One more thing to consider - when you apply in January 2025, your benefit won't actually start until February, and your first payment will arrive in March. Social Security pays a month behind, so February's payment comes in March, March's in April, etc. Make sure you have enough savings to tide you over during that initial gap, especially if your work situation is uncertain!

I'm in a similar boat - turned 69 last month and considering filing soon rather than waiting until 70. One thing I learned from my financial advisor is that you can actually change your mind about the timing up until you receive your first payment. So if you file in January but your work situation stabilizes, you could potentially withdraw your application before February and wait until 70 after all. Also, regarding your question about continuing to work - I've been tracking this closely and yes, even after you start benefits, any year where your earnings are higher than one of your current "top 35" earning years will boost your benefit. The recalculation happens automatically, though as others mentioned, it can take several months to show up. The key thing is having that financial cushion for the transition period. Sounds like you're being smart and practical about your situation rather than just following the "always wait until 70" advice that doesn't account for real-world uncertainties.

Congratulations on getting it sorted out! Your experience is really helpful for others facing the same issue. It's great to know that Cook County will actually process these as emergency requests when you show up in person with your SSA appointment letter. $15 is definitely worth it to avoid all the stress and potential delays. Hope your spousal benefits application goes smoothly from here!

This thread is so helpful! I'm bookmarking it for future reference. It's amazing how many people run into this exact same problem with old marriage certificates and SSA applications. The fact that Cook County will do emergency processing with an SSA appointment letter is information that really should be more widely known. For anyone else reading this, it sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Don't rely on online systems for urgent requests, 2) Go in person with your SSA appointment letter if possible, 3) Bring backup documentation like old tax returns just in case, and 4) Get extra copies while you're there since they're only $4 each. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice that makes these government processes less intimidating!

One additional consideration - if you decide to keep working until May to maximize your benefit, remember you can actually file for benefits up to 4 months before you want them to start. So you could submit your application in January 2025 but specify May 2025 as your benefit start date. This gives SSA time to process everything so there's no delay in your payments once May arrives.

Just wanted to add that you should also consider checking your Social Security Statement online at ssa.gov/myaccount to see your projected benefit amounts at different claiming ages. This will give you the exact dollar figures for your situation rather than estimates. The statement shows your benefits at age 62, full retirement age, and age 70, so you can see precisely how much that 4-month difference would cost you monthly. It might help you make a more informed decision about whether to tough it out until May or not. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Thank you all so much for the helpful information! I feel much better understanding that I could switch to my husband's higher benefit if needed. I'll definitely reach out to SSA directly for specific calculations, and I appreciate the tip about Claimyr if I have trouble getting through. The information about reporting quickly and keeping documents organized is really valuable too. It's not a pleasant topic to think about, but I feel more prepared now.

I'm glad you found all this information helpful, Javier! Just to add one more resource - the Social Security Administration has a helpful publication called "Survivors Benefits" (Publication No. 05-10084) that you can find on their website at ssa.gov. It breaks down all the rules in plain language. Also, don't forget that if you do become eligible for survivor benefits, you can potentially delay claiming them (if you're not already receiving your own retirement benefits) to earn delayed retirement credits up until age 70, which could increase the monthly amount. Since you're both already receiving benefits, this wouldn't apply to your situation, but it's good to know for others reading this thread. Take care!

My bad on my early response, I think I misunderstood your situation. That monthly earnings test is right - I didn't qualify for it because I worked part-time all year rather than fully retiring at a specific date. Good luck with your retirement!

Great discussion everyone! Just wanted to add one more tip for anyone in a similar situation - when you apply for benefits, make sure to clearly indicate your retirement date on your application. SSA uses this information to determine whether you qualify for the monthly earnings test in your first year. If there's any confusion about when you actually retired versus when you started collecting benefits, it can cause processing delays or errors like some folks mentioned here. Also, keep copies of everything - your retirement letter from HR, final paystub, and any documentation showing you stopped working on your stated retirement date. This will save you headaches if SSA needs clarification later!