whatever u decide DOCUMENT EVERYTHING!!! save emails texts everything about what they promised and how they said it would work. SSA can audit u years later and u need proof!!!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through a similar situation last year. I was 68 and took on some consulting work with a bonus that was structured as an employer 401k contribution. The key things I learned: 1) Since you're past FRA, no worries about earnings limits affecting your SS benefits, 2) Make sure you get clarity on whether this is deferred compensation (counts as income for the year you work) or an employer contribution (different tax treatment), and 3) The timing of the deposit matters less than when the income is considered "earned" by IRS standards. I ended up having my tax preparer review everything beforehand and it saved me from any surprises. The documentation advice from others here is spot on - keep everything in writing!

As someone who just went through this process at 68, I completely understand your anxiety! I was terrified of making a mistake too. I ended up doing the online application and it was honestly much easier than I expected. One thing that really helped calm my nerves was creating a my Social Security account first (if you don't already have one) and reviewing my earnings record before applying. That way I could see all my employment history and catch any errors beforehand. The actual application walks you through everything step by step, and you can save your progress if you need to take breaks or gather more information. The key thing at your age is getting those retroactive benefits - make sure to select the earliest possible start date when prompted. Don't let the anxiety keep you waiting any longer! You've earned these benefits and deserve to start receiving them. Good luck!

I'm 71 and just applied online last month after procrastinating for way too long! Like you, I was terrified of messing something up, but it really was straightforward. The whole thing took me about 45 minutes because I kept second-guessing myself and re-reading everything twice. One thing that helped me was calling the SSA general number (1-800-772-1213) BEFORE applying just to ask a quick question about my earnings record. Even though I didn't apply by phone, talking to a real person for 5 minutes gave me confidence that my record looked correct. The online system automatically calculates your benefit amount based on your earnings history - there's no way for you to accidentally request less than you're entitled to. And since you're past FRA, you'll definitely want to request benefits starting as early as possible to get those retroactive payments. Don't wait any longer! I wish I had done it sooner instead of losing sleep over it for months. You've got this!

As someone who went through this exact situation two years ago, I feel your pain! The SSA phone wait times are absolutely brutal. Here's what finally worked for me: I called my local SSA office directly (not the main 1-800 number) and was able to schedule a phone appointment for later that week. Many local offices offer scheduled phone consultations where they call YOU at the appointed time - no waiting on hold! You can find your local office number on the SSA website using your zip code. When I had my scheduled call, the representative was able to calculate my ex-spouse benefit estimate in about 10 minutes. Just make sure you have your ex's full name, date of birth, and SSN ready (which you mentioned you have from old tax returns). The estimate they gave me was spot-on when I actually filed. This approach saved me hours of frustration and I got accurate information from someone who had time to explain everything properly.

I just discovered another option that might help - some SSA offices have self-service kiosks where you can pull certain benefit information without waiting in line. However, I'm not sure if they show ex-spouse benefit estimates specifically. You might also want to check if your local library has a SSA outreach program - mine has a volunteer AARP tax counselor who comes in twice a month and is really knowledgeable about Social Security benefits. She helped my neighbor figure out her widow's benefits without having to deal with SSA directly. It's worth asking your librarian if they have any similar programs. The volunteer couldn't give official estimates, but she walked through the calculation method so my neighbor knew roughly what to expect before making the SSA appointment.

my payment just came thru today! check your accounts everyone

This whole thread has me worried about my upcoming move abroad. Does anyone know if receiving payments on a US bank account and then transferring internationally is more reliable than direct international deposit? I'm on SSDI and absolutely cannot handle payment delays when I move.

This thread has been so useful. I had no idea there were so many options with survivor benefits. Has anyone used a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security planning? Worth it?

Thank you everyone for the helpful information! I feel much better knowing that my husband's early claiming won't permanently reduce what I might receive as a survivor benefit if I wait until my FRA. I'm also intrigued by the strategy of possibly taking survivor benefits at FRA and then switching to my own benefit at 70 if it would be higher with the delayed retirement credits. I've been trying to call SSA to confirm all this for my specific situation but haven't been able to get through. I'll try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. It's such a relief to understand this better - these decisions affect the rest of our lives and it's so hard to find clear information sometimes.