As someone who's been lurking in this community for a while but just joined, I have to say this thread is incredible! The collaborative problem-solving here is exactly what I hoped to find when I started researching Social Security benefits. What really strikes me is how this went from a seemingly complex bureaucratic nightmare to a simple solution - just because people were willing to share their knowledge and experiences. The advice from the former SSA specialist was invaluable, and seeing the real-time updates as Malik worked through the process makes this so much more useful than generic government websites. I'm still several years away from needing to apply myself, but I'm already bookmarking this for future reference. It's also given me confidence that when I do encounter issues with government services, there are communities like this where people actually help each other navigate the system effectively. Thanks to everyone who contributed - this is exactly the kind of practical, real-world guidance that makes all the difference!

What an amazing thread to witness! As someone completely new to this community, I'm blown away by the level of expertise and genuine helpfulness shown here. Watching Malik's military service records issue get resolved through collective problem-solving was incredibly educational. I'm particularly grateful for Omar's detailed explanation of WHY military service matters for Social Security benefits - I had no idea about the special credits system or how it affects Medicare eligibility. The step-by-step approach (try "See SSA records" first, then request documents if needed) is exactly the kind of practical guidance that makes navigating government services less intimidating. As someone who will eventually need to apply for Social Security myself, this thread has already saved me future stress and confusion. It's also shown me what a valuable resource this community is - having access to former SSA employees alongside fellow citizens sharing their real experiences creates such a powerful knowledge base. Thank you to everyone who contributed their expertise and especially to Malik for keeping us updated on the resolution. This is exactly what government service communities should be about!

One suggestion I want to make: request an appointment with a Claims Specialist at your local office rather than trying to resolve this by phone. Bring your husband with you if possible, as they may need information from both records. In-person appointments often result in more thorough explanations and accurate calculations since they can show you the numbers directly on their system. And make sure to ask them to provide you with a breakdown of the calculation in writing. This will be valuable for your records and for verifying that everything was done correctly.

I went through this exact same scenario with my parents a few years ago. The key thing to remember is that spousal benefits have a "deemed filing" rule that applies when you've already claimed your own retirement benefits early. Since you took your retirement at 62, when you apply for spousal benefits at your FRA, SSA will calculate what's called an "excess spousal benefit" - basically the difference between 50% of your husband's PIA ($2,270) and your own PIA ($975), which would be $1,295. But this excess amount gets reduced because you filed early. The reduction is roughly 25/36 of 1% for each of the first 36 months early, then 5/12 of 1% for each additional month. Since you filed 60 months early, your excess spousal benefit will be reduced by about 30%. So your total benefit would be approximately your current $687 plus an excess spousal benefit of around $906 (the $1,295 reduced by 30%), giving you a total of about $1,593 per month. This is significantly less than the $2,057 some others estimated, but the deemed filing rules are what make the difference. Definitely get this calculated properly by SSA, but this should give you a more realistic expectation.

Thank you all so much for the helpful responses! Based on everything here, I think my best option is to: 1. Get the exact benefit amounts for both of us 2. Use that Claimyr service to actually speak with someone at SSA about our specific situation 3. Probably delay taking any benefits until at least my FRA (67) if not 70, since my benefit would be significantly higher than any spousal benefit I'm disappointed that I can't use the strategy I was hoping for, but I'm glad I asked before making a mistake! This forum has been so much more helpful than the confusing SSA website.

Just wanted to add one more consideration that I don't see mentioned yet - make sure to factor in taxes when you're doing your calculations! SSDI benefits can be taxable depending on your total household income, and so can retirement benefits. Since you're still working and presumably have other income sources, taking benefits early could push you into a higher tax bracket or make more of your benefits taxable. A tax professional who specializes in retirement planning might be worth consulting before you make your final decision. Also, if you do decide to wait until 70, remember that you MUST start taking benefits by April 1st of the year after you turn 70 - there's no advantage to waiting beyond that point, and you could actually lose benefits if you delay too long.

As someone who recently went through this exact situation, I can confirm what others have said - FICA taxes are mandatory as long as you're working, regardless of age. I hit my FRA at 66 and 8 months and kept working until 69, and every single paycheck had those deductions. It's frustrating at first, but I found it helpful to think of it as an investment rather than a tax loss. Those extra high-earning years at the end of my career significantly boosted my monthly benefit calculation. When I finally claimed, my benefit was about $380 higher per month than it would have been if I had stopped working at FRA. Over the course of retirement, that more than makes up for the FICA taxes I paid during those extra working years. Your HR department really should get their facts straight on this - it's causing unnecessary confusion for employees planning their retirement.

I went through something similar when I reached my FRA two years ago. My company's benefits administrator initially told me the same wrong information about being able to opt out of FICA taxes. What I discovered is that many HR departments aren't well-trained on Social Security rules because they don't deal with these questions very often. I ended up printing out the official SSA publication on this topic and sharing it with HR so they could give accurate information to other employees approaching retirement age. The bottom line everyone has mentioned is correct - FICA taxes are mandatory as long as you're earning wages, period. But like others have said, those continued contributions during your highest earning years will likely increase your eventual benefit. I'd recommend getting your official Social Security statement from ssa.gov to see your projected benefits at different claiming ages - it really helps with planning!

Congratulations on your retirement! Just wanted to add one more consideration that might be relevant to your situation. Since you mentioned depreciation recapture of about $92,000, make sure your tax preparer properly categorizes this on your return. While depreciation recapture is generally treated as capital gains (which doesn't count toward the earnings test), there can be some nuances depending on how your business was structured and whether any portion might be considered ordinary income. Also, when you do apply in January 2025, make sure to have all your 2024 tax documents ready. The SSA will want to see your final W-2 and tax return to verify your actual earned income for the earnings test calculation. Since you're planning to use Claimyr to speak with an agent, you might also ask them about the special monthly earnings test that can sometimes apply in your first year of retirement - it might provide some additional flexibility if your circumstances change. Good luck with your retirement planning!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is Medicare considerations. Since you're planning to retire at 62, you won't be eligible for Medicare until 65. If your business provided health insurance, make sure you have a plan for coverage during those 3 years. You might be eligible for COBRA from your business (if it had enough employees), or you'll need to look into ACA marketplace plans. This is especially important since you're planning to delay Social Security until 2025 - you want to make sure your healthcare costs are factored into your retirement budget. The good news is that your 2024 high income year shouldn't affect Medicare premiums since those are based on income from 2 years prior.