One more important point for your planning: be aware of the Government Pension Offset (GPO) if you have a pension from a job where you didn't pay Social Security taxes (like some government or teaching positions). This could reduce your survivor benefits. Also, if you're still working, know that claiming survivor benefits at 60 won't affect your own retirement benefit amount when you claim that later. The reduction for early filing only applies to the benefit type you're claiming early.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ava. I went through something similar when my wife passed three years ago. Here's what I learned about getting survivor benefit estimates before age 60: The online account won't show survivor benefits until you're closer to claiming age, so you definitely need to contact SSA directly. I found the best approach was to visit the local office in person with all your documents (death certificate, marriage certificate, both SSNs, and your ID). One tip that helped me: call first thing Monday morning at 8:00 AM sharp when they open - I had better luck getting through then. When you do get someone on the phone, ask specifically for a "survivor benefit estimate" and mention you're planning financially for the future. Also, don't forget that you might be eligible for Medicare at 65 based on your husband's record even if you haven't claimed survivor benefits yet - that's separate from the cash benefits and can be really helpful for healthcare planning. The waiting is frustrating, but getting those numbers will really help with your financial planning. Hang in there!

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else dealing with this - I was in a similar situation last year at 64 with both an annuity and Social Security. Can confirm that annuity payments absolutely do NOT count toward the earnings limit. I was getting about $18,000 annually from my annuity and never had any issues with my SS benefits being reduced. The key thing to remember is that the earnings test only applies to "earned income" from actual work - wages, self-employment income, etc. Passive income like annuities, pensions, investment returns, and other retirement accounts don't count. Since you're so close to FRA, you're almost in the clear anyway! Once you hit that magic birthday, you can earn unlimited amounts from any source without worrying about benefit reductions.

I went through something very similar when I was 63! The confusion around what counts as "earned income" for Social Security purposes is really common. Everyone here is absolutely right - annuity payments are considered unearned income and won't affect your Social Security benefits at all. The earnings limit only applies to wages from employment or net self-employment income. Since you're just 2 months away from your FRA, you're almost home free anyway! At that point, the earnings test disappears completely and you can have unlimited income from any source without any benefit reductions. One thing I'd suggest is keeping good records of your annuity payments for tax purposes, even though they don't count toward the earnings limit. As someone else mentioned, they could affect the taxability of your Social Security benefits depending on your total income. But that's a separate issue from the earnings test you were worried about. Hang in there - you're so close to FRA and then all these worries will be behind you!

As someone who just went through this process myself (born August 1955), I can confirm what everyone else is saying - you definitely want to select July 2025 as your benefit start month! I was in the exact same boat last year, stressing about the timing and worried I'd mess something up. Here's what worked for me: I applied online in March 2024 for August 2024 benefits (my 70th birthday month). The application was straightforward - there's a clear question asking when you want your benefits to start, and that's where you put July 2025. My first payment arrived in September 2024 and was calculated at the full delayed retirement credit amount. The one-month delay in payment is just how SSA processes things - it has nothing to do with your benefit calculation. Trust me, apply early (March/April) but specify July as your start month. You'll sleep much better knowing you're getting every penny you've earned by waiting until 70!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Born in July 1955 and planning to apply for benefits next year. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - it sounds like the consensus is clear: apply in March/April 2025 but specify July 2025 as the benefit start month. I was getting confused by the payment timing too, thinking that receiving my first payment in August meant I was somehow losing out on delayed retirement credits. But it makes perfect sense that the payment schedule is just administrative and doesn't affect the benefit calculation. Thanks to everyone who shared their personal experiences - especially those who went through this recently with similar birth dates. It's so reassuring to hear real-world examples of people who did this successfully. I feel much more confident about the process now and know I won't leave any money on the table by waiting the full 70 years!

Hi Beatrice, I'm so sorry for your loss. As someone new to this community, I've been reading through all these responses and learning so much about WEP and GPO - terms I'd never heard before finding myself in a similar situation. Your "windexing" story really resonated with me because I made similar embarrassing mistakes when I first called Social Security. I asked about "widow's windfall" when I meant survivor benefits, and the representative thought I was asking about some kind of lottery! What strikes me most from everyone's advice is how important it seems to get multiple calculations done. From what I'm gathering, you'll want to compare: 1. Your survivor benefit at age 60 (71.5% of his PIA minus the GPO reduction) 2. Your own retirement benefit (with potential WEP reduction) if you wait 3. Maybe even waiting until your FRA for the full survivor benefit The math everyone's helping you work through is eye-opening - I had no idea government pensions could impact Social Security benefits so dramatically. Thank you for asking this question because it's helping newcomers like me understand what we might be facing too.

I'm new to this community but wanted to reach out after reading your story, Beatrice. First, I'm so sorry for your loss - dealing with Social Security terminology while grieving sounds incredibly overwhelming. Your "windexing" mix-up actually made me feel better about my own confusion with these acronyms! I've been trying to understand WEP and GPO myself as a newcomer here, and everyone's explanations have been so helpful. The way Dallas and Melina broke down the calculations really clarifies how these provisions work. From what I'm learning from all the responses, it sounds like getting those comparative calculations from SSA will be crucial for your decision. The fact that you have both private sector work history AND a teaching pension creates multiple scenarios to evaluate - that's actually potentially good news even if the GPO reduction seems harsh at first glance. Thank you for posting this question. As someone just starting to navigate similar territory, seeing this supportive community help work through real situations like yours is invaluable. The knowledge sharing here is amazing!

I went through this exact same process two years ago when I turned 70 in August. Here's what I learned from my experience: **Timeline is crucial** - I submitted my application in early May (3 months ahead) and it was processed just in time. Any later and I would have been stressed about delays. **Double-check your birth certificate** - Make sure SSA has your correct birth date on file. I discovered a discrepancy in their records that took an extra few weeks to resolve, which could have delayed everything. **Medicare coordination** - Since you're already 70, make sure your Medicare Part B enrollment is coordinated with your Social Security start date. There can be some timing issues if these aren't aligned properly. **Payment schedule reminder** - Your July benefit will arrive in August, but it will be deposited on your designated payment day (typically the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Wednesday of the month based on your birth date). The waiting was definitely worth it - those delayed retirement credits add up to a significant monthly increase. You've done the hard part by waiting this long, so don't let processing delays mess up your careful planning. Start that application in April and you should be all set!

As someone who recently navigated this process, I want to echo what others have said about applying early and being specific about your start date. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - consider calling SSA's main number (1-800-772-1213) about a week after you submit your online application to confirm they received it and that July 2025 is correctly listed as your month of entitlement. I also recommend keeping a simple log of all your interactions - date, time, who you spoke with, confirmation numbers, etc. It sounds excessive, but it really helped when I had to follow up on my application status. The representatives were much more helpful when I could reference specific previous conversations. One more tip: if you're married, make sure to discuss spousal benefit strategies with SSA when you apply. Even though you're maximizing your own benefit by waiting until 70, there might be timing considerations for spousal benefits that could affect your overall household Social Security income. Good luck with your application - you're so close to reaping the rewards of your patience in waiting for those maximum delayed retirement credits!