One aspect that hasn't been mentioned is that tax debt can also affect your Medicare premiums. If you're enrolling in Medicare at the same time as starting Social Security at 70, be aware that unpaid tax debt can sometimes trigger issues with your Medicare enrollment if the IRS has filed liens. Additionally, if your payment plan with the IRS requires substantial monthly payments, this could impact which Medicare supplemental plans you can afford. I recommend speaking with both the IRS and a Medicare counselor (SHIP programs offer free Medicare counseling in every state) to understand how these systems might interact in your specific situation.

I went through something similar a few years ago, though my debt was smaller (about $25K). Here's what I learned from experience: 1. The IRS will send you several notices before they start taking from your Social Security - you won't wake up one day to find your check reduced without warning. 2. When I finally called them (after months of procrastinating like you), they were actually willing to work with me. I set up a payment plan for $150/month, which prevented any garnishment of my benefits. 3. The key thing is to contact them BEFORE your benefits start in September. Once the levy begins, it's much harder to stop or reduce. 4. Ask specifically about "Currently Not Collectible" status - if your only income will be Social Security and a small pension, you might qualify. This essentially puts your case on hold if paying would create financial hardship. Don't make the same mistake I did by waiting and hoping it would go away. The stress of dealing with it is actually much worse than the phone call itself. You've made a smart decision waiting until 70 for maximum benefits - now protect that decision by handling the tax situation proactively.

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I'm feeling much more confident now knowing that I should be able to claim the higher survivor benefit regardless of which spouse passes away first. I'm going to use that Claimyr service that was mentioned to speak with SSA directly and get this confirmed for my specific case. I'll also gather my marriage certificate and divorce decree to have them ready. So relieved to know this won't negatively impact my future financial security if I decide to remarry!

Just want to add one more thing that might be helpful - when you do speak with SSA, ask them to put a note in your file about your eligibility for both survivor benefits. That way if there's any confusion later (like what happened to Adrian's mom), there's already documentation in the system. Also, since you're 62 now, you might want to ask about your own retirement benefit timing too - sometimes it makes sense to take your own reduced benefit first and then switch to the higher survivor benefit later, depending on the amounts. Good luck with your decision!

Just wanted to add - if you're worried about the application process, SSA also has a retirement estimator tool on their website that can give you a rough idea of your benefit amounts at different claiming ages before you actually apply. It's at ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/estimator.html. Really helpful for planning! Also, once you do apply online, you'll get a receipt number - save that! You can use it to check the status of your application if needed.

As someone who just went through this process last year, I'd highly recommend taking your time to research all your options before applying at 62. The online application at ssa.gov is definitely legitimate and secure, but the financial implications of claiming early are permanent. I used the benefit estimator tool mentioned by others and was shocked at how much I'd be giving up by claiming at 62 vs waiting until my full retirement age. Also, if you're married and your husband is already collecting, definitely explore spousal benefits - sometimes that can be a better strategy than claiming on your own record right away. The SSA website has some great calculators that can help you run different scenarios. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation last year! I was 61 and divorced, and the SSA office was incredibly helpful with explaining all my options. They walked me through the divorced spouse benefit calculations and showed me exactly when it would make sense to claim vs. wait. One thing I learned that wasn't obvious - you can actually claim divorced spouse benefits at 62 even if your ex-spouse hasn't filed for their own benefits yet, as long as you've been divorced for at least 2 years. The in-person appointment was definitely worth it because they ran multiple scenarios and printed out a personalized benefit estimate sheet I could take home. Don't worry about the rumors - these appointments aren't going anywhere, especially for complex benefit decisions like yours!

As someone new to this community, I want to thank everyone for sharing such helpful information! I'm approaching retirement age myself and had similar concerns about SSA services. It's really reassuring to hear from multiple people with direct experience that in-person appointments are continuing and even expanding. The detailed advice about what documents to bring and specific questions to ask is incredibly valuable. I'm bookmarking this thread for when I need to schedule my own appointment. It's great to see a community where people share practical, real-world experience rather than just speculation or rumors.

This whole situation is exactly why I always recommend new beneficiaries check their my Social Security account online regularly during their first few months. The SSA website does show your payment schedule, but you have to dig for it. I know it's not intuitive, but if you log into your account and look under "Benefit Payments," it should show your scheduled payment dates going forward. That way you can plan ahead instead of being surprised like this. I learned this the hard way when I helped my mom navigate her benefits last year. The lack of proactive communication from SSA is really frustrating for people who depend on these payments for their monthly budgets.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! I started receiving benefits in November 2024 and my birthday is on the 23rd. Got my November and December payments on the 3rd like clockwork, but then nothing on January 3rd. I was panicking until I found this thread! Just checked my SSA account online like Dylan suggested and sure enough, my January payment is scheduled for the 22nd (fourth Wednesday). It's really frustrating that they don't send any kind of notification about this change. I've already had to explain to my landlord why my rent will be late this month. Going to start calling all my creditors tomorrow to adjust due dates. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least now I know I'm not alone and this is "normal" (even though it shouldn't be such a surprise!).