Congratulations on your approval! I know exactly how you're feeling right now - that combination of shock, excitement, and impatience is so real after going through such a grueling process. Unfortunately, based on my experience and what I've seen from countless others here, your first payment almost definitely won't arrive tomorrow. When your letter says "benefits begin February 2025," that's your official entitlement date - meaning that's when SSA considers you eligible to start receiving payments. But the actual processing and deposit typically takes an additional 2-4 weeks after approval. I got my approval letter last summer saying payments would start "on the 3rd" but didn't see my first deposit until almost a month later. The SSA has to update their payment systems, verify banking information, and process everything through Treasury - it's not an instant switch that gets flipped. Since you mentioned your disability onset was 8 months ago, you should definitely be past the 5-month waiting period, which means you're likely looking at around 3 months of backpay. This usually comes as a separate deposit with no predictable timing relative to your regular monthly payments. I'd recommend checking your MySocialSecurity account regularly for payment updates and trying to be patient for at least another 3-4 weeks before getting concerned. The approval really was the hardest mountain to climb - everything else is just administrative processing. The money is absolutely coming!

Congratulations on your approval! I completely understand that mix of excitement and disbelief you're feeling right now. I went through the exact same thing about 18 months ago and was constantly refreshing my bank account hoping to see that first deposit appear. Unfortunately, your first payment almost certainly won't arrive tomorrow, even though your letter says February 2025. That date represents when your benefits officially begin (your entitlement date), but there's typically a 2-4 week processing delay for the actual first payment to hit your account. The SSA needs time to update their payment systems, verify your banking information, and process everything through Treasury. When I got my approval letter, it said payments would come "around the 2nd" but my first deposit didn't arrive until 3.5 weeks later. The "on or around the 3rd" language in your letter refers to your regular monthly payment schedule once everything is set up and running smoothly. Since your disability onset was 8 months ago, you've definitely satisfied the 5-month waiting period, so you should be eligible for approximately 3 months of backpay. This typically comes as a separate deposit and might arrive before, after, or with your first regular payment - there's really no consistent pattern. My advice: try to be patient for another 3-4 weeks, keep checking your MySocialSecurity account for updates, and remember that getting approved was definitely the hardest part of this whole process. The money is absolutely coming - it's just a matter of waiting for the administrative wheels to turn!

I'm in a similar boat - 64 and trying to figure out the best strategy before I hit FRA. From what I've gathered reading through these responses, it sounds like the online application will process whatever you choose, but it won't actively advise you on the optimal strategy. @Zoe Papadakis - based on the numbers you shared ($1,640 own benefit vs your husband's $2,800), your spousal benefit would indeed be around $1,400, so your own benefit is clearly higher. The real question seems to be whether you should file now at FRA or delay until 70 for the 8% annual increases. One thing that hasn't been mentioned - if you're still working, make sure you understand how the earnings test works even at FRA. And if you have any ex-spouses you were married to for 10+ years, that could open up additional options an agent would know about. I'm leaning toward trying to get through to an agent myself after reading all this. The peace of mind seems worth the effort, especially when we're talking about decisions that affect the rest of our lives.

I went through this exact situation last year and ended up doing both - I applied online initially but then called the SSA customer service line repeatedly until I got through (took about 2 weeks of trying). The agent was able to review my online application before it was processed and caught an issue I hadn't considered. In your case, with your own benefit at $1,640 vs. the spousal benefit around $1,400 (50% of your husband's PIA), your own benefit is definitely higher. However, the agent helped me understand the timing implications better. Since you're at FRA now, you could start collecting immediately, or you could delay and earn delayed retirement credits of 8% per year until age 70. The online system will let you choose either option, but it won't run scenarios for you like "if you wait until 70, you'd get $2,050/month, but you'd miss out on 4 years of payments totaling about $78,720." An agent can help you think through your health, other income sources, and family longevity to make that decision. My advice: try the online application to see all the questions they ask, but don't submit it yet. That way you'll be better prepared when you do get through to an agent. The application stays in draft form for 30 days, so you have time to get professional guidance before finalizing.

wait i'm confused about something - does he have to wait til hes FRA to get the spousal benefit or can he get it as soon as you file???

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! So it sounds like: 1) Yes, he can get some additional amount when I file, but it won't be a full 50% of my benefit 2) The amount will be reduced because he took early retirement 3) We need to specifically apply for this when I file for my benefits 4) Every situation is different, but we might see a few hundred dollars extra per month This really helps us with our retirement planning. I appreciate all the responses!

Update: I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned and actually got through to the IRS yesterday! The agent was surprisingly helpful and set me up on a minimal payment plan ($75/month) based on my expected income. She said as long as I keep making the payments, they won't levy my Social Security at all. Such a relief! Now I can go ahead and file for my benefits without worrying. Thanks everyone for your help!

That's fantastic news! So glad you were able to get through and work out a reasonable payment plan. $75/month is definitely manageable and much better than having 15% automatically taken from your Social Security. This is a great example of why it's worth the effort to actually speak with someone at the IRS rather than just accepting the default garnishment. Your success story will hopefully help other people in similar situations know that there are options available. Enjoy your retirement benefits when they start coming in!

Thank you all for the helpful explanations! This makes so much more sense now. It's amazing that married couples can really maximize their benefits this way. My husband and I are both approaching retirement age and I worked part-time for many years, so I'll definitely be looking into whether the spousal benefit might be better for me. Feeling much more confident about our retirement planning now!

I'm glad this thread helped clear things up! Just wanted to add one more consideration for anyone planning their retirement strategy - timing matters a lot with spousal benefits. If you're the higher-earning spouse, delaying your own Social Security past full retirement age (up to age 70) will increase your benefit by about 8% per year, which also increases the potential spousal benefit for your partner. However, the spouse claiming spousal benefits doesn't get delayed retirement credits - their maximum is still 50% of your Primary Insurance Amount at full retirement age. So it's worth running the numbers to see if it makes sense for the higher earner to delay while the spouse starts collecting spousal benefits earlier. Everyone's situation is different!