One important warning that nobody has mentioned: if any of his early lower-paying jobs were with employers not covered by Social Security (like some government or education positions), he might be subject to the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) which could actually REDUCE his Social Security benefit. This happens if he's receiving a pension from non-covered work. Similarly, if you're collecting a government pension from non-SS-covered work, your spousal benefits could be reduced by the Government Pension Offset (GPO) provision. Might be worth checking if these apply to your situation.

Just wanted to add one more consideration that might be helpful - since your husband is continuing to work past FRA, make sure you're both maximizing tax-advantaged savings opportunities! He can still contribute to a 401(k) if his employer offers one, and at his age he's eligible for catch-up contributions ($7,500 extra in 2024). This can help offset some of the higher tax burden from having both SS benefits and earned income. Also, if he has access to an HSA through work, that's triple tax-advantaged and can be a great supplement for healthcare costs in retirement. The combination of continued earnings replacing lower years in his SS calculation PLUS maximizing these tax-deferred savings can really optimize your overall retirement picture during these working years past FRA.

I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare - 18 months is absolutely unacceptable for something that should be a straightforward calculation. Your situation highlights exactly why so many people are losing faith in the system. A few additional suggestions that might help: 1. Document EVERYTHING in a spreadsheet - dates, names, what was promised, reference numbers from calls. This creates a timeline that's hard for them to dismiss. 2. When you do get connected to someone with authority, ask them to put their promised resolution timeline IN WRITING via email or letter. No more verbal promises that disappear into the void. 3. Consider filing a complaint with your state's Department of Aging/Elder Affairs - they often have ombudsman programs that can advocate directly with federal agencies. 4. If you haven't already, request your complete file under the Freedom of Information Act. Sometimes seeing exactly what notes are (or aren't) in your file can reveal where the breakdown is occurring. The fact that you're out $6,660+ in back payments ($370 x 18 months) makes this a substantial financial hardship case. Keep pushing - you're entitled to those DRCs and they know it. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, unfortunately, but you shouldn't have to squeak this loud for this long. Stay strong and keep us updated on your progress!

I'm a newcomer here but had to jump in because this hits close to home. My neighbor went through almost the exact same situation with missing DRCs last year. What finally worked for her was getting her case escalated to what's called a "Critical Case" status at the Regional Office level. Here's what she learned: there's actually a specific SSA form called SSA-795 (Statement of Claimant or Other Person) that you can use to document your case and request expedited handling. She filled it out detailing all 18 months of attempts and specifically requested "Critical Case" designation due to financial hardship from the delayed payments. The key was being very specific about the financial impact - she calculated not just the monthly shortfall but also the opportunity cost of that money (what it would have earned in savings, bills that went unpaid, etc.). That seemed to get their attention faster than just saying "I'm owed money." Also, when you contact your senators, ask them to specifically request a "Congressional Inquiry Response" rather than just a general inquiry. Apparently there's a difference in how SSA prioritizes these. I really hope this gets resolved soon - 18 months is absolutely ridiculous for something that should be automatic. Keep fighting!

This has been such an educational thread! I'm 68 and have been wondering about the timing for my own application in a couple years. One thing I'm curious about that hasn't been mentioned - does the month you were born in matter at all for the application timing? Like if someone turns 70 early in June vs late in June, would that affect when they should apply or their benefit start date? I want to make sure I understand all the nuances before my time comes. The advice about having documents ready and applying a couple weeks early seems really practical too.

This entire discussion has been incredibly valuable! As someone who's 69 and turning 70 in August, I've been losing sleep over the backdating rules and timing. Reading through everyone's experiences and explanations has really put my mind at ease. What I'm taking away is that the backdating confusion mostly comes from people who wait too long after turning 70 to apply. Since I plan to apply right in August when I turn 70, I should just select August as my start month and not worry about backdating at all. One small thing I wanted to add - for anyone else in a similar boat, I called the SSA general number last week just to confirm my earnings record was accurate, and they mentioned that you can also check your benefit estimate online through your my Social Security account. It's helpful to know exactly what to expect before you apply, especially since we're all maxed out on delayed retirement credits at 70. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge here. This thread should definitely be pinned or saved as a reference for others approaching 70!

It's worth noting that any benefit increase from post-retirement earnings will likely be modest. This is because: 1. Only earnings that replace lower years in the top 35 will impact the calculation 2. The benefit formula gives less weight to higher earnings 3. Post-FRA recalculations don't include delayed retirement credits For example, if your father's recent $130K earnings replace a year where he earned $50K (after indexing), this might only increase his monthly benefit by $20-40. The exact amount depends on his complete earnings history. That said, even small increases add up over time, and if he's been missing these adjustments for years, the back pay could be substantial. Definitely worth pursuing.

As someone who just went through this process with my own parent, I'd strongly recommend your dad also request a copy of his complete earnings record (Form SSA-7050) when he contacts them. This will show exactly which years are being used in his benefit calculation and help verify that his recent higher earnings are actually being counted. One thing that caught my attention - you mentioned he worked for the government before starting his consulting business. If any of his government work was under a different retirement system (like FERS or state retirement), make sure those earnings are properly credited to his Social Security record too. Sometimes there can be gaps or missing years that affect the calculation. Also, don't let them tell him that because he's past 70, recalculations don't matter. That's completely wrong - the recalculations should happen regardless of age as long as he's still working and paying FICA taxes.

my aunt got remarried after her divorce but her 2nd husband died and then she WAS able to get benefits from her first husband (who was still alive). So I think the poster might be able to get her ex's benefits if something happened to her current husband. kind of a morbid thought but just sharing what happened in my family

I'm sorry to hear your financial advisor gave you conflicting information - that must be really frustrating when you're trying to make important retirement decisions! The others have explained the remarriage rule correctly, but I wanted to add that you should definitely get your exact benefit estimates in writing from SSA before making any filing decisions. Since you mentioned you'll be 63 next month, remember that if you file for your own benefits before your full retirement age, they'll be permanently reduced. At 63, you'd get about 80% of your full benefit amount. Given that your estimated benefit at FRA is $1,800, filing at 63 would give you roughly $1,440/month. You might want to weigh whether waiting until your FRA (or even age 70 for maximum benefits) makes more financial sense for your situation. Also, don't forget that once your current husband files for his benefits, you may be eligible for spousal benefits on his record, which could potentially be higher than your own reduced benefit if you file early.