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. The SSA rep I spoke with was really helpful and explained that the 6-month retroactivity is standard for spousal benefits, and walked me through how to handle the tax implications of the lump sum payment.

I'm also dealing with WEP/GPO issues and want to share what I learned from my experience. The 6-month retroactive limit is definitely correct for spousal benefits - I was hoping for more too but that's the standard rule. One thing that really helped me was keeping detailed records of all my pension information because SSA made errors in their initial WEP calculation. They had my pension amount wrong by about $50/month which affected my benefit reduction. Also, regarding the IRMAA impact, I'd strongly recommend setting aside about 15-20% of any lump sum you receive for potential future Medicare premium increases. When my lump sum hit two years later, my Part B premium jumped from the standard amount to an extra $70/month. It's frustrating but at least predictable once you understand the timeline. The whole WEP/GPO system really penalizes public servants but knowing what to expect helps with planning.

One more thing to be aware of - if February 2025 will be your first payment, make sure you have a budget plan for January. Many new retirees are caught off guard when they retire in December but don't receive any payment until February. This creates a gap month with no income. Just wanted to mention this in case you hadn't factored it into your planning.

Just wanted to add that you can actually check your exact payment date online once your benefits are approved. Log into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov and look for the "Benefit Verification Letter" or "Payment History" section. It will show you the specific dates when your payments are scheduled to arrive. This is especially helpful for that first payment since you'll be able to see exactly which Wednesday in February it's coming. Also, if you haven't already, make sure your direct deposit information is set up correctly in your account - it's much more reliable than waiting for a paper check to arrive in the mail.

my mom died last year too and i had same problem!! waited forever for her ss-1099 then gave up and did taxes without it. big mistake!! got a letter from irs 6 months later saying we underpaid taxes bc didn't report all her income!! had to file amended return and pay penalty and interest!! dont do what i did lol. definitely wait for that form or get an official replacement!!

hey just checking in - did you end up getting your dads 1099 yet? mine just came yesterday for my mom so maybe yours is on the way