One thing that hasn't been mentioned: if your late wife's benefit at her FRA would have been HIGHER than your own benefit at your FRA, you might want to consider a different strategy! You could: 1. Take your OWN reduced retirement benefit now at 65 2. Then at your FRA, switch to the FULL survivor benefit This works if her benefit > your benefit. The calculations get complicated, so you really should discuss with an SSA representative who can run the numbers for your specific situation.

I'm so sorry for the loss of your wife, Jamal. I went through something similar when my husband passed away two years ago. Based on my experience and what others have shared here, I'd definitely encourage you to go ahead and apply for the survivor benefits now. Even though your benefits will be reduced due to your earnings, you'll still receive some money each month that can help with those medical bills. The key thing to remember is that this isn't really about "stopping" benefits - it's about how the system automatically adjusts based on your income. One practical tip: when you do get connected with SSA again (and I second the recommendation about trying Claimyr if you need to call), ask them to calculate exactly how much you'd receive monthly with your current income. That way you can budget accordingly and know what to expect. The peace of mind knowing you're getting some financial help while preserving your full retirement benefit for later is really valuable. I wish I had understood these options better when I was first navigating this process.

One important warning that nobody has mentioned: if any of his early lower-paying jobs were with employers not covered by Social Security (like some government or education positions), he might be subject to the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) which could actually REDUCE his Social Security benefit. This happens if he's receiving a pension from non-covered work. Similarly, if you're collecting a government pension from non-SS-covered work, your spousal benefits could be reduced by the Government Pension Offset (GPO) provision. Might be worth checking if these apply to your situation.

Just wanted to add one more consideration that might be helpful - since your husband is continuing to work past FRA, make sure you're both maximizing tax-advantaged savings opportunities! He can still contribute to a 401(k) if his employer offers one, and at his age he's eligible for catch-up contributions ($7,500 extra in 2024). This can help offset some of the higher tax burden from having both SS benefits and earned income. Also, if he has access to an HSA through work, that's triple tax-advantaged and can be a great supplement for healthcare costs in retirement. The combination of continued earnings replacing lower years in his SS calculation PLUS maximizing these tax-deferred savings can really optimize your overall retirement picture during these working years past FRA.

It's worth noting that any benefit increase from post-retirement earnings will likely be modest. This is because: 1. Only earnings that replace lower years in the top 35 will impact the calculation 2. The benefit formula gives less weight to higher earnings 3. Post-FRA recalculations don't include delayed retirement credits For example, if your father's recent $130K earnings replace a year where he earned $50K (after indexing), this might only increase his monthly benefit by $20-40. The exact amount depends on his complete earnings history. That said, even small increases add up over time, and if he's been missing these adjustments for years, the back pay could be substantial. Definitely worth pursuing.

As someone who just went through this process with my own parent, I'd strongly recommend your dad also request a copy of his complete earnings record (Form SSA-7050) when he contacts them. This will show exactly which years are being used in his benefit calculation and help verify that his recent higher earnings are actually being counted. One thing that caught my attention - you mentioned he worked for the government before starting his consulting business. If any of his government work was under a different retirement system (like FERS or state retirement), make sure those earnings are properly credited to his Social Security record too. Sometimes there can be gaps or missing years that affect the calculation. Also, don't let them tell him that because he's past 70, recalculations don't matter. That's completely wrong - the recalculations should happen regardless of age as long as he's still working and paying FICA taxes.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Avery. It sounds like you've been incredibly thorough in handling all the estate matters. I went through something similar with my grandmother's estate last year, and the waiting on hold with SSA was brutal - but you got through it! One tip for anyone else reading this thread: when you receive that form from SSA, make copies of everything before you send it back. I learned this the hard way when SSA claimed they never received my paperwork the first time. Certified mail with return receipt is worth the extra cost for peace of mind. It's great that you were proactive about this. Many people don't realize they need to handle these payments separately from just reporting the death, and it can create bigger headaches down the road.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now with my mother's estate. One thing I learned from my attorney is that you should also notify the bank (or whoever is handling the estate account) about this SSA repayment situation. They may need to keep sufficient funds available in the estate account until this is fully resolved, especially if there are other estate debts or distributions pending. The last thing you want is to accidentally distribute estate funds and then not have enough left to cover the SSA repayment when they process it. Good luck with everything - you're handling this much better than I did when I was going through it!

My aunt thought she was gonna get backpay for the COLA starting from her birthday month all the way to January lol. I had to explain that's not how it works! The SSA does such a bad job explaining this stuff.

As someone who just went through this process myself, I wanted to add that you can actually see the exact dates and amounts on your my Social Security account online. If you log in and go to "Message Center" they usually send you a notice in December explaining the COLA increase and when it takes effect. Also, don't panic if your first payment with the increase seems delayed - sometimes there are processing delays in January/February that can push payments back a day or two, but you'll still get the full increased amount. The key thing everyone's mentioned is correct - January increase, but you see it in your February deposit!