does anyone know if they check if ur actually living together for these benefits? asking for a friend lol

Just wanted to add something that might help with your planning - you mentioned your husband's health isn't great. If he becomes disabled and starts receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), that could actually increase his benefit amount, which would then increase your potential survivor benefit too. SSDI benefits are calculated differently and can sometimes be higher than early retirement benefits. Also, if he's currently receiving reduced benefits because he claimed before his full retirement age, those reductions don't carry over to survivor benefits - you'd get his full unreduced amount. So even if you're both expecting $750 now, the actual survivor benefit could end up being more. Definitely worth getting a personalized estimate from SSA when you're ready to make concrete plans.

UPDATE: I called this morning and used the terms you all suggested. Asked specifically about "excess spousal benefits" and "dual entitlement" while keeping my own record. The representative seemed to understand right away! She looked up my case and said there was confusion because I had checked the wrong box on a previous form which made it look like I wanted to switch to spousal benefits completely. She's sending me a new form to fill out, and she made notes in my file about what I'm actually requesting. I also asked to see the calculation once they do it to make sure everything is correct. Thank you all so much for the correct terminology! I feel much more confident now that they understand what I'm asking for.

Congratulations on getting through to someone who understood! That's such a relief after all the confusion. Your experience really shows how important it is to use the correct SSA terminology - "excess spousal benefits" and "dual entitlement" seem to be the magic words that get their attention. It's also really smart that you asked them to make notes in your file about what you're requesting. That should help prevent future mix-ups if you have to call again or deal with different representatives. When you get that new form, take your time filling it out and maybe even call back to confirm you're checking the right boxes before submitting it. After all the hassle you've been through, you want to make sure this gets processed correctly the first time! Keep us posted on how the calculation turns out - your experience could really help other people in similar situations.

Since your sister is already 66, if she was born in 1957 or earlier, she's already at her full retirement age. This means: 1. She can take her own retirement benefit with no reduction (though it would continue growing if she waited until 70) 2. She can take the full survivor benefit with no reduction 3. The earnings test no longer applies, so her work income won't reduce either benefit In this case, the optimal strategy is likely to take the higher of the two benefits now. If her own benefit at age 70 would exceed the survivor benefit due to delayed retirement credits, she could take the survivor benefit now and switch to her own at 70. This is definitely a situation where she should get her exact numbers from SSA before deciding.

I'm so sorry for your sister's loss. Having just gone through this myself when my mom passed last year, I understand how overwhelming it can be during such a difficult time. One thing I'd add to the excellent advice already given is that your sister should consider requesting a "benefit estimate" from SSA that shows her projected monthly amounts for different scenarios. They can calculate: - Her current retirement benefit if taken now - Her retirement benefit if delayed to age 70 (with the 8% annual delayed retirement credits) - The survivor benefit amount This will give her the concrete numbers needed to make the best financial decision. In my mom's case, her own benefit with delayed credits would have eventually exceeded the survivor benefit, so we took the survivor benefit first and planned to switch at 70. Also, don't forget that she may be eligible for a one-time lump sum death benefit of $255 if she hasn't already applied for it. It's not much, but every bit helps with funeral expenses. The switching strategy really is legitimate - it's called "deemed filing" rules don't apply to widow(er)s, giving them unique flexibility that other beneficiaries don't have.

Thanks everyone for the clear answers. I'm relieved to know that only the annual limit applies in my second year (2025). I've been stressing about turning down extra hours in certain months, but now I can just focus on staying under the yearly total of $22,320. I'll make sure to report my expected earnings to SSA as suggested to avoid any surprise overpayments. This forum has been so much more helpful than the official publications!

Just wanted to add one more helpful tip for tracking your earnings - I use a simple spreadsheet to track my monthly income throughout the year so I can see exactly where I stand against that $22,320 limit. Since you mentioned your work has seasonal ups and downs, this might help you plan which months to take on extra hours versus when to scale back. I also set myself a buffer of about $1,000 under the limit just to be safe, since unexpected income can sometimes pop up (like a bonus or extra project). Better to leave a little money on the table than deal with SSA overpayment headaches!

Thank you all for the responses! I think I'm going to try to talk to a Social Security rep directly about my specific situation. Then I'll probably wait until 70 to maximize my benefit since I'm fortunate enough to have some savings to tide me over. It's disappointing that the restricted application strategy isn't available to me, but I appreciate understanding my actual options clearly now.

One additional consideration for your situation: since you mentioned being out of the workforce since 2020 due to health issues, you might want to explore whether you qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). If approved, SSDI benefits automatically convert to retirement benefits at your full retirement age without any reduction. This could potentially bridge the gap if you're struggling financially while waiting until 70. The application process can be lengthy, but it's worth investigating if your health condition meets SSA's definition of disability. You can apply online or through that Claimyr service mentioned earlier to speak with an agent about eligibility requirements.