As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say how helpful this thread has been! I'm approaching 62 myself and have been wondering about similar IRA withdrawal questions. It's really reassuring to see so many experienced members confirming that IRA distributions don't count toward the Social Security earnings test - I had been under the impression that ANY income would affect benefits if you claim before full retirement age. The distinction between work income and investment/retirement account income makes sense now. I'll definitely bookmark this thread for reference when I start navigating these decisions myself. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and real-world experiences!

As someone new to this community, I really appreciate how thoroughly everyone has addressed this question! I'm 59 and starting to think about early retirement planning, and this discussion has been incredibly enlightening. The clear distinction between work income (which counts for the earnings test) and IRA distributions (which don't) is so important to understand. I had been operating under the assumption that all income would potentially affect Social Security benefits if claimed early. It's also helpful to see the practical experiences shared - like the challenges with calling SSA directly and the reminder about CD-specific penalties within IRAs. This kind of real-world knowledge from community members who've actually navigated these situations is invaluable. Thanks to everyone for creating such an informative thread that I'm sure will help many people facing similar decisions!

As someone who recently went through this decision process myself, I wanted to share my experience and reinforce some of the excellent advice already given here. I reached my FRA in October 2024 and applied in February 2025. Like many others have mentioned, I chose to forgo retroactive benefits to preserve my delayed retirement credits. Here's what I learned from the process: **The online application was straightforward**, but you really do need to pay attention to the retroactive benefits question. It's buried in there and could easily be missed if you're rushing through. I took screenshots of every page as others suggested - definitely recommend that! **My first payment came exactly 3 months after applying**, and it did include the provisional DRCs I'd earned from October through February. The amount was higher than my estimated FRA benefit, so the system does seem to calculate and include those earned DRCs right away. **One thing I wish I'd considered earlier**: the impact on my Medicare premiums. Since Social Security benefits are used to calculate Medicare Part B premiums (IRMAA), having higher monthly benefits from DRCs could potentially affect those premiums down the line. It wasn't a game-changer for my decision, but it's worth factoring in if you're close to any of the IRMAA thresholds. For Ryan and others in similar situations - the math really does favor preserving those DRCs in most cases. The peace of mind from having higher guaranteed monthly income for life (that also grows with COLAs) outweighs the appeal of a one-time lump sum, at least in my experience. Good luck with whatever you decide!

I've been following this discussion closely as someone who will be facing this same decision in about 18 months when I reach my FRA. The insights shared here have been incredibly valuable! One question I haven't seen addressed yet: for those of you who chose to preserve your DRCs, did you have any concerns about potential changes to Social Security policy during the delay period? I know it's probably unlikely, but I sometimes worry about applying later only to find that benefits have been reduced or the rules have changed. Also, I'm curious about the practical side - when you applied and chose not to take retroactive benefits, did the SSA representatives try to talk you into taking the lump sum? I've heard that some government agencies sometimes push people toward options that might not be in their best interest, and I want to be prepared if I encounter any pressure to take the retroactive benefits when my time comes. The breakdown everyone has provided about the long-term financial benefits of DRCs versus the short-term appeal of retroactive benefits has really opened my eyes. It sounds like for most people in decent health, those delayed credits are worth significantly more over a lifetime than a one-time payment. Thanks to everyone who has shared their experiences and knowledge!

Wow, this has been such an informative discussion! I'm 59 and divorced after 13 years of marriage back in 2018, so I'll be eligible to apply in a few years when I turn 62. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both enlightening and frustrating - it's absolutely mind-boggling that SSA doesn't proactively notify people about benefits they're entitled to. The fact that so many people are discovering these benefits by accident (through friends, financial advisors, or random conversations like this) really shows how broken the system is. It feels like they're banking on people NOT knowing their rights so they can save money. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread for when I'm ready to apply. The practical tips about calling at 7 AM and having all documents ready beforehand are incredibly valuable. It's sad that we have to strategize just to access our own benefits, but at least there are people here sharing real-world advice. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone here ever tried to find out if there are other "hidden" Social Security benefits that people commonly miss out on? If ex-spouse benefits are this poorly communicated, I wonder what else might be flying under the radar that people should know about. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences and making this such a helpful resource!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm 63 and divorced in 2021 after 14 years of marriage, so I definitely qualify for ex-spouse benefits. Like so many others here, I had absolutely no idea these benefits even existed until I stumbled across this discussion. What really strikes me is how this seems to be a systematic issue - SSA apparently just hopes people won't find out about money they're legally entitled to. It's honestly infuriating that there's no proactive notification system for something this significant. I'm planning to apply soon and the practical advice here has been so helpful. The 7 AM calling strategy, having all documents ready beforehand, and knowing that my ex's SSN would speed things up but isn't absolutely required - these are the real-world tips you just can't get from the official SSA website. One thing I'm wondering about - for those who've successfully applied, did SSA give you any indication of how much your monthly benefit would be before you actually started receiving payments? I'm trying to plan my budget and it would be helpful to have some idea of the amount before committing to the application process. Thanks to everyone for making this such an educational discussion. This community is doing what SSA should be doing - actually informing people about their rights!

I'm sorry to hear about your loss and the confusion around benefits eligibility. Based on the excellent information already shared here, it sounds like you handled things correctly given the circumstances. Just to reinforce what others have said - the age 62 requirement for divorced spousal benefits is a hard rule, so there really wasn't anything available to you when your ex-husband was alive since you were only 53. The survivor benefits you claimed at 60 were actually the earliest possible benefit available to you in your situation. One additional thing to consider: if you're still working part-time, make sure you're aware of the earnings test rules. Since you're past full retirement age (66 and 6 months), there's no earnings limit that would reduce your survivor benefits, so you can work as much as you want without penalty. This wasn't always the case - before reaching FRA, there were earnings limits that could temporarily reduce benefits. You seem to have a good handle on your situation now, and staying with the higher survivor benefit makes perfect sense financially.

I'm really glad to see how this community came together to help clarify your situation! As someone who's dealt with Social Security questions for family members, I can confirm that the information shared here is accurate. The age 62 requirement for divorced spousal benefits is indeed a firm rule, and you absolutely did the right thing by claiming survivor benefits at 60. One thing I'd like to add that might be helpful for others reading this thread - if anyone finds themselves in a similar situation where they're unsure about benefit timing, SSA does offer benefit estimates through their online portal at ssa.gov. You can create a my Social Security account and run different scenarios to see projected benefit amounts at various claiming ages. It's a great tool for planning purposes. Your decision to stick with the higher survivor benefit of $2,125 versus your own retirement benefit of $1,980 is definitely the smart financial choice. And as others mentioned, you have the flexibility to reassess this if your work record changes significantly in the future.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Grace. Losing a parent is never easy, and dealing with Social Security on top of everything else just adds to the stress. The great news is that your mom will definitely be able to get your dad's full $2,750 monthly benefit! At 84, she's well past full retirement age, so she qualifies for 100% of his survivor benefit. The fact that she took her own benefits early at 62 doesn't matter at all for survivor benefits - they're completely separate calculations. I went through this exact situation with my grandmother two years ago. She was also getting a reduced benefit from filing early, but once we got through to SSA, they switched her to my grandfather's much higher amount with no reduction. A couple of tips that really helped us: - Call exactly at 8:00 AM when they open - set multiple alarms! - Have all the documents ready: death certificate, marriage certificate, both Social Security numbers - Don't hang up if you get put on hold, even if it's a long wait - Ask about the $255 lump sum death benefit too The hardest part is just getting through to a human being, but once you do, the actual process was pretty straightforward for us. That extra $1,500 per month will make such a huge difference for your mom's quality of life. Hang in there - she's absolutely entitled to this benefit and it's worth the hassle to get it sorted out.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Grace. Losing a parent is heartbreaking, and having to navigate Social Security bureaucracy during your grief makes everything so much harder. Your mom is absolutely entitled to switch to your dad's full $2,750 survivor benefit! At 84, she's well past full retirement age and qualifies for 100% of his benefit since it's higher than her current $1,250. The early filing at 62 on her own record won't affect her survivor benefits at all - they're calculated completely separately. I just went through this process with my own mother-in-law last year. Here's what I learned: - Call SSA at exactly 8:00 AM when they open (seriously, have the number dialed and ready) - Try Tuesday through Thursday - avoid Mondays and Fridays if possible - Have all documents ready: death certificate, marriage certificate, both SSNs, and her banking info - Don't forget to ask about the $255 lump sum death benefit - If the first agent seems unsure about survivor benefits, politely ask to speak with someone who specializes in them The phone system is frustrating, but don't give up. That $1,500 monthly difference will be life-changing for your mom, especially at 84 when every dollar matters for her security and comfort. She worked hard her whole life and deserves this benefit. If phone calls become impossible, consider visiting your local SSA office in person. Sometimes face-to-face gets results when phone calls don't. Thinking of you both during this difficult time. You're being such a good advocate for her.