Thank you all for the amazingly helpful responses! I'm leaning toward claiming at 62 based on our specific situation with the age gap and eventual spousal boost. I'll make sure to discuss with my husband about him possibly delaying until 70 for the survivor benefit protection. I'm going to try contacting SSA directly before making my final decision - hopefully I can get through without hours of waiting (thanks for the Claimyr suggestion). The earnings test information was also really valuable since I do plan to continue part-time work. I'll need to keep an eye on those limits.This has been incredibly helpful - I feel much more confident about making this decision now!

Welcome to the community! As a newcomer here, I've been reading through all these responses and they're incredibly thorough. One thing I'd add from my recent experience - when you do contact SSA, ask them to run scenarios for both claiming at 62 vs waiting until FRA using your actual earnings record. Sometimes the online calculators don't capture everything, especially if you have gaps in earnings or pension offsets that could affect your benefits. Also, since you mentioned potentially working part-time, make sure to understand how the earnings test works in practice - some people get surprised when their checks are reduced temporarily. The community here seems really knowledgeable and supportive for navigating these complex decisions!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation - widow at 58, married for 12 years before my husband passed. One thing I'd add that helped me tremendously was creating a Social Security account online at ssa.gov. You can see your estimated benefits and your late spouse's earnings record (if you were married when he passed). This gave me a clearer picture of what to expect before I even contacted them. Also, for those worried about the reduced benefit at 60 - remember that you're getting 7 years of payments that you wouldn't get if you waited until FRA. Sometimes the total lifetime benefit works out to be similar, especially if you invest those early payments. It really depends on your health, other income, and financial needs. One last tip: if you do decide to claim early, make sure you understand how it affects Medicare eligibility. You don't automatically get Medicare at 60 just because you're getting Social Security survivor benefits - you still have to wait until 65 (unless you qualify for disability). This caught me off guard in my planning!

I'm new to this community but going through something similar - my husband passed away two years ago and I'm trying to understand my options. This thread has been so educational! I had no idea about the difference between divorced spouse benefits (10-year requirement) and survivor benefits (9-month requirement). One question I haven't seen addressed - does anyone know if there are any special considerations for government employees? My late husband worked for the postal service for most of his career, and I've heard conflicting information about whether federal employment affects Social Security benefits differently. I'm wondering if this might impact survivor benefits too. Also, I really appreciate everyone sharing their real experiences and actual dollar amounts. It helps so much more than just reading the official SSA website! The tip about applying 4 months early is gold - I'm still a few years away from 60 but I'm definitely going to remember that.

This thread is a perfect example of why this community is so valuable! As someone who works in banking, I see customers panic about unexpected deposits all the time, and Giovanni's methodical approach here was exactly right - don't touch the money, seek official verification, and be aware of potential scams. The W2 correction scenario is actually quite common but most people don't realize it can trigger automatic SSA adjustments. I'm also impressed that the Claimyr service actually worked - we often recommend it to customers struggling with government agency hold times. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences, and especially to Giovanni for the detailed follow-up. This whole discussion will be incredibly helpful for anyone facing similar mysterious deposits!

As someone new to this community, I'm incredibly impressed by the depth of knowledge and supportiveness shown in this thread! Giovanni's situation really demonstrates how many different factors can lead to unexpected SSA deposits - from W2 corrections to potential scams to survivor benefits. What struck me most was the systematic approach everyone recommended: don't touch the money, verify through official channels, and be aware of fraud attempts. The Claimyr service recommendation seems like a game-changer for dealing with SSA hold times. I'm bookmarking this entire discussion as a reference guide. It's such a relief that everything worked out legitimately with the W2 correction - this whole thread will be invaluable for anyone facing similar mysterious deposits in the future. Thanks to everyone for sharing such practical, real-world insights!

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! Sounds like waiting those extra months after I retire in June will definitely be worth it for the permanent increase. I've decided to go ahead with my plan, but I now understand it's the number of months delayed that matters, not specifically waiting for my birthday. I'll probably file in January or February next year to get those extra delay credits.

Great decision, Freya! Just wanted to add one more consideration since you mentioned retiring in June but not filing until January/February - make sure you understand how this impacts your taxes. Those delay credits will increase your monthly benefit permanently, but remember that Social Security benefits can be taxable depending on your other income. Since you'll have earned income for part of 2025, it might be worth running the numbers with a tax professional to see if there's an optimal filing month from a tax perspective. Sometimes spreading the income across tax years can be beneficial. Good luck with your retirement!

After seeing your responses, I want to add: when you call back, specifically request to speak with someone in the SSI department who specializes in childhood disability claims. General representatives sometimes don't have specific training on these cases. For the expedited installment exception (to get the full backpay for medical equipment), you'll need: 1. Form SSA-5002 completed 2. Doctor's letter specifically stating what equipment is needed and why it's urgent 3. Cost estimate/invoice for the equipment 4. Statement explaining the hardship of waiting for installments Keep detailed notes of all conversations including the date, time, representative's name, and what was discussed. This documentation will be invaluable if there are further issues.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this confusion - unfortunately it's way too common with SSA representatives giving incorrect information. Just wanted to add that when you do call back, you might also want to ask about the "presumptive disability" rules that can sometimes apply to children. If your granddaughter's condition qualifies, you might be entitled to benefits going back even further than the application date (up to 3 months prior). Also, regarding the medical equipment - document EVERYTHING about what she needs and why the delays are harmful to her development/health. The more medical documentation you have showing urgency, the stronger your case for getting the full backpay amount upfront rather than in installments. Some conditions qualify for "compassionate allowances" which can expedite the whole process. You're doing an amazing job advocating for her - don't let one misinformed rep discourage you from getting what she's entitled to!