This whole situation is exactly why I always recommend new beneficiaries check their my Social Security account online regularly during their first few months. The SSA website does show your payment schedule, but you have to dig for it. I know it's not intuitive, but if you log into your account and look under "Benefit Payments," it should show your scheduled payment dates going forward. That way you can plan ahead instead of being surprised like this. I learned this the hard way when I helped my mom navigate her benefits last year. The lack of proactive communication from SSA is really frustrating for people who depend on these payments for their monthly budgets.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! I started receiving benefits in November 2024 and my birthday is on the 23rd. Got my November and December payments on the 3rd like clockwork, but then nothing on January 3rd. I was panicking until I found this thread! Just checked my SSA account online like Dylan suggested and sure enough, my January payment is scheduled for the 22nd (fourth Wednesday). It's really frustrating that they don't send any kind of notification about this change. I've already had to explain to my landlord why my rent will be late this month. Going to start calling all my creditors tomorrow to adjust due dates. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least now I know I'm not alone and this is "normal" (even though it shouldn't be such a surprise!).

I'm in a very similar situation! I started collecting my benefits at 63 (needed the income after losing my job) and just turned 74. My ex and I were married for 16 years, and I never remarried either. Reading through these responses has been so helpful - I had no idea I might be eligible for divorced spouse benefits even though I'm already collecting my own reduced benefits. One thing I'm wondering about that I haven't seen mentioned yet - does anyone know if there's a time limit on how long after your divorce you can apply for these benefits? We've been divorced for almost 20 years now, and I'm worried I might have waited too long to look into this option. Also, for those who have successfully switched or supplemented their benefits - how long did the whole process take from application to receiving the increased payments? I'm hoping it's not a months-long wait since I'm living pretty tight on my current benefit amount. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences here - this community is such a valuable resource!

I'm in a somewhat similar situation - took early retirement benefits at 64 and wondering about divorced spouse benefits now. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly educational! One thing I'd like to add for anyone considering this: make sure you gather ALL your paperwork before contacting SSA. I learned this the hard way when dealing with disability paperwork years ago. Having your marriage certificate, divorce decree, and any other relevant documents organized beforehand can really speed up the process. Also, don't be discouraged if the first person you speak with isn't fully knowledgeable about divorced spouse benefits - as several people mentioned, the rules are complex and not all representatives are equally informed. Be prepared to explain your situation clearly and don't hesitate to ask to speak with a supervisor or specialist if needed. Sophia, I really hope this works out for you! Even a modest increase can make such a difference in monthly budgeting. Keep us posted on how it goes - your experience could help others in similar situations.

Congratulations on your retirement! Just wanted to add one more consideration that might be relevant to your situation. Since you mentioned depreciation recapture of about $92,000, make sure your tax preparer properly categorizes this on your return. While depreciation recapture is generally treated as capital gains (which doesn't count toward the earnings test), there can be some nuances depending on how your business was structured and whether any portion might be considered ordinary income. Also, when you do apply in January 2025, make sure to have all your 2024 tax documents ready. The SSA will want to see your final W-2 and tax return to verify your actual earned income for the earnings test calculation. Since you're planning to use Claimyr to speak with an agent, you might also ask them about the special monthly earnings test that can sometimes apply in your first year of retirement - it might provide some additional flexibility if your circumstances change. Good luck with your retirement planning!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is Medicare considerations. Since you're planning to retire at 62, you won't be eligible for Medicare until 65. If your business provided health insurance, make sure you have a plan for coverage during those 3 years. You might be eligible for COBRA from your business (if it had enough employees), or you'll need to look into ACA marketplace plans. This is especially important since you're planning to delay Social Security until 2025 - you want to make sure your healthcare costs are factored into your retirement budget. The good news is that your 2024 high income year shouldn't affect Medicare premiums since those are based on income from 2 years prior.

Thank you everyone for all the helpful responses! I understand now that my husband had it completely backwards. He cannot claim on my record, especially since my benefit would be lower than his. I'm the one who could potentially receive spousal benefits. I think I'll wait until I'm closer to my full retirement age before filing since I'm still working part-time anyway. That way I can avoid both the early filing reduction and the earnings limit penalty. I appreciate all the clear explanations!

You're making a smart decision waiting until closer to your FRA! Just one additional thing to consider - since you're still working part-time, make sure to factor in the earnings test if you do decide to file before your full retirement age. In 2024, if you're under FRA, Social Security reduces your benefits by $1 for every $2 you earn above $22,320 annually. However, those "lost" benefits aren't truly lost - they get added back to your monthly benefit amount once you reach FRA through a recalculation. Also, don't forget that continuing to work might actually increase your future Social Security benefit if your current earnings are higher than some of your earlier years, since SSA uses your highest 35 years of earnings to calculate your benefit. Good luck with your planning!

I'm a case worker who's dealt with these SSI/DAC interaction issues many times. Based on your description, SSA definitely made an error by not including the allocation for your 12-year-old son. Here's what you should do immediately: 1. Call SSA and request an "informal conference" - this is faster than a formal reconsideration 2. Specifically state: "You failed to apply the ineligible child allocation for my 12-year-old son in the deeming calculation" 3. Have your son's birth certificate and proof he lives with you ready 4. Request continuation of benefits during the review (you have 10 days from the notice date) The math should be: Your DAC ($1640) - $20 general exclusion - $522 ineligible child allocation = $1098 subject to deeming, not the full amount they're currently using. This error could be costing you around $185/month in your daughter's SSI. Don't let them brush you off - this is a clear calculation error on their part.

This is such a common mistake by SSA! I went through the exact same thing when I started receiving DAC benefits and my younger sister was on SSI. They completely overlooked the allocation for my non-disabled brother who was living with us. Here's what worked for me: I called the 1-800 number first thing in the morning (around 8 AM seems to be the best time to get through) and immediately asked to speak with someone about a "deeming calculation error involving missing ineligible child allocation." Using those specific terms seemed to help get me transferred to someone who actually understood the issue instead of getting bounced around. The rep was able to see the error right away once I explained it, and they corrected it within about 2 weeks. I also got back pay for the months they had calculated it wrong. Make sure you emphasize that this is a calculation error, not a change in circumstances - that helped move things along faster in my case. Don't give up if the first person you talk to doesn't understand. I had to call back twice before I got someone who knew what they were talking about. Good luck!