One more thing to consider - if you're planning to work for several more years, you might want to check your annual Social Security Statement online at ssa.gov to see your complete earnings history. This will help you identify which years had the lowest earnings that could potentially be replaced by your current $84,000 salary. The SSA uses your highest 35 years of earnings (indexed for inflation) to calculate your benefit, so you can get a sense of whether your current work will meaningfully impact those calculations. Also, keep in mind that only earnings up to the Social Security wage base count each year - for 2025 that's $176,100, so your full $84,000 will count toward potential benefit increases.

Great question! I'm in a similar situation - turned 67 last year and kept working. The good news is that your benefits can definitely increase through the AERO process others mentioned. What I found helpful was creating a my Social Security account online and downloading my full earnings history to see which years might get replaced. In my case, I had some really low earning years in the early 90s when I was starting out, so my current salary of $75k is definitely going to boost those calculations. One tip: if you do call SSA (and I'd recommend trying that Claimyr service someone mentioned to avoid the hold times), ask them specifically about your "bend points" - that's the technical term for how they calculate your benefit increases. The rep I finally reached was really helpful in explaining how much my specific situation might improve. Also don't forget to factor in the tax implications like others said - but even with that, any increase is still extra money in your pocket!

I'm new to this community and wow, this discussion has been absolutely eye-opening! I'm 62 and considering whether to apply for early benefits or wait until my FRA. Reading about this "whole month rule" has completely changed my understanding of Social Security timing. Like so many others here, I had assumed you'd get your first payment the month after you become eligible, but now I realize there's this additional complexity where you must be eligible for the entire calendar month. This is exactly the kind of practical information you can't get from the SSA website - they really should explain this timing issue more clearly in their materials! I'm definitely going to factor this potential 6-8 week delay into my retirement planning. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences here - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating these complicated systems. It's reassuring to know there are people willing to help others understand these confusing rules!

I'm new to this community and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm 63 and planning to apply for Social Security in about a year when I reach my FRA. Like so many others here, I had completely misunderstood the timing - I thought I'd get my first payment the month after my birthday, but the "whole month rule" explanation makes perfect sense now. Since my birthday is in the middle of the month, I now understand I'll need to wait about 6-7 weeks after my birthday for that first check. It's frustrating that SSA doesn't make this clearer in their application materials, but I'm so grateful to have found this community where people share real experiences and break down these complex rules. I'll definitely be planning my retirement budget around this delay. Thanks to everyone who took the time to explain this - it's going to save me a lot of confusion and worry when I actually apply!

I'm new to this community and wanted to share my experience from when I helped my aunt navigate a similar situation last year. She was 68 when her husband passed, and he had also claimed Social Security early at 62. Like many others here have mentioned, the SSA representative initially told her she would receive his reduced benefit amount, which caused her a lot of unnecessary stress. What really helped us was being persistent and asking to speak with someone who specialized in survivor benefits. We also brought multiple documents including the SSA survivor benefits publication that someone mentioned earlier. The specialist was able to clearly explain that she would receive 100% of his Primary Insurance Amount, not his reduced benefit. One additional tip I'd offer: when you call or visit SSA, ask them to provide you with a written benefit estimate that shows both calculations side by side - your own retirement benefit at 70 versus the unreduced survivor benefit. Having both numbers in writing will help you make the most informed decision and also serve as documentation if you need to reference it later. @Anastasia, based on your nursing career and the fact that you waited until 70, I wouldn't be surprised if your own benefit ends up being competitive with or even higher than the survivor benefit. Either way, you're in a much better position than you initially feared! This community has given you excellent advice.

Welcome to the community! I'm new here too, but this thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding survivor benefits. I'm currently 63 and my husband is 65, so we're trying to plan our Social Security strategy. Reading about everyone's experiences has made me realize how important it is to understand these rules before we need them. @Anastasia, I'm so sorry for your loss. Based on everything I've read here, it sounds like you've made excellent decisions by waiting until 70. The consensus seems clear that you'll get your husband's full PIA (not his reduced amount), but the advice about comparing it to your own age-70 benefit is really eye-opening. I had never considered how those delayed retirement credits could potentially make someone's own benefit higher than a survivor benefit, even when the spouse was the higher earner. Thank you to everyone who has shared their knowledge and experiences - this has been such an educational discussion. The practical tips about bringing documentation, using specific terminology like "unreduced survivor benefit," and asking for written calculations are all things I'm going to remember for our own planning.

Great to hear people are starting to receive their paper forms! For those still waiting, I'd recommend checking your MySocialSecurity account settings to make sure your mailing address is current. Sometimes delays happen because forms get sent to old addresses. You can update your address online and it should take effect for future mailings. Also, if you moved recently and filed a change of address with the postal service, that should forward your SSA-1099 to your new address automatically.

Just wanted to add that if you're missing your SSA-1099 and need to file your taxes urgently, you can also request a replacement form online through your MySocialSecurity account once the online forms become available (after January 31st). There's an option to print a duplicate copy immediately. I had to do this a few years ago when my original got lost in the mail, and it worked perfectly. The replacement has all the same information and is accepted by the IRS just like the original. Much faster than waiting for them to mail another paper copy!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable for understanding the DAC application process! As a newcomer who just discovered this community, I'm amazed by how much practical knowledge everyone has shared. I'm 61 and planning to file for early retirement next year, with a 25-year-old son who has been on SSI since age 18 due to severe epilepsy. Reading through all these experiences has helped me realize there are so many aspects of this transition I hadn't considered - especially the family maximum calculations and the potential Medicaid coverage gaps. The advice about gathering documentation early really resonates with me. My son has been seeing the same neurologist since he was 16, and we have comprehensive seizure logs and medication records that should clearly establish his disability timeline. I'm also going to request his high school IEP records based on the suggestions here. One quick question for this knowledgeable group: has anyone dealt with DAC applications where the adult child's disability is episodic like epilepsy? I'm wondering if SSA requires additional documentation about seizure frequency and control, or if the existing disability determination from his SSI application will be sufficient for establishing the DAC eligibility. Thank you all for creating such a supportive and informative community - the guidance here is far more detailed and practical than anything I've found through official channels!

Welcome to the community! This thread has been incredibly educational for me as well. I'm 59 and planning to file for retirement benefits when I turn 62 next year, and I have a 28-year-old daughter with autism who's been receiving SSI since she was 19. Reading through everyone's experiences has really opened my eyes to how complex the DAC application process can be, but also how beneficial it could be for our children. The detailed explanations about family maximum calculations and the various documentation strategies have been invaluable. One thing I wanted to add that might help other newcomers: I've been keeping a detailed folder of all my daughter's medical and educational records for years, not necessarily thinking about future benefit applications, but just as a general practice. After reading this thread, I realize how much this organizational habit is going to help when we start the DAC application process. For parents of younger disabled children who might be reading this, I'd strongly recommend starting that documentation organization early - even if retirement and DAC benefits seem far away, having everything chronologically organized and easily accessible makes such a difference. The community knowledge shared here is truly remarkable. Thank you all for taking the time to share your experiences and guidance - it's making what seemed like an overwhelming process feel much more manageable!