Thanks for all the great advice everyone! I'm definitely going to file in May/June when I hit my FRA. I'll also look into increasing my 401k contributions - that's a great suggestion for managing the tax situation. This has been incredibly helpful!

Great decision on filing in May/June! Just wanted to add one more tip - when you do file, make sure to ask SSA about having federal taxes withheld from your monthly benefits if you're concerned about owing taxes next year. You can have 7%, 10%, 12%, or 22% withheld automatically. Given that you'll have both work income and SS benefits, this might save you from having to make quarterly estimated tax payments or owing a big chunk at tax time. You can always adjust the withholding later if needed!

Just to clarify a technical point about survivor benefits: if your spouse claims survivor benefits before her own FRA, she would receive a reduced percentage (between 71.5% and 99% depending on how early she claims). But if she waits until her FRA, she'll receive 100% of your benefit amount - either your reduced benefit if you keep your early claim, or your full FRA benefit if you withdraw and later reapply. Also, remember that while you can withdraw now and reapply at your FRA (66 and 10 months), you could alternatively withdraw and then wait until age 70 to maximize your benefit (and subsequently your wife's survivor benefit). This would give you an additional 28.8% above your FRA amount through delayed retirement credits.

As a newcomer here, I just wanted to say this is such a helpful discussion! I'm not in this exact situation yet, but at 58, I'm starting to think seriously about when to claim Social Security. Reading about the withdrawal option and how it affects survivor benefits is really eye-opening. I had no idea you could essentially "reset" your application within that first year. The technical details from @Ava Rodriguez and the real-world experience from @Miguel Diaz really help paint the full picture. It sounds like this decision requires careful consideration of both your financial situation and your spouse's long-term security. Thanks to everyone for sharing their knowledge and experiences!

One important clarification about your situation: For each deceased spouse (current and ex), you have a separate survivor benefit entitlement. The rule is that you'll receive the highest benefit you're eligible for at any given time. So your plan is sound and follows SSA rules: 1. Take widow's benefits now from your current late husband 2. If ex-husband passes and his survivor benefit would be higher, switch to that 3. At 70, switch to your own retirement benefit if it's higher than either survivor benefit This approach gives you the maximum benefit amount possible throughout your lifetime. Make sure to keep all your documents organized - marriage certificates, divorce decree showing marriage lasted 10+ years, etc. You'll need these when applying for any benefits related to your ex-spouse.

I'm in a somewhat similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm 63 and recently widowed, and I've been agonizing over when to start my benefits. Reading about your strategy of maximizing benefits through strategic switching has given me a lot to think about. One thing I'd add based on my research is that it might be worth getting a Social Security statement that shows your projected benefits at different ages (62, full retirement age, and 70) so you can do the math on which strategy gives you the most money over your expected lifetime. You can get this online at ssa.gov. Also, I've heard that if you're still working while receiving survivor benefits, the earnings test might apply if you're under full retirement age, so that's another factor to consider in your timing. Good luck with whatever you decide!

dont u get paid for the month before? like january payment comes in february? thats what my neighbor told me and shes been on SS for years

Great question and perfect timing to be planning this out! I just went through this process myself earlier this year. The 3-month rule is definitely the sweet spot - so for January 2025 benefits, you'll want to apply in October 2024. One thing I learned that might help: when you're filling out the online application, pay close attention to the "Benefits Start Date" section. There's a clear dropdown where you select the month, and it will show you exactly when your first payment will arrive (remember, January benefits are paid in February). Since your wife is taking early retirement, make sure she's prepared for the earnings test if she plans to work at all in 2025. The online application will walk you through this, but it's good to know ahead of time. Also, don't stress too much about the applications being separate - you can both do them on the same day if you want, just using your individual MySocialSecurity accounts. The process is pretty straightforward once you get started. Good luck with your retirement!

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I'm going to try calling with my mother present first so she can give verbal authorization. Then I'll look into the Form SSA-1696 for longer-term help. I'll specifically ask about the GPO reduction, maximum survivor benefits, and those Medicare assistance programs mentioned. Really appreciate all the advice!

Just wanted to add - if your mom gets overwhelmed during the call or has trouble remembering information, don't hesitate to ask the SSA representative to slow down or repeat things. They're usually understanding about helping elderly callers. Also, have a pen and paper ready to write down any important information they provide, like case numbers, benefit amounts, or next steps. Sometimes they speak quickly and it's easy to miss details. Good luck with getting through - the wait times can be brutal but it's worth it to get her benefits sorted out properly.