I'm going through this exact same transition right now with my adult son! He just moved from SSI to DAC benefits last month and I got that same confusing packet of paperwork. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so helpful - it sounds like this is just how SSA handles these transitions and the paperwork is more confusing than it needs to be. I think I'm going to follow the advice about calling to confirm everything is processed correctly, especially after hearing about those overpayment situations. Better to spend a few minutes on the phone now than deal with months of headaches later. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories!

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now too! My adult daughter just transitioned from SSI to DAC benefits this month and I received the same confusing paperwork. It's so reassuring to read everyone's experiences here. From what I'm gathering, the key points are: 1) The transition is actually a good thing with higher, more stable benefits, 2) SSA's systems should handle the SSI termination automatically, but 3) it's worth making a confirmation call to avoid potential overpayment issues later. I was really stressed about all those forms, but it sounds like they're just part of SSA's standard (though confusing) process. I think I'll follow the advice about using Claimyr to actually get through to someone - those horror stories about multi-hour hold times are exactly why I've been putting off calling. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially the detailed explanations from Dmitry and Paolo. This community is so valuable for navigating these complex SSA situations!

My neighbor waited till 70 to claim and now gets almost $1,400 more per month than his friend who claimed at 62. That's almost $17k more PER YEAR for the rest of his life!!!!

As someone who just went through this exact situation at 62, I can confirm what others are saying - your lower 2024 income won't hurt your benefit calculation! I was terrified about the same thing when I left my job mid-year last year. The SSA really does use your highest 35 years of indexed earnings, so unless 2024 would somehow be one of your top earning years (which seems unlikely if you only worked 3 months), it simply won't factor into your calculation at all. I'd also recommend double-checking your earnings record on MySocialSecurity.gov to make sure everything from your working years is accurate. That's more important than worrying about this partial year. The delay strategy is still mathematically sound - you're getting those delayed retirement credits which compound over time. One thing that helped me decide was calculating my break-even point and considering my health/family longevity. If you're healthy and have good genes, waiting even a year or two can pay off significantly over your lifetime!

Welcome to the community! I'm also relatively new here but have been learning so much from everyone's experiences. Your situation sounds really well thought out - it's great that you're planning ahead like this. One thing I wanted to mention that I don't think has been covered yet is the timing of when benefits get calculated. Since your ex-husband passed away at 63 before collecting, his survivor benefit will be based on what his benefit would have been at his Full Retirement Age, not reduced for early claiming. This could actually work in your favor compared to if he had started collecting early. Also, I've seen several people mention keeping good records, and I can't stress this enough. Even though it's been years since your divorce, try to track down not just your marriage certificate, but also your divorce decree. SSA will want to see both documents to verify the length of your marriage and that you meet all the requirements. The fact that you have potentially two different survivor benefit options really does give you a lot of financial security planning opportunities that many people don't have. Best of luck with everything!

As someone who's dealt with Social Security benefits for years, I wanted to emphasize something that's been touched on but bears repeating - documentation is absolutely crucial for divorced spouse survivor benefits. SSA tends to scrutinize these claims more heavily than regular survivor benefits. Beyond the marriage certificate and divorce decree that others mentioned, also gather any documentation showing your ex-husband's full name, Social Security number, and date of death if you have access to it. If you don't have his SSN, his full name and date of birth should be sufficient for SSA to locate his record. One more strategic point: since you're 58 and planning ahead, consider that if you do become widowed from your current marriage before age 60, you might want to consult with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security claiming strategies. The timing of when you claim survivor benefits versus your own retirement benefit can have significant long-term financial implications, and the "optimal" strategy depends on your specific financial situation and the benefit amounts involved. You're really smart to be thinking through all these scenarios now while you have time to prepare!

This whole thread is making me nervous... I'm turning FRA next month and planned to do exactly what the original poster described (take ex-spouse benefits now, switch to mine at 70). Now I'm worried! I was born in 1953 though, so maybe I'm still ok? Does anyone know for sure?

As someone new to navigating Social Security, this thread has been incredibly educational! It's concerning how much misinformation gets passed around, even from SSA representatives themselves. For anyone else reading this who might be confused: the key takeaway seems to be that the restricted application strategy (taking spousal/ex-spousal benefits while letting your own grow) is ONLY available if you were born on or before January 1, 1954. If you were born after that date, you're subject to "deemed filing" - meaning you automatically get the higher of your two benefits, not both sequentially. Katherine, I'm glad you called back and got the correct information! It's a good reminder that when it comes to something this important financially, it's always worth getting a second opinion from SSA directly. The difference between getting this right vs wrong could literally be tens of thousands of dollars over a lifetime. Does anyone know if there's an official SSA publication that clearly explains these birth date cutoffs? It seems like having that documentation handy would help avoid confusion with representatives who might not be up to date on the rules.

Thank you all for the helpful information! After reading everything, I think we'll still proceed with me filing at 65 and my wife filing for spousal benefits at 62. The reduced amount will still help our situation, and with my health concerns, waiting doesn't make sense for us. I've already enrolled in Medicare (did that last month), so we're all set there. I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and knowledge - this has been really valuable for our planning!

One thing to keep in mind is that your wife's spousal benefit won't automatically start when you file - she needs to submit her own application. The SSA doesn't automatically enroll spouses, even if they're clearly eligible. Also, make sure she applies using Form SSA-2 (Application for Spouse's or Divorced Spouse's Benefits) rather than the regular retirement application. The process is pretty straightforward, but having all your documentation ready (marriage certificate, her birth certificate, your SSN) will help avoid delays. Since you're both filing early, it's smart that you've already done the math on what to expect. Good luck with everything!