Another factor to consider that hasn't been mentioned much here is inflation protection. Social Security benefits have built-in cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) that help protect against inflation over time. If you take benefits early at a reduced amount, those COLA increases are applied to that smaller base for the rest of your life. For example, if your FRA benefit would be $2,000 but you take $1,400 at 62, and there's a 3% COLA increase, you get 3% of $1,400 ($42) rather than 3% of $2,000 ($60). Over decades, this compounds significantly. Also, @Giovanni Ricci, since you mentioned you're still working part-time, make sure you understand the earnings test. In 2025, if you're under FRA and earn more than $21,240, Social Security reduces your benefits by $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit. This could effectively make your early benefits even smaller if you continue working. The decision really depends on your complete financial picture, health, and family longevity. But mathematically, most people benefit from waiting at least until FRA, especially if they're married and the higher earner.

I'm in a similar situation and found that the key is looking at multiple calculators to get a complete picture. Besides the ones mentioned here, I also used the calculator on FidSafe.com and the one from T. Rowe Price - they each show slightly different perspectives. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track the cumulative benefits over time. I put in my estimated benefit amounts at different claiming ages (62, FRA, and 70) and calculated the running totals year by year. It makes it really visual to see when the lines cross. For what it's worth, I decided to wait until my FRA after doing this analysis, even though it was tempting to take the money at 62. The peace of mind knowing I'll have a higher monthly payment for life (and that my spouse will too if I go first) was worth more to me than having the money a few years earlier. Good luck with your decision - it sounds like you're doing your homework, which is the most important thing!

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I really appreciate this community. Based on your answers, it sounds like the amount I'm seeing ($4,217) does already include the 2025 COLA, but I should be prepared for possibly small adjustments before my first payment. I'll also remember to account for Medicare premiums and tax withholding. I think I'll try that Claimyr service mentioned above just to get final confirmation from SSA directly. After months of paperwork and waiting, I want to make sure everything is 100% correct before I start making financial plans based on this income. Will update once I get my award letter!

Congratulations on your approval, Miguel! It's such a relief when that finally comes through after all the waiting. Just wanted to add one more thing that others touched on - when you get your first payment, make sure to check your bank account carefully. Sometimes SSA will send a separate notice if there are any adjustments, but the first indication might just be a slightly different deposit amount than expected. Also, since you mentioned budgeting accurately, don't forget that Social Security benefits may be subject to federal income tax depending on your total income. If your combined income (Social Security + other income + half of your SS benefits) exceeds certain thresholds, up to 85% of your benefits could be taxable. Just something to keep in mind for tax planning! Good luck with everything and thanks for sharing your experience - it helps others going through the same process!

Just wanted to add that you should also consider requesting a Social Security Statement (online at ssa.gov/myaccount) to see your exact FRA benefit amount before you make the final decision. This will give you the precise numbers rather than estimates. Also, if you're still working, remember that withdrawing your application means you can continue earning credits toward your Social Security record, which might increase your benefit amount even more by the time you reach FRA. Good luck with your decision!

I went through this exact process about 18 months ago and wanted to share my experience. The withdrawal process itself was straightforward - I submitted Form SSA-521 with a certified check for the full gross amount I'd received. The tricky part was calculating exactly what to repay since I had to include not just the net benefit but also any taxes that were withheld. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: keep detailed records of everything! I saved copies of all my benefit statements and the withdrawal paperwork because when I reapplied at my FRA, they asked for documentation. Also, don't forget that if you had any family members receiving benefits on your record (like a spouse), their benefits will also be affected by the withdrawal. The peace of mind knowing I'll get my full FRA benefit was worth the temporary inconvenience. Just make sure you can financially manage without the payments until you reach your FRA - that gap can be longer than you think!

To summarize the key points that might help you decide: 1. Filing at 62 means a permanent 30% reduction to your retirement benefit 2. Later, when your husband files, you'll be eligible for spousal benefits equal to the greater of: - Your own reduced benefit, OR - A reduced spousal benefit 3. The reduced spousal benefit would be calculated as: [50% of your husband's PIA - 100% of your PIA] plus a reduction factor based on your age when you first filed (62) 4. Since your husband's benefit is about twice yours, you'll likely get some additional amount when he files, but it won't be the full difference between your benefit and 50% of his If possible, I'd recommend setting up an appointment with an SSA claims specialist who can run the exact numbers for your situation.

I'm in a somewhat similar situation and wanted to add a perspective on the health factor you mentioned. I had to make this decision last year due to a chronic condition that made full-time work difficult. While it's true that filing at 62 permanently reduces your benefits, sometimes the financial security of having that income stream outweighs the optimization calculations. The stress of not having income while dealing with health issues can be significant. One thing that helped me was calculating the "break-even" point - how many years I'd need to live to make up for the money I'd lose by not taking benefits early. Given your husband's higher benefit, you'll still get some boost when he files later, even though it won't be the full spousal amount. Have you looked into whether you might qualify for SSDI based on your health issues? Sometimes people overlook that option, and SSDI isn't subject to the early retirement reductions.

Update: We finally got through to SSA yesterday and started the application. The representative confirmed what several of you said - my nephew can receive both benefits, but the OPM benefit will be reduced by whatever he gets from Social Security. She estimated his monthly SS benefit will be around $1,875. We also got the OPM paperwork started with a benefits specialist (thank you for that suggestion!). They're estimating about $2,140 monthly, so if those numbers are accurate, he would get the full SS benefit ($1,875) plus the difference from OPM ($265). Thank you all SO much for the help and guidance. This has been an overwhelming time and your expertise made a huge difference.

I'm so sorry for your family's loss. As someone who works in federal benefits administration, I want to emphasize how important it is that you got the correct information from SSA. The HR person's initial explanation was misleading - while technically your nephew can't receive the "full" amount of both benefits simultaneously due to the offset, he absolutely should apply for both to ensure he receives the maximum possible benefit. One additional thing to keep in mind: make sure your sister understands that these benefits will continue until your nephew turns 18 (or 19 if still in high school). The OPM benefit can extend to 22 if he's a full-time college student, but the Social Security portion stops at 18/19. This might affect financial planning for his later college years. Also, definitely follow up on the FEGLI suggestion - federal employees often have basic life insurance that's separate from these survivor annuities, and that could provide additional financial support for your nephew's future.