my sister said u can get retro payment up to 6 months when u file, so if u wait to file til 67.5 u still get paid from 67. not sure if that helps your plan??

One more point to consider: Once you start collecting your benefit, your wife can file for her spousal benefit, but she'll face a reduction for claiming before her own FRA. At 62, her spousal benefit would be reduced to about 35% of your PIA instead of the full 50% she'd get at her FRA. If you're doing calculations, make sure to account for this reduction since she's under full retirement age. The exact percentage depends on how many months before her FRA she files.

btw the 10 year marriage thing DOES matter for spousal benefits too not just divorce! make sure you mention that when you call

To add to the excellent advice already provided: Once your wife applies for the spousal top-up, the SSA will calculate what's called the "excess spousal benefit." This is the difference between 50% of your PIA and your wife's PIA (not her reduced benefit amount). Since you mentioned your wife started claiming at 70, that's past her FRA, so she won't face any reduction in the spousal amount. However, the WEP elimination adjustment creates an interesting timing question. My suggestion: Have your wife contact SSA now to establish her intent to file for spousal benefits. This can protect her retroactive date while waiting for WEP adjustments to be fully processed. The SSA can set a protective filing date even if you haven't applied for your own benefits yet.

Just to add some technical detail here that might be helpful: The earnings test that limits benefits only applies in these situations: 1. If you're collecting benefits before your FRA, the annual earnings limit applies ($22,320 in 2024). 2. In the year you reach FRA, a higher limit applies only to earnings in the months BEFORE the month you reach FRA ($59,520 in 2024). 3. Once you reach FRA, there is NO earnings limit, period. Since you reached FRA in April 2024, and won't start benefits until February 2025, the earnings test doesn't affect you at all. The SSA collects this information from everyone because their forms are standardized and the same information is relevant to many other beneficiaries. Also, continuing to work might actually increase your benefit amount if these earnings are higher than some earlier years used in your benefit calculation.

Thanks everyone for your helpful responses! I'm going to finish my application now with a lot more confidence. It sounds like this is just standard procedure and nothing to worry about since I'll be well past my FRA when I start collecting in February. Really appreciate all the explanations!

i tried that claimyr thing someone mentioned when i had a survivors benefits question last month and it actually worked. got through to ssa in like 20 mins instead of being on hold for hours. just saying it might save u a lot of time

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! I'm going to try calling using that Claimyr service tomorrow morning, and if that doesn't work I'll write everything on paper and send it certified mail. I'll make sure to include all my info - SSN, contact details, my expected earnings, and a clear explanation. I'll update if I run into any more issues. Really appreciate all the help!

To clarify a few technical points: 1. When you were receiving disability benefits on your husband's record, you were actually receiving what's called "Disabled Widow(er)'s Benefits" (DWB), a specific type of survivor benefit, not traditional SSDI on your own record. 2. Now that you've reached your FRA and switched to your own retirement benefit, you've undergone what's called a "technical termination" of your disability status. Your benefit is now calculated and treated exactly like any retirement benefit. 3. The earnings test (which limits how much you can earn) only applies to people receiving benefits before their FRA. Since you're at your FRA, you can earn unlimited amounts without affecting your monthly benefit amount. 4. The question about future work is standard during benefit conversion interviews. It helps the representative determine if they need to explain earnings limitations (not applicable in your case) or provide information about how work might affect taxes on your benefits (which is still relevant). 5. You don't need to report your intention to work to SSA, but your earnings will be reported through normal tax channels, which is all that's required.

Just wanted to add that working part-time from home was such a positive thing for me after years on disability. Beyond the extra income, it gave me purpose and routine that actually helped my health in some ways. Hope it works out well for you too!