I wish I'd known that the survivor benefit from my husband might actually be higher than my own benefit. I didn't bring any of his information because I assumed mine would be higher since I was the higher earner. Turns out his delayed retirement credits would have given me a higher monthly amount! Had to make another appointment and delay everything by 3 weeks. Also I wasn't prepared for all the questions about my employer's pension and how it affects Social Security (WEP). If you have a pension from work where you didn't pay Social Security taxes, make sure to ask about that.

Great to see your successful update! As someone who's been helping people navigate Social Security for years, I wanted to add a few more tips for future applicants reading this thread: 1. **Direct deposit setup**: Make sure your bank account info is current and the account has been open for at least 30 days. SSA prefers established accounts to prevent fraud. 2. **Tax withholding decision**: Don't feel pressured to decide on tax withholding during your appointment. You can always change this later by filing Form W-4V or calling SSA. Many people underestimate the tax impact of Social Security benefits. 3. **Medicare coordination**: If you're working past 65 and have employer health insurance, make sure SSA understands your Medicare situation. Sometimes there are coordination issues that need to be addressed. 4. **Keep copies of everything**: Take photos of all documents you bring, and ask for a receipt showing what you submitted. The paper trail is invaluable if issues arise later. Your approach of taking partial retroactive benefits was smart - it's often the best compromise for people who've delayed past FRA. Congratulations on getting through the process!

One more thing to consider: if you're still working, be aware of the earnings limit. For 2025, if you're under Full Retirement Age and collecting any Social Security benefits (including widow's benefits), your benefits will be reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn above $22,320. This isn't permanent though - when you reach Full Retirement Age, SSA will recalculate your benefit amount to give credit for the months they reduced or withheld benefits. So don't let this discourage you from applying, just be aware it might impact the amount you receive initially if you're working.

Good news about your part-time income being under the earnings limit! That means you should be able to receive your full widow's benefit amount without any reductions due to work. Just wanted to add one more resource that might help: when you do get through to SSA, ask them to send you a copy of your husband's earnings record (Form SSA-7050). This will show his complete work history and help confirm whether he was receiving SSDI or SSI. It's free and can be very helpful for understanding your benefit options. Also, if you end up needing to visit a local office eventually, many people don't realize you can sometimes get seen for urgent financial hardship cases without waiting the full 3 months. When you call (or use that Claimyr service), mention that you're experiencing financial hardship as a widow - they sometimes have emergency appointment slots available. Wishing you the best of luck with your application!

I went back to work after 2 years on disability (not nursing, office work). The most important thing is DOCUMENT EVERYTHING!! Write down every call to SSA with date, time, who you spoke to, and what they said. I got conflicting info from 3 different SSA reps and the only way I protected myself was showing I'd followed the guidance I was given. Good luck!

As someone who just went through the return-to-work process after being on SSDI for 3 years, I can't stress enough how important it is to get everything in writing from SSA before you start. I made the mistake of relying on verbal information from phone calls and ended up with a mess when my case worker changed. Here's what I wish I'd known: request a written confirmation of your TWP status before starting any job. If you've never used your TWP months, you're in a great position. The desk job sounds like the smart choice - you can always transition to more demanding work later if your health allows. One more tip: if you do go with the ICU position, consider asking for accommodations under ADA like supportive shoes, compression socks, or frequent breaks. Your employer might be willing to work with you, especially given the nursing shortage. Whatever you decide, don't let fear keep you from trying. The safety nets are there for a reason, and at 61 with your experience, you have valuable skills that shouldn't go to waste if you're able to use them.

I'm turning 70 in a few months and this whole thread has been incredibly reassuring! I've been second-guessing my decision to wait until 70, especially when friends who took early retirement keep telling me I'm "leaving money on the table." But seeing the math laid out here - that 32% increase from delayed retirement credits - really drives home why patience pays off. One thing I'm curious about: for those of you who have already gone through this process, did you notice any difference in how SSA treats applications from people turning 70 versus younger applicants? I'm wondering if they prioritize these since there's no further benefit to delaying past 70. Also, I've been keeping detailed records of my earnings history just in case, but it sounds like the online application process is pretty streamlined. Has anyone run into situations where their benefit calculation seemed off and they needed to provide additional documentation? Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it's so helpful to hear from people who've actually walked this path!

As someone who recently navigated this exact same decision at age 70, I wanted to share a few insights that might help put your mind at ease! First, you're absolutely correct about the payment timing - December start date means your first payment arrives in January, specifically on the 4th Wednesday (January 22nd based on your December 24th birthday). And yes, you made the perfect call declining those retroactive benefits! At 70, there's literally zero advantage to taking retroactive payments since you've already maxed out your delayed retirement credits. One tip I wish someone had told me: after you submit your application, log into your my Social Security account periodically to watch for updates. It's incredibly satisfying to see your benefit amount officially reflect those delayed retirement credits you worked so hard to earn - that 32% boost over your full retirement age benefit really adds up! Also, if you haven't already, double-check that your direct deposit information is exactly right. A single digit error can cause delays, and after waiting this long to maximize your benefits, you don't want any hiccups with that first payment. Congratulations on having the discipline to wait until 70 - you're going to be rewarded with significantly higher monthly payments for life!

Update: I called the fraud hotline and filed a formal report. They gave me a case number and are sending written confirmation. I've also placed freezes with all three credit bureaus and filed the FTC report. Still waiting to hear if they can tell me how someone got my information in the first place, but at least I feel like I've taken steps to protect myself. Thanks again to everyone for the advice - this community has been incredibly helpful during a stressful situation!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! As someone who works in cybersecurity, I can tell you that Social Security fraud attempts have absolutely skyrocketed in recent years. You handled this perfectly by calling immediately and not ignoring that suspicious email. One additional step I'd recommend is requesting your Social Security Statement (Form SSA-7005) to verify that no unauthorized earnings have been reported under your SSN. You can do this through your mySocialSecurity account or by calling SSA. Also, consider signing up for credit monitoring services if you haven't already - many are free and will alert you to any new accounts or inquiries. Some banks and credit cards also offer identity theft protection services to their customers. The fact that you caught this so quickly is huge. Most fraudsters rely on people not noticing these things for weeks or months. You've likely prevented a much bigger headache down the road!