Just wanted to add one more important consideration that hasn't been mentioned yet - if your wife is caring for your child who is under 16 or disabled, she could potentially receive survivor benefits immediately (regardless of her age) as a "mother's benefit" or "caregiver benefit." This benefit would be 75% of your PIA and wouldn't have the same age restrictions as regular survivor benefits. Also, don't forget that any unmarried children under 18 (or up to 19 if still in high school, or any age if disabled before 22) would also be eligible for survivor benefits of 75% of your PIA each. These family benefits are subject to a family maximum, but it's something to factor into your overall planning. The planning you're doing now is really smart - having all this information ahead of time can make an incredibly difficult situation much more manageable for your wife.

This is such valuable information everyone is sharing! As someone who works with families going through these situations, I want to emphasize one key point that might not be obvious: the timing of when you pass away can significantly impact the survivor benefit calculation. Since you're 63 and haven't claimed yet, if something happened to you now, your wife's survivor benefit would be based on your current PIA (Primary Insurance Amount). But if you wait until, say, age 67 or 70, she'd get the benefit of any delayed retirement credits you've earned - which could be 24-32% higher than your PIA. However, there's a balance to consider: waiting longer means fewer years of potential survivor benefits. It might be worth running the numbers both ways - claiming earlier vs. waiting for delayed retirement credits - to see what maximizes the total lifetime benefit for your family situation. Also, make sure your wife knows where to find all the important documents she'd need (your Social Security number, marriage certificate, death certificate, etc.) and consider creating a simple guide for her about the steps to take with SSA. The last thing you want is for her to be searching for paperwork during an already difficult time.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses! I think I understand it better now - the increase is calculated monthly rather than jumping at birthdays, and the exact percentage depends on whether I'm before or after my full retirement age. I'll check the SSA calculator to get a more precise number for my situation and maybe use Claimyr to actually talk to someone at SSA to confirm everything. Definitely feeling better informed now!

One thing to keep in mind is that Social Security benefits are calculated based on your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) and then adjusted for the age at which you claim. The monthly adjustments are applied using actuarial tables, so it's not a simple linear calculation between the annual amounts you see on your statement. Also, since you mentioned you're turning 64 in August 2025, your Full Retirement Age is likely 67 (if you were born in 1961 or later). This means claiming at 64 would give you a reduced benefit, and the reduction lessens each month you wait until you reach your FRA. The SSA applies these reductions/increases on a month-by-month basis, not just annually. If you want the most accurate calculation, I'd recommend using the SSA's online retirement estimator tool where you can input your exact birth date and proposed claim date. It will give you a much more precise figure than trying to interpolate between the annual amounts on your statement.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Edwards. Losing a spouse is incredibly difficult, and navigating the SSA system on top of grief makes it even harder. Based on what you've shared, it sounds like you're in a situation where the earnings test would significantly impact your survivor benefits if you claim early. With your $55K income, you'd be losing most of your benefit to the earnings test anyway, so waiting until FRA might be the smarter financial move. One thing to consider is whether you might want to reduce your work hours in the next few years. If you could get your earnings below the $21,240 limit, claiming survivor benefits early could work out better. You'd need to do the math on whether the reduced work income plus survivor benefits would exceed your current salary. Also, don't forget to factor in your own retirement benefit when making this decision. If your own benefit at 70 would be higher than the survivor benefit, you might want to claim survivors at FRA and then switch to your own at 70. A financial planner who specializes in Social Security could help you run these numbers. Hang in there - this stuff is complicated even for people who work with it regularly!

I'm sorry for your loss, Edwards. This is such a difficult situation to navigate while you're still grieving. From what I'm reading in the thread, it sounds like you're getting some really solid advice about the financial aspects. The earnings test issue is a real pain point - I went through something similar when my mom was widowed and still working. She ended up reducing her hours to part-time specifically to stay under the earnings limit, and it worked out well for her situation. One thing I'd add is that you might want to request a formal benefit estimate from SSA in writing, especially given the confusion about whether that $3900 figure includes delayed retirement credits or not. Sometimes having it in black and white helps cut through the confusion. And definitely consider that Claimyr service someone mentioned - anything that can get you past those endless phone waits is worth it. You're asking all the right questions, and it's clear you're being thoughtful about this decision. Take your time and don't let anyone pressure you into claiming before you're ready. The financial impact is permanent, so it's worth getting it right.

One more important point: if your SSDI is approved, when you reach full retirement age (67), your benefit won't convert back to reduced retirement benefits. You'll continue receiving the full PIA amount. This is a significant advantage of qualifying for SSDI after taking early retirement. Also, the 5-month waiting period for SSDI may not apply to you since you're already receiving retirement benefits, but this depends on your established onset date. Make sure you understand how all this affects Medicare eligibility too.

I'm also going through a similar situation but I'm 64 and just applied for SSDI after taking early retirement at 62. Reading through everyone's responses has been really helpful! One thing I learned from my experience so far is to keep detailed records of EVERYTHING - every phone call, every form you submit, every doctor visit. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you get copies of ALL your medical records yourself. Don't just rely on SSA to request them from your doctors - sometimes they don't get everything or there are delays. I created a binder with all my test results, surgery reports, and doctor notes organized by date. It's helped me stay on top of what's been submitted. Good luck with your application! The fact that you have clear medical documentation and multiple surgeries should help your case.

As someone who just went through this decision process last year, I wanted to share my experience. My situation was very similar - I was the higher earner and my husband had already been collecting his benefits. I was really torn about filing early because I kept reading conflicting information online about how it would affect spousal benefits. What ultimately helped me was creating a spreadsheet comparing different scenarios over 10, 15, and 20 years. Even though my husband's spousal benefit wouldn't be reduced by my early filing, I still had to weigh my permanent benefit reduction against our immediate financial needs. One thing I wish I had considered more carefully was the impact on survivor benefits. Since I'm likely to outlive my husband statistically, my reduced benefit could become his survivor benefit down the road. That's something worth factoring into your decision beyond just the current spousal benefit calculation. Also, don't forget that once you file, you can't change your mind and unfille (except within the first 12 months and only if you pay back everything you received). So make sure you're really comfortable with the permanent reduction to your monthly benefit before you pull the trigger.

I've been following this discussion closely as I'm in a very similar situation with my spouse. One additional consideration I haven't seen mentioned yet is the impact of Medicare premiums on your decision timeline. Since you're turning 66, you'll be enrolling in Medicare soon, and your Social Security benefits can be used to pay those premiums automatically. If you're planning to file early anyway due to immediate financial needs, it might make sense to coordinate the timing with your Medicare enrollment to streamline the premium payments. Also, if you're still working and have employer health insurance, you'll need to factor in how Medicare coordination works with your current coverage. Just another piece of the puzzle to consider alongside all the excellent advice about spousal benefits, survivor benefits, and break-even calculations that others have shared!