My neighbor said you can just not tell Social Security you got married and keep collecting! But that sounds like fraud to me??

This is such a tough situation that many widows and widowers face. The age 60 rule really does create a difficult choice between love and financial security. One thing that might help is to think about this as a temporary delay rather than a permanent obstacle. Two years can feel like a long time when you're planning a future together, but many couples in your situation have found ways to make it work - maybe having a commitment ceremony or living together while waiting for the official marriage. You might also want to consider whether your partner would be open to contributing financially during those two years to help offset some of the benefit loss if you do decide to marry earlier. It's not ideal, but it could be one way to approach the financial gap. Whatever you decide, make sure you're both on the same page about the financial implications. $54,000 is a significant amount that could really impact your retirement security down the road.

when i went thru this i had to ask for a REVIEW of my file not just talk to the phone people cuz they kept getting it wrong

My situation was kinda similar but I was the younger spouse. The key thing is that your benefit at 62 is permanently reduced, but that doesn't prevent you from getting the difference if the spousal benefit would be higher. But if your own benefit is already higher than 50% of his, then there's no extra money to be had. The 35-year marriage definitely qualifies you though - the 10 year rule is only for divorced spouses.

I wish I'd known that the survivor benefit from my husband might actually be higher than my own benefit. I didn't bring any of his information because I assumed mine would be higher since I was the higher earner. Turns out his delayed retirement credits would have given me a higher monthly amount! Had to make another appointment and delay everything by 3 weeks. Also I wasn't prepared for all the questions about my employer's pension and how it affects Social Security (WEP). If you have a pension from work where you didn't pay Social Security taxes, make sure to ask about that.

Great to see your successful update! As someone who's been helping people navigate Social Security for years, I wanted to add a few more tips for future applicants reading this thread: 1. **Direct deposit setup**: Make sure your bank account info is current and the account has been open for at least 30 days. SSA prefers established accounts to prevent fraud. 2. **Tax withholding decision**: Don't feel pressured to decide on tax withholding during your appointment. You can always change this later by filing Form W-4V or calling SSA. Many people underestimate the tax impact of Social Security benefits. 3. **Medicare coordination**: If you're working past 65 and have employer health insurance, make sure SSA understands your Medicare situation. Sometimes there are coordination issues that need to be addressed. 4. **Keep copies of everything**: Take photos of all documents you bring, and ask for a receipt showing what you submitted. The paper trail is invaluable if issues arise later. Your approach of taking partial retroactive benefits was smart - it's often the best compromise for people who've delayed past FRA. Congratulations on getting through the process!

One more thing to consider: if you're still working, be aware of the earnings limit. For 2025, if you're under Full Retirement Age and collecting any Social Security benefits (including widow's benefits), your benefits will be reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn above $22,320. This isn't permanent though - when you reach Full Retirement Age, SSA will recalculate your benefit amount to give credit for the months they reduced or withheld benefits. So don't let this discourage you from applying, just be aware it might impact the amount you receive initially if you're working.

Good news about your part-time income being under the earnings limit! That means you should be able to receive your full widow's benefit amount without any reductions due to work. Just wanted to add one more resource that might help: when you do get through to SSA, ask them to send you a copy of your husband's earnings record (Form SSA-7050). This will show his complete work history and help confirm whether he was receiving SSDI or SSI. It's free and can be very helpful for understanding your benefit options. Also, if you end up needing to visit a local office eventually, many people don't realize you can sometimes get seen for urgent financial hardship cases without waiting the full 3 months. When you call (or use that Claimyr service), mention that you're experiencing financial hardship as a widow - they sometimes have emergency appointment slots available. Wishing you the best of luck with your application!

I went back to work after 2 years on disability (not nursing, office work). The most important thing is DOCUMENT EVERYTHING!! Write down every call to SSA with date, time, who you spoke to, and what they said. I got conflicting info from 3 different SSA reps and the only way I protected myself was showing I'd followed the guidance I was given. Good luck!

As someone who just went through the return-to-work process after being on SSDI for 3 years, I can't stress enough how important it is to get everything in writing from SSA before you start. I made the mistake of relying on verbal information from phone calls and ended up with a mess when my case worker changed. Here's what I wish I'd known: request a written confirmation of your TWP status before starting any job. If you've never used your TWP months, you're in a great position. The desk job sounds like the smart choice - you can always transition to more demanding work later if your health allows. One more tip: if you do go with the ICU position, consider asking for accommodations under ADA like supportive shoes, compression socks, or frequent breaks. Your employer might be willing to work with you, especially given the nursing shortage. Whatever you decide, don't let fear keep you from trying. The safety nets are there for a reason, and at 61 with your experience, you have valuable skills that shouldn't go to waste if you're able to use them.