i dont understand why ur waiting till 70 for ur own benefits? thats forever away! why not just take everything now and be done with it? my brother waited and then passed away before he ever got to collect the higher amount. just my 2 cents

UPDATE: I was able to get through by utilizing the phone number of my local office! I called as soon as they opened at 9am and was connected within 10 minutes. They've scheduled my appointment for next Tuesday, and I've already completed my Medicare enrollment online. Thank you everyone for your suggestions and support!

random question but does anyone know if this works the same way if the husband took SS early and the wife waits till FRA? my parents situation is opposite of yours

Yes, the rules work exactly the same regardless of which spouse files early. The early filer gets their own reduced benefit, and then when the other spouse files, the early filer may get a top-up if 50% of the second filer's PIA (reduced for the early filing penalty) exceeds their own benefit amount.

I see a LOT of confusion about this topic! My wife is 7 years younger than me, and we went through this exact situation. Here's what ACTUALLY happens: 1) Your husband CANNOT receive spousal benefits until YOU file for YOUR retirement benefits 2) The SSA calculator is showing a HYPOTHETICAL amount based on if you filed RIGHT NOW 3) When you DO file at your FRA, then your husband can apply for spousal benefits 4) He'll only get the DIFFERENCE between his current benefit and 50% of your PIA (if that's higher) Don't be fooled by that $1140 number - that's likely 50% of your projected PIA, not the actual amount he'd receive as a top-up. His actual top-up will be that amount MINUS his current benefit. And YES, it's worth waiting until your FRA to file!!!! Don't file early - you'll reduce BOTH your benefit AND any potential spousal benefit for your husband.

somebody told me once that if ur spouse dies the survivor gets the higher of the two benefits. not sure if thats true but might be something to think about with ur planning

Wait so what happens if you suspend your benefits at 67? Do the kids benefits stop too?? This happened to my cousin and he had NO idea the kids payments would stop when he suspended to get the 8% per year increases!

Thank you all for the helpful insights! I think I need to weigh the immediate benefit for the twins against my long-term retirement security. Since I'd lose the kids' benefits if I suspend at 67, and my early filing permanently reduces my spousal amount, I'm now leaning toward waiting a couple more years before filing. Maybe I can work part-time a bit longer and file when they're 15 to minimize the early filing reduction while still getting them some benefits before they finish high school. I'll definitely use that Claimyr service to talk with SSA and go through my specific numbers before making the final decision.

Just to add some specifics about the potential difference in benefits: Let's say the ex-husband's Full Retirement Age (FRA) benefit on his own record would be $1,500/month, and your cousin's FRA survivor benefit would be $2,200/month. If he takes survivor benefits at 62, he'd get roughly $1,793/month (reduced from $2,200). Then at 70, he could switch to his own retirement, which would be about $1,860/month ($1,500 + 24% delayed credits). The math can get complex and depends on their exact earnings records, but the strategy of taking reduced survivor benefits now and switching to his own at 70 could mean tens of thousands of dollars more over his lifetime compared to other filing strategies. Definitely worth having him talk to SSA about the exact numbers in his case!

When he speaks with SSA, he should specifically request a "survivor benefit estimate based on his deceased ex-wife's record" as well as a "retirement benefit estimate on his own record with delayed credits to age 70." There's no specific form for comparing these scenarios, but a knowledgeable SSA representative should be able to provide both estimates. He should take detailed notes during the call including the representative's name and direct number if possible. Keep in mind that any survivor benefits received before FRA will be subject to the earnings test if he's still working. In 2023, benefits are reduced by $1 for every $2 earned above $21,240. Also important: make sure he specifically states he wants to file a "restricted application for survivor benefits only" - this language is key to ensuring they process it correctly.