I forgot to mention - make sure you get any information in WRITING from SSA. They have a process where they can send you an official Benefits Statement that outlines what everyone is eligible for. That way you have documentation in case there's confusion later.

As someone who's navigated similar SSA confusion, I'd recommend being very specific with terminology when you call back. Ask specifically about "mother's benefits under Section 202(g)" - that's the official code for what happens when a surviving spouse cares for a child under 16. Also, don't just ask one question - walk through the entire scenario: "If I marry my child's mother and then pass away while our child is under 16, would she be eligible for mother's benefits immediately?" This forces them to think through the complete situation rather than giving you a partial answer. The key point everyone's making is correct - your financial advisor knows what he's talking about regarding survivor benefits. The SSA rep was probably only thinking about current benefits while you're alive (where there wouldn't be additional spouse benefits unless she qualifies based on age).

I've been helping elderly family members with SSA account setup for years and can confirm the process has definitely gotten more restrictive. The ID.me workaround mentioned by @Diego Ramirez is solid - I've used it successfully for 3 different relatives now. One tip: when doing the ID.me video verification, make sure you have good lighting and your documents are clear. They're pretty picky about photo quality. Also, if your brother is close to retirement age, he might want to create his account sooner rather than later since processing times for everything SSA-related seem to be getting longer. The earnings record check is definitely worth doing before applying - I found several errors on my dad's record that we had to get corrected first.

I've been through this exact situation with multiple family members over the past year, and the security requirements have definitely tightened up significantly. The ID.me workaround that @Diego Ramirez mentioned is absolutely the way to go - I've had success with it for 4 different relatives now. One additional tip: if your brother runs into any issues with the ID.me video verification (sometimes they get backed up), you can also try Login.gov as an alternative. The process is similar - create and verify the account independently first, then link it to SSA. Both platforms now have pretty robust verification processes that SSA accepts. Also, since he's planning to apply for retirement benefits soon, I'd strongly recommend he request a copy of his Social Security Statement (Form SSA-7004) once he gets his account set up. This will show his complete earnings history and projected benefits. I found errors on 2 out of 5 family members' records that had to be corrected before applying - it's much easier to fix these issues before you're in the middle of the application process. The system is definitely more complicated than it used to be, but these workarounds do work!

After reading all the comments, I think you should: 1. Download your complete earnings history from SS.gov 2. Identify your 35 highest-earning years after indexing for inflation 3. See if zero earnings at ages 68-69 would replace any of those 35 years 4. Use the detailed calculator on SS.gov that allows you to input future earnings as zero For most people with 40+ year work histories, two years of zeros won't significantly impact benefits. But it does depend on your specific earnings pattern. The delayed retirement credits (8% per year after FRA until 70) apply regardless of whether you're working. The SSA representative was likely correct that your benefit will be close to what's projected, but it's always best to verify with the detailed calculator.

I went through something very similar when I retired at 67 and delayed claiming until 70. Here's what I learned: the SS.gov estimates are generally pretty accurate even with a couple years of zero earnings, BUT it really depends on your earnings pattern. Since you've worked "non-stop for decades," you likely have well over 35 years of earnings history. The key question is whether your recent years (let's say last 10-15 years) have been significantly higher than your early career years after adjusting for inflation. Here's what I'd suggest: Log into your SS.gov account and look at your earnings history. If your early career years show much lower amounts (even after SS adjusts them for inflation), then yes, those two zero years at 68-69 could replace some of your higher earning years and reduce your benefit. The good news is that the 8% delayed retirement credits from your FRA to age 70 are absolutely guaranteed regardless of whether you work. That part won't change. I ended up using a fee-only financial planner who specializes in Social Security to run the numbers for me. Cost about $300 but gave me peace of mind on a decision worth hundreds of thousands over my lifetime. The difference between the estimate and actual amount was only about $80/month in my case.

Just to address the question from @profile7 above: If you're just starting Social Security benefits now, you'll still receive the current COLA rate on your benefits going forward. You didn't "miss" the COLA by not being on benefits in December. The COLA is already built into the benefit rates for 2025. Your initial benefit calculation will include the 2025 COLA. For everyone: Remember that the COLA is applied to your primary insurance amount (PIA), which is your basic benefit before reductions for early retirement or increases for delayed retirement. So the actual percentage increase in your check might not be exactly 3.2% if you're receiving reduced or increased benefits.

my mom said back in the day COLA used to be way bigger like 5-8% every year... we really getting the short end now with these tiny increases while everything costs way more smh

Just to clarify for everyone: The online application allows you to specify a benefit start date up to 4 months in the future. So if the original poster applies now (October 2024), they can specify January 2025 as their start month, and their first payment would arrive in February 2025. There's really no advantage to waiting until December to apply. Applying earlier gives SSA more processing time and reduces the risk of delays pushing the start date beyond January. Also, as others have correctly pointed out, once you reach your Full Retirement Age (FRA), the earnings test no longer applies at all. You can earn unlimited amounts without any benefit reduction.

As someone who just went through this process earlier this year, I can confirm what others are saying - don't wait until December! I applied in early November for a January 1st start date and it worked perfectly. My first payment arrived in February as expected. The key things that helped me: 1. Applied online (it was faster than trying to get an in-person appointment) 2. Clearly specified "January 2025" as my benefit start month on the application 3. Had all my documents ready (W-2s, birth certificate, etc.) One thing I learned: even though you'll be at FRA in December and the earnings test won't apply to you anyway, starting benefits in January vs December can still affect your annual benefit calculation if you have any complex work situations. But honestly, at FRA it's mostly a non-issue. My recommendation: apply by early November at the latest. That gives SSA plenty of time to process everything and you won't be stressed about potential delays. The peace of mind is worth it!