This is really helpful information! I'm 64 and planning to work until 70 while collecting benefits starting at my FRA. One question I have - does the automatic recomputation also apply to delayed retirement credits? I know you get 8% per year for delaying past FRA, but if I'm working those years too, do I get both the delayed credits AND the benefit recalculation from higher earnings? Or is it one or the other? I'm trying to figure out if working those extra years gives me a double benefit boost or if there's some limitation I should know about. Thanks for all the insights everyone has shared!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the timing of when you'll actually see the money. Even though SSA does the automatic recomputation every year, there can sometimes be delays in processing, especially if there are any discrepancies in your earnings record. I'd recommend keeping copies of your pay stubs and W-2s from these high-earning years just in case you need to provide documentation later. Also, if you're self-employed or have any 1099 income in addition to your W-2 wages, make sure you're reporting all of it correctly on your tax returns since that's what SSA uses for the recomputation. The extra documentation might save you headaches down the road if there are any questions about your earnings record.

I just wanted to jump in and say this thread has been incredibly helpful! I've been dealing with a similar SSA account lockout for the past few weeks and was starting to think I was the only one having these issues. Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions has given me a much clearer action plan. I'm particularly interested in trying the library computer approach that @DeShawn Washington mentioned - that's such a clever workaround that I never would have thought of. And the detailed technical advice from @Liam Cortez about using tax return information instead of SS card details is really insightful. It's both frustrating and reassuring to learn that these verification failures are so widespread. The fact that multiple people have had success with congressional caseworkers makes that route seem much less intimidating than I initially thought. Has anyone tried reaching out to SSA through their social media accounts (Twitter/Facebook)? Sometimes companies respond faster to public complaints, though I'm not sure if that applies to government agencies. Just curious if anyone has had luck with that approach before escalating to congressional offices. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community support is exactly what I needed when the official SSA resources were completely unhelpful!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really grateful to find this thread! I've been struggling with the exact same SSA account lockout issue for over a month now. The "cannot match information" error has been driving me absolutely crazy, especially since I know I'm entering everything correctly. Reading through all these experiences has been both validating and incredibly helpful. I had no idea that congressional offices routinely handle SSA account issues - I always thought that was reserved for major benefit disputes. The success stories with caseworkers are really encouraging! I'm definitely going to try the systematic approach that several people have outlined: starting with the library computer idea (brilliant!), using a clean browser session with my Gmail account, and being extra careful about entering information exactly as it appears on official documents. If that doesn't work, I'll reach out to my representative's office. One question for those who've successfully resolved this - approximately how long did the whole process take from when you first contacted your congressional office to when your account was actually working again? Just trying to set realistic expectations for myself. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences here. It's such a relief to know I'm not alone in dealing with this frustrating system!

As someone new to this community and facing a similar decision timeline, I'm amazed by the comprehensive advice shared here! I'm turning 65 in about 8 months and my husband is still working with an income around $90K, so this discussion has been incredibly timely for me. What I'm finding most valuable is how everyone emphasizes that this isn't just a Social Security decision - it's really about optimizing your entire retirement tax and income strategy. The points about IRMAA, Roth conversion opportunities, and coordinating both spouses' benefits as a "total household optimization" have completely changed how I'm thinking about this. I'm particularly intrigued by the decision matrix approach Jessica mentioned and the sensitivity analysis that StellarSurfer suggested. It seems like stress-testing your decision against different scenarios (like what if your spouse retires earlier than planned, or what if there are changes to tax policy) could be just as important as the base case analysis. One thing I'm curious about - for those who did extensive analysis before deciding, how much did the final decision align with what your "gut feeling" was initially? Did the detailed analysis confirm your intuition, or did it lead you to a completely different conclusion than what you originally thought made sense? Thanks to everyone for creating such an educational thread. I'll definitely be getting my official SS statement and consulting with professionals before making this important decision!

As someone new to this community who's facing a very similar decision, I'm incredibly grateful for all the detailed insights shared in this thread! I'm turning 65 in about 6 months with a husband still working (making around $88K), and this discussion has been absolutely eye-opening. What really strikes me is how interconnected all these retirement decisions are. I initially thought this was just about "when to claim Social Security," but reading through everyone's experiences, I now understand it's really about optimizing our entire household's retirement tax strategy, Medicare planning, and long-term financial security. A few things that have particularly resonated with me: **The "total household optimization" concept** - Looking at both spouses' benefits together rather than making isolated individual decisions. This seems crucial when one spouse is still working with good income. **The timing flexibility within the tax year** - Jacinda's point about strategically timing when to start benefits within 2025 to manage that first year's tax impact is brilliant and something I never would have considered. **The decision matrix approach** - Jessica's systematic way of weighing all factors based on personal priorities rather than just mathematical optimization really appeals to me. Sometimes the "perfect" math answer isn't the right life answer. I'm definitely going to get my official SS statement from ssa.gov, and based on all this advice, I think consulting with both a fee-only financial planner and a CPA who specializes in retirement taxes is essential. The complexity of coordinating SS benefits, taxes, Medicare premiums, RMDs, and Roth conversion opportunities is way beyond what I can figure out on my own. Thank you all for such an educational and supportive discussion - this community is an amazing resource for navigating these complex retirement decisions!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm in almost the exact same situation and this discussion has been incredibly valuable! I just reached my FRA last month and my husband's benefits are significantly higher than mine, so I definitely want to pursue the spousal benefit. Reading through everyone's experiences, it's clear that SSA's system is really overwhelmed right now and being proactive is absolutely essential. The advice about trying to call at 7 AM on Wednesday or Thursday mornings seems to be the most consistent recommendation, and I love the tip about asking the agent to make a note in your file when you do get through. I'm also planning to gather all my documents beforehand - certified marriage certificate from the county clerk, both our Social Security cards, photo IDs, and any SSA correspondence - just in case I need to visit the office. It's frustrating that we have to work so hard just to get benefits we're entitled to, but seeing so many success stories here gives me confidence that persistence really does pay off. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences - this kind of practical advice from people who've actually navigated the process is exactly what newcomers like me need!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm in a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly enlightening! I just hit my FRA this month and am dealing with the same spousal benefit questions. What really strikes me from reading everyone's experiences is how much you need to be proactive with SSA right now - their system seems completely overwhelmed. I'm taking notes on all the great advice here: try calling at 7 AM sharp on Wednesday or Thursday mornings when wait times are shorter, gather ALL documents beforehand (especially that certified marriage certificate from the county clerk, not just a copy), and don't wait for them to ask since applications apparently just sit there waiting for documents they never request. The success stories from people like Marcus Williams and Andre Moreau give me hope that once you get the right documentation to them, things can move relatively quickly. I'm planning to try the early morning calling strategy first, and if that doesn't work after a few attempts, I'll head to my local office with everything in hand. It's frustrating that we have to work this hard for benefits we're entitled to, but this community's real-world advice is exactly what people like us need. Thank you to everyone for sharing your experiences - it's so helpful to know others have successfully navigated this process!

One important clarification about ex-spouse benefits that sometimes confuses people: applying for benefits on your ex's record does NOT reduce their benefits or notify them that you've applied. This is a common concern, but your application is completely confidential. Your ex won't know you've applied or be affected financially.

Just wanted to add from my recent experience - I was in a similar situation last year and ended up doing the online application first, then when it asked for documents I chose to mail them. Here's what worked for me: I made copies of my certified divorce decree and marriage certificate, wrote a cover letter with my full name, SSN, and reference to my online application, and sent everything via certified mail with return receipt. It took about 2 weeks but they processed everything fine. The key is making sure you have CERTIFIED copies from the court, not just notarized photocopies. Also, start the online application even if you're not sure about the documents - you can always complete that part later and it gets your case in the system. Good luck with your retirement!