WAIT are you sure your state isn't one of those weird ones with mandatory pension contributions even if ur still working??? my coworker in Ohio thought same thing but turns out money was going into account even before full retirement!! check ur paystub for pension deductions!!!

For anyone hitting this thread with a similar issue - this is a perfect example of why it helps to file for Social Security benefits several months before you actually need them. These bureaucratic issues can take weeks or months to resolve, and you don't want to miss payments while waiting. The WEP/GPO provisions affect hundreds of thousands of public employees and the rules are exceptionally complex.

wait are u sure u can even get ex spouse benefits?? u have to be unmarried now and the marriage had to be 10 years i think

One last piece of advice - when you submit your application, take screenshots of the confirmation page and note the confirmation number. Also print the PDF copy of your application if the system offers it. If there are any issues later, having documentation of exactly what you submitted and when can save a lot of headaches. Also, set a calendar reminder to follow up if you don't hear anything within 2-3 weeks. SSA should send you an acknowledgment letter, but sometimes these get delayed. Being proactive about following up (especially regarding those marriage/divorce documents) will help ensure your January start date doesn't slip.

Since there seems to be confusion about spousal benefits in this thread, let me clarify a few key points: 1. If you were born after January 1, 1954, when you file for either your retirement OR spousal benefit, you're automatically deemed to have filed for both. 2. The maximum spousal benefit is 50% of your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), but you only receive the higher of either your own benefit or the combination that gives you the most money. 3. If you file before your Full Retirement Age (FRA), both your own retirement and spousal benefits will be permanently reduced. 4. Your spouse must have already filed for their own benefits for you to receive spousal benefits (unless they're suspended due to earnings). The online application system does handle spousal benefits correctly if you indicate you're married and want to file on your spouse's record.

To the person asking about getting $1000 plus $700 - you don't add them together. You get the HIGHER of either your own benefit OR the spousal amount. So in your example, you'd get $1000 (which is higher than your $700). The system essentially tops you up to the higher amount. And @OP - for your original question, yes, the application date online becomes your official filing date. Print or screenshot your confirmation page as proof. And if you need to visit an office, use the online appointment scheduler at ssa.gov/locator - don't rely on phone agents to set it up.

To clarify the technical aspects once and for all: The RIB-LIM rule (found in section RS 00615.020 of the SSA's Program Operations Manual System) states that when the worker files for reduced retirement benefits, the maximum amount payable to the spouse is limited to the higher of: 1. The difference between the family maximum benefit (FMB) and the worker's reduced benefit, or 2. The spouse's benefit before the RIB-LIM is applied This means that in SOME cases, the worker filing early can indirectly reduce what the spouse receives, even if the spouse waits until FRA. It depends on the specific benefit amounts and family maximum calculation for your case. So both sides of this debate are partially correct, which is why it's so confusing!

Thank you everyone for the informative responses! I think I understand now why there's so much confusion online about this topic - because the answer isn't simply yes or no, but depends on how various rules interact with our specific numbers. I'll definitely try to get an appointment with an SSA claims specialist who can look at our exact situation. If the phone lines continue to be impossible, I might try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. I'll update this thread once I get a definitive answer for our situation in case it helps others in the same boat. Really appreciate all the knowledge shared here!

hey did ur wife try any of the new meds for parkinsons?? my uncle got on some new one starts with K i think and it helped him alot with the tremors. maybe that could help her keep working?

One important thing to understand is that SSA evaluates Parkinson's disease under Listing 11.06 (Parkinsonian syndrome). The key criteria they look for are: 1. Marked limitation in physical functioning AND cognition, OR 2. Marked limitation in physical functioning AND mood/behavior regulation, OR 3. Marked limitation in physical functioning AND completed tasks in a timely manner "Marked limitation" means the symptoms seriously limit the ability to function independently, appropriately, and effectively. Even if your wife doesn't meet these exact listing requirements, she might still qualify through a medical-vocational allowance based on her Residual Functional Capacity, age, education, and work experience. The evidence needs to be compelling about how her condition prevents substantial gainful activity. For someone in an accounting position, documenting how tremors affect computer use, how fatigue impacts concentration for detailed financial work, or how speech issues affect client interactions would be particularly relevant.