Next year remember to print or save a copy of that survivor 1099 as soon as you get it!!! I learned my lesson and now I scan EVERYTHING from SSA the minute it arrives because trying to get replacements is a nightmare!!!

Great to hear you got through to SSA and got confirmation! I'm a newcomer here but dealing with something similar - I switched from disability to retirement benefits mid-year and only seeing one 1099 online. Based on everyone's advice here, it sounds like I should expect a separate mailed form for the disability benefits portion. This thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding how SSA handles multiple benefit types. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's reassuring to know this is a common issue and not something wrong with our accounts!

I want to thank everyone for the helpful responses! Based on what you've all shared, I'm going to apply for benefits to start in January 2025 so I can get the COLA increase right away. I'll make sure to submit my application a few months in advance as suggested. I'm also going to check out that Claimyr service for getting through to SSA - sounds much better than waiting on hold for hours. Really appreciate all the insights!

One more thing to consider - since you're already past your FRA, you might want to double-check what your exact FRA was. If you were born in 1960 or later, your FRA is 67, not 66. I see a lot of people get confused about this and think they can start full benefits earlier than they actually can. Also, if you do decide to start in January, your first payment won't actually arrive until February since Social Security pays benefits the month after they're earned. Just wanted to make sure you're planning your finances accordingly!

To summarize what everyone's shared (and clarify some confusion): 1. Since your own benefit at FRA ($1,800) exceeds half of your partner's PIA ($1,375), you won't receive additional money from spousal benefits. 2. This means your claiming strategy should focus solely on optimizing YOUR retirement benefit timing. 3. Each year you delay claiming between now and 70 adds approximately 8% to your lifetime benefit amount. 4. The one-year marriage requirement doesn't impact your optimal strategy in this case. The decision ultimately comes down to: do you need the money now (claim early) or can you afford to wait for a larger monthly amount later (delay claiming)?

Great discussion everyone! As someone who just went through this process myself, I wanted to add one more consideration that might be helpful. Since you're 63 and considering delaying benefits, make sure you factor in healthcare costs if you're not yet Medicare eligible. I delayed my benefits from 62 to 65, but the extra money I gained was almost entirely eaten up by COBRA premiums and higher healthcare costs during those years. Sometimes the "mathematically optimal" choice isn't the practically optimal choice when you consider all expenses. Also, if you do decide to claim early, remember that the earnings test might apply if you're still working - you could temporarily lose some benefits if you earn over the annual limit ($22,320 for 2024). Just something else to factor into your decision-making process!

One thing to remember is that the Medicare premium is deducted from your gross benefit amount before tax withholding is calculated, but both the full benefit amount AND the Medicare premium are reported on your SSA-1099 at the end of the year. This can be confusing when reconciling your tax documents. The Medicare premium is considered a medical expense that you've paid, even though you never actually received that money in your bank account.

This is such an important question that many new SS recipients don't think about! I went through this same confusion when I started receiving benefits. The key thing to understand is the order of operations: SS benefit → Medicare premium deducted → tax withholding calculated on remaining amount → final deposit to your account. So if you're planning for 12% withholding, make sure you're calculating that 12% on your net benefit after Medicare, not your gross benefit. Also recommend keeping track of these calculations month to month since Medicare premiums can change annually. It really does make a meaningful difference in your actual take-home amount!

One additional important note: If you do start working, even part-time and under the SGA limit, be sure to report your work activity to Social Security right away. Not reporting work is one of the most common reasons people end up with overpayments they have to pay back. You can report changes in work status through your my Social Security account online, by mail, or by phone. Also, if you're interested in returning to work, look into the Ticket to Work program. It provides free employment support services and additional protections for your benefits while you test your ability to work.

Just wanted to add something that might help - if you do decide to try part-time work, keep detailed records of your hours and earnings each month. I learned this the hard way when SSA asked me to provide documentation going back 6 months and I had to scramble to recreate everything. Also, if your spinal injury causes you to have any work-related expenses (special equipment, transportation costs, medications needed to work, etc.), those might qualify as Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) that can be deducted from your earnings when SSA calculates whether you're over the SGA limit. This could potentially allow you to earn a bit more while staying eligible. The key thing everyone's mentioned is absolutely right - report everything immediately, even if you're 100% sure you're under the limit. Better to over-communicate with SSA than deal with overpayments later!