Good luck with calling tomorrow morning! Just a tip - I've found that calling right when they open (usually 9 AM) gives you the best chance of getting through quickly. Also, if you do end up needing to mail or fax documentation, make sure to include your Social Security number on every page and keep copies for your records. The whole WEP situation is frustrating, but you're doing the right thing by reporting it promptly to avoid any overpayment issues down the road.

Just wanted to share my experience as another newcomer here - I went through something similar last month when my state pension increased. I called my local SSA office at exactly 9 AM like Carmen suggested and got through in about 10 minutes! The representative was super helpful and walked me through exactly what they needed. They made a note in my file right away and said I'd get a letter in 2-3 weeks if my benefit amount changes. One thing that really helped was having my pension administrator's letter with the exact new monthly amount ready when I called. They asked for the effective date of the increase too, so make sure you have that info handy. Good luck with your call tomorrow Reginald!

Great point about IRMAA surcharges! That's something many people overlook. The Medicare high-income surcharges are based on your tax return from 2 years prior, so a large lump sum in 2025 could definitely impact your Medicare premiums in 2027. For someone in your situation still working with good income, you might want to run the numbers on whether spreading the benefit start over two tax years (like the January 2026 filing strategy mentioned earlier) could help you avoid crossing the IRMAA thresholds. The first IRMAA tier starts at $106,000 for individuals in 2025, and it goes up from there. Also, don't forget that if you do end up with a big tax bill from the retroactive benefits, you might need to make estimated tax payments to avoid underpayment penalties. The IRS doesn't care that it all came in one lump sum - they expect you to pay quarterly if you're going to owe more than $1,000.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm amazed at how many nuanced factors go into Social Security timing decisions! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly educational. @Dominic Green, your situation sounds similar to what my parents might face soon. One thing I'm wondering about - has anyone here worked with a tax professional specifically on Social Security timing strategies? With all these interconnected issues (IRMAA, estimated payments, bracket management, state taxes potentially), it seems like the complexity might warrant professional guidance beyond just calling SSA directly. Also, for those who've gone through this process, how accurate were your initial benefit estimates from the SSA website compared to what you actually received? I'm helping my parents plan and want to make sure we're working with realistic numbers for all these tax calculations. Thanks to everyone sharing their real experiences - it's so much more valuable than just reading the official SSA publications!

Since you're planning to continue working part-time while collecting, also be aware of how your earnings will be calculated for the earnings test. SSA counts income when it's earned, not when it's paid. So December bonuses count for December even if paid in January. Good news is that once you reach your Full Retirement Age, the earnings test no longer applies - you can earn any amount without reduction in benefits. For the year you reach FRA, there's a higher limit and a lower penalty rate for the months before your birthday month. Regarding application timing - I recommend applying approximately 2 months before you want benefits to begin. The SSA's processing times can vary dramatically depending on their workload and staffing.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who did exactly what you're planning! I took Medicare at 65 but delayed SS for about a year. The key things that worked for me: 1. Applied for SS benefits exactly 8 weeks before I wanted them to start - perfect timing 2. Set up automatic Medicare premium payments through my bank since I wouldn't have SS to deduct from 3. Created a my Social Security account online early to track my estimated benefits as they grew each month One thing I wish I'd known: if you're getting any kind of pension or 401k distributions while waiting, make sure those won't affect your future SS benefits calculation. Most won't, but it's worth double-checking. Also, since you mentioned reducing to 20 hours - that's actually a sweet spot for many people. You keep some income flowing while your SS benefits increase, plus you might qualify for some ACA marketplace subsidies if your employer plan gets too expensive. Good luck with your plan!

This is such valuable information about children's benefits! I'm the original poster and I'm so glad @Giovanni Rossi brought this up. I had been so focused on my own benefit eligibility that I completely overlooked what might be available for my kids. Just to clarify - when you say children can get benefits when their parent retires, does this apply even if the parent remarries? My ex got remarried last year, and I wasn't sure if that would affect anything for our children's potential benefits. Also, would my own remarriage impact my kids' eligibility in any way? I'm definitely going to organize all his employment and SSN information better now. It's reassuring to know that even though I missed out on the 10-year rule, my children still have these potential benefits available to them. Thank you for sharing your expertise!

As someone who's navigated similar Social Security questions, I want to echo what others have said about the 10-year rule being absolute - there truly are no exceptions for having children together when it comes to divorced spouse retirement benefits. I learned this the hard way when helping my sister with her situation. However, I'm really glad @Giovanni Rossi brought up the children's benefits aspect! This is something many people overlook. Your kids having potential access to benefits on their father's record is actually quite valuable, especially since your youngest will still be under 18 when your ex reaches early retirement age. One thing I'd add is to consider creating a simple file with all the relevant information - your ex's full name, SSN, dates of employment at major jobs, etc. You never know when circumstances might change, and having this organized will make any future applications much smoother. I've seen too many people scramble to find this information when they need it most. It's frustrating about missing the 10-year mark by such a small margin, but focusing on maximizing your own earnings record and knowing about your children's potential benefits gives you a clearer path forward for retirement planning.

Update: I used the office locator and found my local SSA office address. I'm going to go in person tomorrow with my completed W-4V form and request a receipt. Thanks everyone for your help! Hoping to get this resolved before the next tax year starts.

I went through this same process about 6 months ago and can share what worked for me. I ended up mailing my W-4V to my local SSA office using certified mail with return receipt requested - cost about $6 but gave me peace of mind knowing they received it. The withholding started showing up on my benefits about 5 weeks later. One thing to note: they don't send you any confirmation letter when the withholding begins, so you'll only know it worked when you see the reduced payment amount on your monthly deposit. I'd recommend keeping track of your monthly benefit amounts so you can tell right away when the withholding kicks in. Good luck with getting this sorted out!