I'm dealing with the exact same confusion right now! I'm 66 and trying to figure out the optimal claiming strategy. What's really frustrating is that the SSA website doesn't clearly break down HOW they're calculating these projections. I've been assuming I could count on that 8% increase each year I delay, but seeing these lower percentages makes me wonder if I'm better off just claiming at FRA instead of waiting. Has anyone found a reliable way to calculate what your ACTUAL benefit would be with delayed retirement credits, separate from all the COLA estimates and other adjustments? I want to make sure I'm not leaving money on the table by waiting if the real increase isn't going to be as much as expected.

I'm new to this community but dealing with this exact same issue right now! I'm 66 and have been planning my claiming strategy around that 8% delayed retirement credit, but my MySocialSecurity projections are showing similar confusing numbers. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - it sounds like the 8% DRC is definitely still being applied, but the online calculator is mixing it with COLA estimates and other factors. What I'm taking away from this discussion is that I should download the actual PDF Social Security Statement rather than relying on the slider tool, and maybe try calling during off-peak hours to get a clearer explanation. The suggestion about Claimyr sounds interesting too if I can't get through the regular way. It's reassuring to know I'm not the only one confused by how these projections are displayed - the SSA website really could be more transparent about breaking down the different components of the calculation!

just remember social security office is IMPOSSIBLE to deal with. my friend wants to apply for her widows benefits and shes been trying for a month to get an appointment!!

As someone who went through a similar decision with my spouse, I can share some perspective. We ended up having my husband delay until 70 while I claimed my own benefits at 63. It was the right call for us. One thing that helped us make the decision was calculating the total lifetime benefits under different scenarios. We used the SSA's life expectancy calculator and factored in family health history. Even if my husband only lives to 78 (below average), the combination of his delayed benefits plus my eventual higher survivor benefit still comes out ahead compared to both of us claiming early. The psychological aspect is real though - it's hard to "leave money on the table" those 8 years. What helped us was setting up automatic investments with the money we would have received from SS, so we felt like we were still building wealth during the delay period. One practical tip: start the application process a few months before his 70th birthday. The SSA system is overwhelmed right now and you don't want delays to cost you benefits. Also consider working with a fee-only financial planner who specializes in Social Security strategies - the rules are complex and the stakes are high.

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I feel much better knowing that my actual SS benefit amount won't be reduced just because my husband is working. I'm going to look into having some taxes withheld using that W-4V form someone mentioned, and I'll definitely check if I might qualify for a higher spousal benefit when my husband claims in a couple years. I tried calling the SSA office yesterday but gave up after being on hold for 45 minutes. Might try that Claimyr service someone mentioned if I can't get through soon. Thanks again for all the advice!

I'm glad I found this thread! I'm in a similar situation - I'm 67 and have been collecting Social Security for a year. I just got engaged and we're planning to marry next spring. My fiancé is 65 and still working part-time making about $30,000 a year. Reading through all these responses has been really helpful, especially learning that our benefits won't be directly reduced since we're both past full retirement age. The tax implications are definitely something I hadn't fully considered though. One question for those who have been through this - when you say "up to 85% of benefits may be taxable," does that mean 85% of the actual dollar amount gets added to your taxable income, or does it mean you pay 85% tax rate on the benefits? I want to make sure I understand this correctly when I talk to a tax professional. Also, has anyone had experience with getting help from their local SSA office versus calling the main number? Wondering if it's worth trying to visit in person rather than dealing with those long phone wait times.

Honestly all this math and planning is great but nobody can predict how long they'll live. The perfect plan means nothing if you pass away at 71. My husband delayed and then only collected for 14 months before he passed. I wish we'd taken the money earlier and gone on that Alaska cruise we always talked about. Just something to think about.

Another angle to consider is filing a "restricted application" strategy, though this might not apply in your specific case. Since you're already at FRA, you could potentially file and suspend your own benefits while allowing your wife to claim spousal benefits on your record (if that would be higher than her own). This lets you capture some family benefits now while still earning those delayed retirement credits until age 70. However, given that your wife is only 61 and her income is substantial, she might want to wait until her own FRA to maximize her benefits. It's worth running the numbers on different combinations of timing for both of your claims to see what optimizes your total household Social Security income over your lifetimes.

another thing - when u do apply at 60, apply like 3 months before ur birthday. they dont backdate survivor benefits very far and u dont wanna lose any payments

I'm so sorry for your loss. Going through this at 54 must be incredibly difficult, especially while trying to navigate all these benefit rules during such a painful time. From what I understand, you're unfortunately in that gap where you're too young for regular survivor benefits (which start at 60) but don't qualify for the earlier exceptions since you don't have young or disabled children in your care. The disability status of your late husband doesn't change the age requirements for you as the survivor. One thing you might want to explore is whether you could qualify for disabled widow benefits starting at age 50. The criteria are strict - you'd need to become disabled within 7 years of his death (or within 7 years of when mother's benefits would end if you had been receiving them). It's a long shot given that you're currently working full-time, but if your health situation changes, it could be worth investigating. Also, make sure when you do eventually apply for survivor benefits that you understand how it will interact with your own Social Security record. You'll want to run the numbers to see whether it makes more sense to take survivor benefits first and switch to your own later, or vice versa, depending on which would be higher. Hang in there - I know these next 6 years are going to be challenging financially and emotionally.