I'm in a very similar situation - turned 70 three months ago and still working full-time. Reading all these responses is making me panic! I had no idea the benefits stopped growing at 70. I thought I was being smart by waiting since I don't need the money right now and my employer insurance is great. But losing $15k-40k like some of you mentioned is terrifying! I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service someone mentioned because I've been trying to get through to SSA for weeks with no luck. Question though - when you all applied late like this, did you have any issues with the application process being more complicated? I'm worried they'll ask why I waited so long and make it difficult.

As someone who works in retirement planning, I can't stress enough how important it is to file immediately! You're absolutely correct that benefits stop growing at 70 - those delayed retirement credits max out then. The good news is you've only been 70 for about a month, so your losses are minimal compared to some of the horror stories shared here. A few quick tips for your application: - You can apply online at ssa.gov/retire which is often faster than calling - If you do need to call, try early morning (8 AM) when lines are less busy - Have your W-2s from the last 2 years handy - Since you're still working, make sure to tell them about your current employer insurance when discussing Medicare The retroactive benefits (up to 6 months) should help minimize your losses. Don't beat yourself up too much - this is unfortunately a very common situation because SSA doesn't actively notify people about this rule change at 70. The important thing is you're taking action now!

Just wanted to add that you should also test your internet connection beforehand! My neighbor had her SSA Teams meeting last month and her wifi kept cutting out during the call. The agent was understanding but they had to reschedule because they couldn't complete the application process with the connection issues. She ended up having to wait another month for a new appointment. Maybe do a test call with a friend or family member a day or two before to make sure everything works smoothly on your end.

I just went through this exact same situation last month! I was scheduled for a virtual SSA appointment and didn't receive my Teams link until literally the day before my appointment. I was checking my email obsessively for weeks thinking they had forgotten about me. When it finally came, it was from an address like "noreply.ssa.gov" and had "SSA Virtual Appointment Confirmation" in the subject line. A couple of things that might help while you wait: First, make sure you have the SSA office locator bookmarked (ssa.gov/locator) so you can call your local office directly if needed - they're sometimes easier to reach than the main 800 number. Second, definitely test Microsoft Teams ahead of time, even if it's just joining a test meeting by yourself. The SSA rep will expect your camera and microphone to work right away. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking, but from what I've experienced and seen others post here, getting the link 1-3 days before seems to be their standard (though frustrating) timeline. Hang in there!

I went through a similar situation a few years ago! One thing that really helped me was getting my actual Social Security Statement to see my projected benefits at different ages. You can access this on your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Just to add to what others have said - the decision really depends on your financial needs and life expectancy expectations. If you need the income at 62 and can't wait, taking the reduced benefit might still be the right choice even with the permanent reduction. But if you can manage without it until your FRA, you'll get significantly more money over your lifetime. Also, don't forget that Social Security benefits are inflation-adjusted with COLAs, so that 30% reduction compounds over time. A smaller benefit today means smaller cost-of-living increases in the future too. It's definitely worth running the numbers on the SSA website before making your final decision!

As someone who's been navigating Social Security for a while, I wanted to add one more consideration that hasn't been mentioned yet - Medicare eligibility. Since you're turning 62 next March, you'll need to think about health insurance coverage until you're eligible for Medicare at 65. If you're currently getting health insurance through your employer and planning to retire early to claim Social Security, make sure you factor in the cost of COBRA or marketplace insurance for those 3 years. Sometimes the extra income from claiming early gets eaten up by higher healthcare premiums. Also, I'd recommend scheduling an appointment at your local SSA office (or using that Claimyr service someone mentioned) to go over your specific situation. They can provide a detailed analysis of your options that's tailored to your exact earnings history and circumstances. Having that professional guidance really helped me feel confident about my decision when I was in a similar spot a few years back.

Thank you all SO much for this helpful information! I feel much more prepared now. I'll make sure to: - Talk to mom about setting up a separate account for her SS deposits - Be ready with certified death certificate copies when the time comes - Ask about her work history to check for possible GPO/WEP issues - Be prepared for SSA to reclaim the month of death payment - Contact SSA promptly (and maybe use that Claimyr service to avoid the wait) It's such a relief to know that being executor will give me the authority I need. Mom has always been so independent that I wasn't sure how to approach these topics, but this gives me a good framework for a sensitive conversation. Thank you all again!

One more thing to add - if your mom has any automatic bill payments or other services linked to her Social Security direct deposit account, you'll want to make a list of those now while she can help you identify them. When banks freeze accounts after death, those automatic payments will start bouncing, which can create additional headaches during an already stressful time. Having that information beforehand will help you contact those companies promptly to update payment methods or cancel services as needed. Also, keep in mind that Social Security Administration offices can be quite busy, especially around the first of the month when people are dealing with benefit issues. If possible, try to handle any necessary SSA business mid-month when wait times might be shorter.

To answer your follow-up question about timing: If you apply in April, your new benefit amount would typically be effective with your May payment (which you'd receive in June, since Social Security pays a month behind). When you file, you can specify the month you want your retirement benefits to begin. If you're already past your Full Retirement Age (which it sounds like you are at 68), you could potentially request up to 6 months of retroactive benefits if that makes financial sense for your situation. Just be aware that switching from survivors to your own retirement is a permanent decision - you can't switch back later if circumstances change.

Just wanted to add one more tip from my experience - when you do start the online application, make sure you have about 45 minutes of uninterrupted time. The system will time out if you're inactive too long, and while it saves your progress, it can be frustrating to have to log back in multiple times. Also, if you get any error messages during the process, take a screenshot before closing them - it helps if you need to call later and explain what happened. The online system has definitely improved over the years, but it's still good to be prepared for potential hiccups. Good luck with your application!