To answer your follow-up question: No, if you file for benefits and then suspend them (using the voluntary suspension option available after Full Retirement Age), ALL benefits based on your record - including your daughter's - would stop during the suspension period. This is due to changes made by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. So unfortunately, there's no way to "have your cake and eat it too" in this situation. You either: 1. File now at 68 - you get reduced benefits for life but your daughter gets benefits until 18 2. Wait until 70 - you get maximum benefits for life but your daughter gets nothing until you file (by which time she'll be 16, so only 2 years of eligibility) Given your family history of longevity (parents living to their 90s), waiting until 70 might still be your best financial strategy, despite missing out on some child benefits. At age 90, you would have received substantially more by waiting, even accounting for your daughter's benefits.

I'm a newcomer here but have been researching this exact situation for my own family. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the family maximum benefit cap. Social Security has a limit on the total amount that can be paid to a family based on one worker's record - typically 150-180% of the worker's PIA. In your case with just you and your daughter receiving benefits, you probably won't hit this cap, but it's worth asking SSA about when you call. Also, since your wife is still working and younger, you might want to consider how her future benefits factor into your overall retirement income strategy. Another consideration: if your daughter plans to attend college, those child benefits could help with education expenses during her last few years of eligibility. Some families find it helpful to have that guaranteed income stream for college planning, even if the overall math slightly favors waiting until 70. Have you considered doing a consultation with a Social Security claiming strategist? Given the complexity and the dollar amounts involved, it might be worth the fee to get personalized analysis.

As someone who just turned 62 and is starting to research all this, I'm honestly shocked by how many people have missed out on benefits they were entitled to! Reading through everyone's experiences, it seems like there's a real disconnect between what SSA is supposed to do (ask about marital history and check all records) and what actually happens in practice. The fact that Victoria from SSA confirmed you have to explicitly request the calculation comparison is both helpful and frustrating - why isn't this just standard procedure? I'm definitely saving this thread and will be very specific when I eventually apply. Hunter, it sounds like you're well-prepared now with all this advice - I hope your application goes smoothly in February!

This entire thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm 64 and was actually planning to file for my own benefits next year without even thinking about my ex-spouse's record. We were married for 12 years before divorcing in 2010, and I never remarried. Reading about people missing out on hundreds of dollars per month for YEARS because they didn't know to ask is honestly terrifying. Victoria's advice about the specific wording to use is gold - "calculate my benefits on both my own work record AND my ex-spouse's record to see which gives me the higher amount." I'm writing that down exactly! It's really disappointing that we have to be so proactive about something that should be standard practice, but I'm grateful everyone shared their experiences here. Hunter, you've probably saved yourself thousands of dollars by asking this question!

my mom got widows benefits and they messed up her payments THREE TIMES!! had to keep calling and fixing it. make sure you check EVERY STATEMENT when you get benefits!!!

As a newcomer here, I just wanted to say how helpful this discussion has been! I'm in a similar situation with my spouse and had been agonizing over the timing decision. The math breakdown showing it would take 11+ years just to break even by waiting 7 months for that small $33 increase really puts it in perspective. One question though - when people mention "spousal benefit is 50% of FRA amount," does that mean 50% of what the higher earner would get at their full retirement age, or 50% of what they actually get when they claim at 70? I want to make sure I'm understanding this correctly for our own planning. Thanks to everyone who's shared their knowledge here!

I just wanted to thank everyone for the helpful advice. I called SSA this morning (finally got through after trying for 2 hours) and got confirmation that it's definitely WEP affecting my benefits. The agent walked me through my earnings record and confirmed I have 22 years of substantial earnings under Social Security. The good news: working just 3 more years would reduce my WEP penalty by about $300/month! That makes a huge difference, so I'm now planning to work until 2028 instead of retiring in 2025. Not ideal, but better than trying to live on significantly reduced benefits for the rest of my life. For anyone else in this situation - definitely call and ask for a detailed WEP calculation and how additional working years would change it. The differences can be substantial!

I'm so glad you were able to get through to SSA and get clarity on your situation! Your experience really highlights how important it is for people to understand WEP before making retirement plans. Just to add to what others have shared - you might also want to check if your state has any supplemental programs or if your teacher's pension system offers any additional benefits that could help offset the WEP reduction. Some states have created programs specifically to help public employees who are affected by WEP/GPO. Also, when you're planning those additional 3 years of work, consider whether maximizing your earnings during those years (if possible) could provide any additional benefit beyond just meeting the substantial earnings threshold. Every little bit helps when you're dealing with WEP reductions. Thanks for sharing your update - it's really helpful for others who might be facing the same shock you experienced!

Just to add some perspective here - claiming at 64 instead of 66+4mo (OP's FRA) means approximately a 13-14% permanent reduction in benefits. While that's significant, sometimes life circumstances make early claiming necessary, as was the case here. The good news is that working now won't change the existing benefit amount, but might lead to slightly higher benefits after the annual recalculation if this year's earnings are higher than one of the 35 years used in the original calculation.

As someone who recently navigated a similar situation, I wanted to add a few practical tips for your transition back to work: 1. **Set up quarterly tax payments** - Since you'll likely owe taxes on your SS benefits now, consider making estimated quarterly payments to avoid a big bill at year-end. Your accountant neighbor might be able to help with this! 2. **Keep detailed records** - Even though there's no earnings limit after FRA, I still track everything for my own peace of mind and tax purposes. 3. **Consider the timing** - Since you're starting mid-year, your 2025 income will be prorated. This might keep you well below any Medicare premium thresholds even with future raises. 4. **Health insurance coordination** - Make sure you understand how any employer health benefits might coordinate with Medicare if your new employer offers coverage. Congratulations on finding a position that works with your caregiving situation! It's wonderful that you can get back into the workforce while still being available for your husband. Best of luck with the new job!