One thing no one has mentioned: if your 2024 earnings are higher than any of the 35 years being used to calculate your benefit, you might actually see a small INCREASE in your benefit amount. SSA does an automatic recalculation each year to account for new earnings. So working through December could potentially help you if it's a good earning year for you.

dont forget to setup direct deposit!!! my first check got mailed and i almost missed it cause it went to my old address

my sister said u can get retro payment up to 6 months when u file, so if u wait to file til 67.5 u still get paid from 67. not sure if that helps your plan??

One more point to consider: Once you start collecting your benefit, your wife can file for her spousal benefit, but she'll face a reduction for claiming before her own FRA. At 62, her spousal benefit would be reduced to about 35% of your PIA instead of the full 50% she'd get at her FRA. If you're doing calculations, make sure to account for this reduction since she's under full retirement age. The exact percentage depends on how many months before her FRA she files.

btw the 10 year marriage thing DOES matter for spousal benefits too not just divorce! make sure you mention that when you call

To add to the excellent advice already provided: Once your wife applies for the spousal top-up, the SSA will calculate what's called the "excess spousal benefit." This is the difference between 50% of your PIA and your wife's PIA (not her reduced benefit amount). Since you mentioned your wife started claiming at 70, that's past her FRA, so she won't face any reduction in the spousal amount. However, the WEP elimination adjustment creates an interesting timing question. My suggestion: Have your wife contact SSA now to establish her intent to file for spousal benefits. This can protect her retroactive date while waiting for WEP adjustments to be fully processed. The SSA can set a protective filing date even if you haven't applied for your own benefits yet.

wait does anybody know if 1952 people get the same COLA as everybody else? my cousin said they get less but that dont sound right

I just remembered something! When my husband turned 66 we had a little "FRA party" lol. It was April 2018 since he was born in April 1952. So yes, definitely 66 is right for your hubby too. Hope that helps!

Just to add some technical detail here that might be helpful: The earnings test that limits benefits only applies in these situations: 1. If you're collecting benefits before your FRA, the annual earnings limit applies ($22,320 in 2024). 2. In the year you reach FRA, a higher limit applies only to earnings in the months BEFORE the month you reach FRA ($59,520 in 2024). 3. Once you reach FRA, there is NO earnings limit, period. Since you reached FRA in April 2024, and won't start benefits until February 2025, the earnings test doesn't affect you at all. The SSA collects this information from everyone because their forms are standardized and the same information is relevant to many other beneficiaries. Also, continuing to work might actually increase your benefit amount if these earnings are higher than some earlier years used in your benefit calculation.

Thanks everyone for your helpful responses! I'm going to finish my application now with a lot more confidence. It sounds like this is just standard procedure and nothing to worry about since I'll be well past my FRA when I start collecting in February. Really appreciate all the explanations!

I'm so very sorry about your husband. Please be aware that sometimes the SSA representatives don't fully explain all your options! When my husband died, they just automatically started my survivor benefits without explaining I could have waited and gotten more later. I wish I had known I could switch between my own retirement and survivor benefits for maximum advantage. Definitely withdraw your current application right away since you haven't started receiving benefits yet. Use form SSA-521. Then carefully consider your new options as a widow. The earnings test applies to BOTH retirement and survivor benefits the same way, so that part of your question doesn't change based on which benefit you choose.

just wanted to say im sorry for your loss. please make sure you also apply for the lump sum death payment from social security. its only $255 but its something. you have to call them about it though they dont just give it to you automatically

Does anyone know if this repeal affects divorced spouses too? I was married for 15 years to my ex before we divorced, and he gets Social Security. I'm a retired teacher with a state pension and was told I couldn't get anything from his record because of GPO. Does that change now too?

I dont trust the goverment to do this right!! They'll find some way to screw us over again... happened to my sister who was a teacher for 35 yrs and they kept denying her benefits!! Everyone should CALL and DEMAND what their owed now that this stupid gpo is gone. Dont let them forget about your case!!

I had a friend who applied for survivor benefits at age 60 last year, and she encountered several issues. First, despite the SSA website stating you can apply 3-4 months before eligibility, she was told to wait until exactly the month of her 60th birthday. This contradicted their own guidelines. Second, she nearly got trapped into applying for both retirement and survivor benefits because the agent didn't properly explain the options. She only avoided this because she had done extensive research beforehand. My suggestion is to prepare thoroughly before your application. The claims specialists are often overworked and may not fully understand these complex scenarios. Write down your main points and questions, and be VERY clear about only wanting to file for survivor benefits. Also, if you're planning to continue working after claiming at 60, be aware that in 2025 you'll lose $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above $22,320 (approximate earnings limit for 2025 based on current trends). Calculate whether this makes financial sense for your situation.

Just to clarify a common misconception I'm seeing in some responses - the fact that your ex-husband was receiving SSDI rather than retirement benefits has no negative impact on your survivor benefit amount. The benefit calculation is based on his Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is what he would have received at his full retirement age, regardless of when or what type of benefits he actually claimed. The reduction in your survivor benefits will be solely based on your age when you claim them. At exactly age 60, you'll receive approximately 71.5% of his PIA. Each month you wait beyond 60 increases this percentage slightly until you reach your full retirement age (probably 67 for you), at which point you'd receive 100% of his PIA. Additionally, since you'll be turning 60 in 2025, your FRA for survivor benefits is 67. This is important when calculating the exact reduction percentage.

I went through EXACTLY this last year and let me tell you it was a NIGHTMARE!!! First they sent me a letter saying they MIGHT levy my benefits, then nothing for 3 months, then suddenly my check was 15% smaller with NO WARNING!!! I called SSA and they said call IRS, called IRS and they said call SSA!!! Round and round for WEEKS!!! Finally got it sorted with a payment plan but the whole system is BROKEN. They don't communicate between agencies AT ALL. Make sure you keep COPIES OF EVERYTHING and get NAMES of everyone you talk to!!!

Just to add one more important detail - if you're facing financial hardship, you can request a reduction or removal of the levy by submitting Form 911 (Request for Taxpayer Advocate Service Assistance) or by calling the Taxpayer Advocate Service directly at 877-777-4778. They're separate from regular IRS collections and can sometimes help if you're in a difficult financial situation.

One more important thing to understand: if you're having taxes withheld from your Social Security payments already (which is optional), that will be reflected on your SSA-1099 too. Look at Box 6 on the form when you get it - that shows how much federal tax was withheld during the year, if any. If you're not having taxes withheld yet but are concerned about owing at tax time, you can file Form W-4V with Social Security to request voluntary withholding at 7%, 10%, 12%, or 22% of your monthly benefit.

DONT FORGET that if you're on Medicare and have the premiums deducted from your SS payment, the SSA-1099 will show the GROSS amount before those deductions! The Medicare premiums could be deductible on your Schedule A if you itemize and meet the threshold. Learned that one the hard way!!