One additional important factor to consider: survivor benefits. If your husband passes away before you, you would be eligible for survivor benefits equal to 100% of what he was receiving (or entitled to receive). This is why many financial planners recommend the higher-earning spouse delay benefits as long as possible (ideally to age 70), as this maximizes the survivor benefit for the remaining spouse. In your case, if your husband delayed until 70, his benefit would grow to approximately $3,968/month (24% more than at FRA). If he predeceases you, that's the amount you would receive as a survivor benefit - significantly more than either your own benefit or spousal benefit.

As a newcomer to this community, I really appreciate seeing all this detailed information about Social Security strategies! I'm 58 and starting to think about my own retirement planning. One thing I'm wondering about from reading this discussion - @Keisha Taylor, have you considered getting a personalized Social Security statement from the SSA website? It should show your projected benefits at different claiming ages (62, FRA, and 70) which might help with your number-crunching. Also, I've heard that some people benefit from working with a fee-only financial planner who specializes in Social Security optimization. With the complexity of spousal benefits, survivor benefits, and timing strategies that everyone has mentioned, it might be worth the consultation fee to get a personalized analysis of your specific situation. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this has been really educational for someone just starting to navigate these decisions!

Thank you everyone for all the helpful information! To summarize what I've learned: 1) My rental income (both US and Portugal) won't reduce my Social Security benefits 2) Since I'll be at FRA (67), the earnings test won't apply to me anyway 3) I need to watch out for the taxation thresholds since rental income could make more of my SS benefits taxable 4) I should look into the tax treaty between US and Portugal 5) I need to be aware of FBAR requirements for the foreign account This is such a relief! I'll talk to my tax advisor about the taxation issues, but I'm glad my actual benefit amount won't be reduced. Thanks again to everyone who responded!

Great summary Carmen! You've got all the key points covered. Just want to add one more thing that might be helpful - since you mentioned you're turning 67 next year, make sure to apply for your Social Security benefits about 3 months before you want them to start. The application process can take some time, and you don't want any delays in getting your first payment. Also, regarding the Portugal rental income - you'll want to convert those euros to dollars using the average exchange rate for the tax year when reporting on your US tax return. Your tax advisor should be able to help with that, but it's good to keep records of the exchange rates you use. Congratulations on your upcoming retirement!

my neighbor waited till 70 for everything and then died at 72 just sayin

As someone who's been through this exact decision process, I'd recommend also considering getting a personalized Social Security analysis from AARP or a fee-only financial planner. The math you've done looks solid, but there are so many variables (health, other income, tax implications, estate planning goals) that it's worth having a professional run the numbers with all your specific details. One thing I learned: if you do decide to take survivor benefits now, make sure to ask SSA about the "do-over" rule. You have 12 months to change your mind and pay back what you received if you want to restart at a higher benefit later. It's like a safety net for your decision. Also, have you looked into whether your late husband had any delayed retirement credits that might affect your survivor benefit calculations? Sometimes the estimates don't fully capture those nuances.

Thank you all so much for your helpful responses! Based on everything you've shared, I feel much more confident about moving forward with wedding plans. I'm definitely past 60 now, so timing should be fine, but I'll keep all the documentation organized and make reporting the marriage to SSA a priority right after the ceremony. I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and knowledge!

Congratulations on your engagement! Just wanted to add another perspective - I work at a local SSA field office and see this situation fairly regularly. The key points everyone has shared are correct: you must be 60 or older on your actual wedding date, and you need to report the marriage promptly after the ceremony. One tip from the administrative side - when you call or visit to report your marriage, have your Social Security number, your new spouse's Social Security number, and your marriage certificate ready. This will make the process much smoother. Also, don't be surprised if they ask for a copy of your late husband's death certificate again - it's part of their verification process. The agents are usually very helpful with survivor benefit cases, so don't hesitate to ask questions during the reporting process. Best wishes for your upcoming wedding!

Back to your original question - there is NO specific hours limit for any type of employment when collecting retirement benefits. The only thing that matters is the earnings limit before FRA. After FRA, you have no restrictions whatsoever - you can work 100 hours a week and earn millions if you want, with no impact on your Social Security retirement benefits. For those 3 months (Jan-Mar 2025), just keep your earnings under $1,850/month and you'll be fine. Or consider changing your filing date to April as someone suggested.

Great decision Paolo! Just wanted to add that you typically have up to 12 months from your benefit start date to withdraw your application if you change your mind. You'd need to pay back any benefits received, but it's an option if you decide later that waiting until FRA would have been better. Also, if you do stick with the January start date, remember that the earnings test is applied on an annual basis too. So even if you go over $1,850 in one of those months, SSA will also do a yearly calculation that might work in your favor. But honestly, starting in April sounds like the cleaner approach given your work situation!