Congratulations on filing for your benefits! Just to add some clarity to the timeline - while processing can sometimes take longer as others mentioned, many straightforward retirement applications are actually processed much faster now, often within 2-4 weeks if you have a good earnings record and filed online. Since you turned 67 last month and are at full retirement age, your case should be pretty straightforward. You can also track your application status through your my Social Security account online, which usually updates more frequently than calling. Keep an eye on your account - you might be pleasantly surprised how quickly it moves! And yes, you'll get the full February benefit paid in March once approved, no partial payments.

Just wanted to share my recent experience since I went through this exact same process last year! I applied online in January at age 67 and received my first payment about 5 weeks later in March (for February benefits). The key things that helped speed up my process: 1) Made sure all my W-2s and tax info was up to date in their system beforehand, 2) Double-checked that my direct deposit info was correct in my mySSA account, and 3) Didn't call unless absolutely necessary since that seemed to slow things down. The online status tracker was actually pretty accurate - it went from "pending" to "approved" about a week before I got my first deposit. Since you're at full retirement age and filed online, you're in a good position for faster processing. Fingers crossed you see that payment sooner rather than later!

Yes, I do have my SSA account set up and have been looking at the estimates. My husband also has one, though it doesn't specifically show what his converted amount will be - it just shows his current SSDI payment. I assume that'll be the same at FRA based on what everyone has said here. Thank you again for all your help!

As someone who went through this exact situation with my spouse, I can confirm what others have said - definitely keep the SSDI going until FRA! We made the mistake of overthinking it initially and almost considered having my husband switch to early retirement at 62 (thankfully we didn't). One thing I'd add to the great advice already given: when you do get to the point of potentially claiming spousal benefits for your husband, make sure SSA calculates it correctly. The spousal benefit is based on 50% of YOUR Primary Insurance Amount (not your actual benefit if you delay past FRA). So if you wait until 70 to claim, your benefit will be higher due to delayed retirement credits, but his potential spousal benefit is still calculated from your PIA at FRA. Also, since you mentioned you're almost 60, you might want to start thinking about whether you can afford to delay your own benefits. The extra years of delayed credits can really add up, especially as the higher earner. But I know that's easier said than done depending on your work situation!

I'm glad to see you're getting some solid advice here! As someone who works with international benefit cases, I wanted to add a few practical tips for when the time comes: 1. Make sure your wife keeps her Mexican passport current - she'll need it for identity verification when applying for survivor benefits at the US Embassy. 2. Consider setting up a US bank account that offers good international wire transfer services now, rather than waiting. Some Mexican banks have partnerships with US banks that make transfers easier and cheaper. 3. Keep all your Social Security earnings records organized and accessible. The embassy will need documentation of your work history when processing her application. 4. If she does decide to give up her green card eventually, she should do it formally through USCIS rather than just staying away - this creates a clear paper trail that can actually help with benefit processing later. The totalization agreement really does make this much simpler than it used to be. Your 35+ years of contributions definitely put you in a strong position to provide for her future security.

Great question about banking! For US-Mexico transfers, I've had good experiences with Bank of America and Wells Fargo - they both have partnerships with Mexican banks that reduce transfer fees. BBVA is another option since they operate in both countries. For documentation, yes - keep those annual Social Security statements (Form SSA-1099), but also consider requesting a complete earnings record from SSA using Form SSA-7050-F4. This gives you a year-by-year breakdown of your covered earnings, which can be helpful if there are any discrepancies when your wife applies for benefits. One more tip: if your wife plans to maintain her green card, she should file US tax returns even while living primarily in Mexico. This helps establish her continuing ties to the US and can be useful documentation for both immigration and Social Security purposes. The foreign earned income exclusion can help minimize any US tax liability on her Mexican income. The fact that you're planning this out now really shows you care about her future security - that's wonderful to see!

This has become such an incredible resource thread! I'm in a similar boat - applied for spousal benefits 7 weeks ago and have been stuck in phone hell trying to get updates. Reading through everyone's strategies is giving me a real action plan instead of just randomly calling and hoping for the best. I'm going to try the combination approach: early morning calling (8 AM sharp), asking specifically for Technical Expert transfer if the first agent can't help, and having all my documents plus a list of specific questions ready. The tip about asking "Can you see any internal notes about what's holding up my application?" is brilliant - so much better than just asking for a generic status update. One thing I'll add from my experience with other government agencies - when you finally do get through to someone helpful, ask for their direct extension or employee ID number before you hang up. That way if you need to follow up, you can potentially reach the same person who already knows your case instead of starting over with someone new. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences and actual solutions. This thread should honestly be pinned as a guide for anyone dealing with SSA delays!

I just wanted to thank everyone who contributed to this thread - it's become an absolute goldmine of practical strategies! As someone who works in customer service for a healthcare company, I can confirm that many of these government agency tactics work across different departments. The early morning calling strategy is spot-on. Most government phone systems reset their queue priorities overnight, so calling right when they open gives you the best shot at getting through before call volume builds up. The 8 AM timing has worked for me with Medicare, IRS, and now I'm definitely using it if I ever need to contact SSA. One additional tip I'd add: if you're calling about a time-sensitive application (like benefits starting soon), lead with that information immediately when you reach an agent. Don't wait for them to ask - say something like "I'm calling about my retirement application submitted on [date] with benefits starting in [month] and I haven't received any updates in [timeframe]." This frames the urgency right away and helps them prioritize your case. Also, the suggestion about asking for Technical Experts is brilliant. In most large organizations, front-line agents have limited system access, while specialized agents can see and do much more. Always worth asking for that escalation if you're not getting answers. This thread should definitely be saved as a reference guide - thank you all for sharing your real-world experiences instead of just repeating official website information!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Jasmine. I went through this exact situation when my father passed away 18 months ago, and I understand how overwhelming all the paperwork can feel during an already difficult time. From my experience, it truly doesn't matter which of the three offices you send your SSA-1724 to - they all process these forms the same way and have access to the national database. What helped me was calling the SSA's main line (1-800-772-1213) to ask which office had been handling my father's benefits. They were able to tell me right away, and I sent the form there just for peace of mind, though any of them would have worked fine. A few things that made the process smoother for me: - I used certified mail with tracking (definitely worth the extra cost for important documents like this) - Made copies of everything before sending - Included a brief cover letter explaining what I was submitting and why - Called after two weeks to confirm they received everything The whole process took about 6-7 weeks from when I mailed the form to getting confirmation everything was updated. Your 2-month timeline is completely normal - most people I know took even longer to get organized after a loss, so don't feel like you're behind. Hang in there, and feel free to ask if you have any other questions about the process. You're doing great getting everything sorted out.

I'm sorry for your loss, Jasmine. I went through something very similar when my mother passed away last year. The good news is that it really doesn't matter which office you choose - all SSA field offices process forms the same way and have access to the same national system. What I'd recommend is calling the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 and asking which office was handling your father's benefits originally. While any office can process your SSA-1724, sending it to the office that already has his file can sometimes be slightly more efficient. A few practical tips from my experience: - Use certified mail with return receipt so you have proof of delivery - Keep copies of everything you send - Include a brief cover letter with your contact info - Follow up after 2 weeks to confirm receipt The whole process took about 6-8 weeks for me from submission to completion. Your 2-month timeline since his passing is completely normal - don't feel rushed. Most families take several months to get everything organized, and the SSA understands this. Make sure you have a certified copy of the death certificate (not the original) and all your identification documents ready. You're doing everything right, and this will get resolved. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.