One other thing to consider - did you recently start Medicare? Sometimes they do adjustments if your Medicare premium was calculated incorrectly at first. I've gotten random small deposits for that reason before.

Just to update everyone - I called SSA again about that similar payment I mentioned. After ANOTHER hour on hold, they said these payments are related to the earnings recalculation they're doing for people who had wages in 2023 that weren't initially counted in their benefit calculation. It's legitimate but they're terrible at communicating these things!!

i just remembered something else! my friend said december is actually a good month to start cuz of how they calculate the COLA increases! something about getting the full COLA for next year even if u only got benefits for 1 month this year? not 100% sure but worth checking!!

Thank you all for the helpful responses! Based on everything shared, it seems like: 1. The actual benefit increase for waiting one month is minimal (around 0.67% or about $12 on average) 2. Tax considerations might be more important than the benefit amount difference 3. If I apply for December, I won't get paid until January anyway 4. There's potentially some small advantage related to COLA calculations I think I'll talk to my tax advisor about the potential tax implications before making a final decision, but it's good to know that from a pure benefit amount perspective, there's not a significant advantage to waiting that one extra month. This has been really helpful - thanks again everyone!

To directly answer your original question: No, they don't automatically check ex-spouse benefits without you mentioning the marriage. However, they should ask about your marital history during the application process. Important points to remember: 1. You must be unmarried or your later marriage ended 2. You must be at least 62 3. Your ex must be at least 62 (even if not yet claiming) 4. The marriage must have lasted at least 10 years 5. You're generally eligible for up to 50% of your ex's FRA benefit amount If your own benefit is higher than 50% of your ex's, you'll receive your own benefit amount. If the ex-spouse amount is higher, you'll receive your benefit plus the difference to equal the higher amount. Be proactive and explicit when applying. The responsibility ultimately falls on you to ensure all potential benefits are explored.

isnt there a thing where if you claim on your ex they get notified? my ex would be furious if he knew i was getting benefits from his record lol

One additional point about survivor benefits that hasn't been mentioned: When you receive survivor benefits, you're still subject to the earnings test if you're under your Full Retirement Age and still working. For 2025, you can earn up to $22,320 without reduction, but benefits are reduced $1 for every $2 earned above that threshold. This changes in the year you reach FRA. Just something to be aware of if you're still working or planning to return to work.

Thank you all so much for the helpful information! I feel much better understanding that I could switch to my husband's higher benefit if needed. I'll definitely reach out to SSA directly for specific calculations, and I appreciate the tip about Claimyr if I have trouble getting through. The information about reporting quickly and keeping documents organized is really valuable too. It's not a pleasant topic to think about, but I feel more prepared now.

Thanks everyone for the helpful information! I spoke with my HR department and confirmed we have well over 20 employees, so just Part A should work fine for now. I'm going to start my application this weekend and make sure to file for my husband's spousal benefit once mine is processed. Really appreciate all the advice about the earnings test too - puts my mind at ease about working those first few months of 2025!

good luck with it all!! one more thing i forgot - when you apply online print or save EVERYTHING before you submit!!! i lost half my confirmation info and had to call and wait forever to get it sorted out.

One thing nobody's mentioned yet - if you're still working and claim before FRA, you'll be subject to the earnings test. For 2025, you can earn up to $22,900 without penalty, but beyond that, they withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above the limit. Just something else to factor into your decision!

Thank you all SO MUCH for these detailed responses! I've learned a lot and now I understand why the decision is more complicated than I thought. Based on your advice and my personal situation (good health, higher own benefit, still working part-time), waiting until my FRA seems like the smarter choice. I'm going to try contacting SSA directly too just to confirm everything for my specific case.

Update to my earlier comment: I received a notice that they're reviewing all GPO-affected survivor applications for accuracy. This might add a week or two to processing times going forward. Just wanted to give you a heads-up that the timeline might be extending a bit.

One more thing I forgot to mention: many SSA offices are offering dedicated appointment slots specifically for people affected by the WEP/GPO repeal. Call your local office and specifically ask about these special appointment times - could save you weeks of waiting.

my frend at work said its monthly but his sister says its yearly so who knows?? social security people tell you something different everytime you call!! good luck!

Thanks everyone for the helpful answers! I called Social Security using the Claimyr service that someone recommended, and it really did get me through quickly! The representative explained that since this is my first year on benefits, I can use the monthly test for the rest of 2025. That's perfect because I can limit my hours to stay under $1,770 each month, even during holiday seasons when I usually work more. Then next year I'll need to watch my annual total instead. They also told me that if I do go over, they don't immediately take money back - they adjust future payments. And the part about getting credited back after I reach full retirement age was news to me! Makes the whole system seem more fair. Thanks again for all the advice!

i got married at 61 and wish i had known all this stuff before. make sure you both look at EXACT numbers because everyone on here is giving general advice but YOUR specific earnings records matter most. the SSA calculators online suck btw they never worked right for me

The most accurate way to estimate your specific situation is to: 1. Create my Social Security accounts online for both of you 2. Download your earnings records 3. Use the detailed calculator from SSA called "Anypia" (it's not user-friendly but it's accurate) Alternatively, you could schedule an appointment with a Social Security claims specialist and have them run projections for you. They can show you exactly how different filing ages and marriage timing would affect both your benefits. One timing consideration: If you marry shortly after turning 59, you'll satisfy the 1-year marriage requirement before earliest possible filing age (62).

I went through this exact scenario when I lost my job in 2022. The SSA-44 is definitely the correct form. One tip: make sure you check the right box for the life-changing event (work stoppage) and use the exact date of your termination. They're sticklers for detail. I also recommend keeping a detailed log of everything - when you submitted forms, who you spoke with, what they said. The process took about 7 weeks for me, and I did get retroactively reimbursed for the higher premiums I paid while waiting. The IRMAA determination is frustrating since it's based on income from two years ago, but the life-changing event provision helps those of us who've had significant income changes.

does anyone know if they look at joint income for irmaa or just the persons on medicare? my husband still works but i dont