Regarding your question about notification before they reclaim the payment - no, they typically don't provide advance notice. The Treasury Department electronically withdraws the funds directly from the financial institution. This is why it's important to keep sufficient funds in the account to avoid overdraft fees. Also, I wanted to clarify about the month of death benefits since there's some confusion in the comments. The rule is: - Social Security benefits are paid in the month following the month they're due for - A person must live through the entire month to be entitled to that month's payment - Since your wife passed in November, the November payment she received was her October benefit - This payment is proper and won't be reclaimed - However, since she didn't live through all of November, she wasn't entitled to a November benefit (which would have been paid in December) As a survivor, your benefits would typically start with December (paid in January). But since there's a processing delay, you'll eventually receive back payments for all months they owe you.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Isabella. Losing a spouse is devastating, and dealing with Social Security bureaucracy on top of grief is incredibly difficult. I went through this exact situation when my husband passed away two years ago. The 45+ day wait is unfortunately very typical right now - mine took 82 days to process. A few things that might help: 1. Keep calling every 2-3 weeks to check status. Sometimes this helps move things along, and you want to make sure your file hasn't gotten lost in the system. 2. Document everything - dates of calls, who you spoke with, what they told you. This becomes important if there are any issues later. 3. Regarding that final payment - they WILL take it back without notice. I learned this the hard way when it caused an overdraft. Keep extra money in that account until they do the clawback. 4. You should receive 100% of her benefit amount since you're at FRA. When it finally processes, you'll get back payments from December forward plus the $255 death benefit. The waiting is agonizing when you're already dealing with so much. Hang in there - it will eventually get processed and you'll receive what you're entitled to.

One more important consideration - if your future husband might qualify for disability benefits based on his multiple myeloma, he should look into that as soon as possible. SSDI has the same credit requirements as retirement (40 credits), but there's a recent work test too (20 credits in the last 10 years). With only 20 credits total, he might not qualify, but it's worth checking. If he does get approved for disability before your passing, it could affect how survivor benefits work in his case. Disabled widow(er)s can claim as early as age 50 with less reduction.

Just wanted to add something I learned when my aunt was in a similar situation - make sure to keep excellent records of your marriage date and any relevant documentation. SSA sometimes requires proof of the marriage duration when processing survivor benefit claims, especially if there's any question about timing. Also, since your future husband has health issues, you might want to consider consulting with a Social Security attorney or certified benefits planner to make sure you're both maximizing your benefits strategy. They can help you understand all the nuances and plan for different scenarios. Many offer free consultations and only charge if they help you get additional benefits. The peace of mind of knowing he'll be financially secure with your survivor benefit is worth taking these extra steps to ensure everything is properly documented and planned.

btw if u can get 2 more years of SS covered work somehow before u retire, ull hit 20 yrs of substantial earnings and get a better wep calculation. might be worth looking into part time work that pays into SS?

I'm in almost the exact same situation as you - Texas teacher with previous Social Security work history! One thing that helped me was creating a my Social Security account online if you haven't already. While it won't show your pre-WEP amount, you can at least see all your earnings history year by year, which helps when you're talking to SSA reps. Also, I'd suggest calling SSA early in the morning (around 8 AM) on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday - I've had better luck getting through then. When you do get through, ask specifically for your "Primary Insurance Amount before WEP adjustment" and your AIME. Having both numbers will let you verify their calculations and really understand the impact. The good news is that with 18 years of substantial earnings, you're not facing the maximum WEP reduction. But I totally get wanting to know the exact numbers for planning purposes. The uncertainty is almost worse than knowing the bad news!

For 2025, the IRMAA thresholds for Medicare Part B and D start at $103,000 for single filers. Based on your income estimates (SS + FERS + 401k), you'll be below that threshold so you should pay the standard premium. But it's good to be aware of this for future planning, especially if you decide to take larger 401k distributions later.

I'm just starting to research this topic as I'm approaching retirement age myself. This thread has been incredibly helpful! One question I have - if you're already receiving Social Security benefits and realize you need to start withholding taxes, can you submit the W-4V form at any time during the year, or do you have to wait until the next calendar year? I want to make sure I don't get caught off guard like some of the stories shared here.

One more thing to consider: if you're planning to make any large purchases or have home repairs coming up, having that extra income now could help you avoid tapping into savings. That's a non-mathematical factor, but still important for many retirees. Based on everything you've shared, it sounds like claiming now aligns with your situation. Just make sure to coordinate with your husband on a plan for when one of you passes - the household will go from two SS benefits to one at that point, so having a financial cushion is important.

I'm in a very similar situation - turning 66 next month with a husband who's already collecting at his maximum benefit. After reading through all these responses, I'm leaning toward claiming now too. The break-even analysis that Dylan provided really helped clarify things for me. One additional consideration I'd mention is inflation protection. While Social Security has COLA adjustments, having that money in hand now means you can potentially invest it or use it for necessary expenses before costs rise further. With everything getting more expensive, that $175/month difference 8 months from now might not have the same purchasing power it would today. Also, since you mentioned you're fully retired, you won't have to worry about the earnings test, which is really the main "gotcha" for claiming before FRA. Sounds like you've done your homework and the math supports claiming now in your situation!