Can I just walk into SS office with marriage certificate for spousal benefits after reaching FRA?

You don't need to go in person just for this. SSA will automatically look at both records once both applications are processed and determine if you're eligible for the higher spousal benefit. They'll contact you if they need the marriage certificate. Since you both filed so close together, they'll likely process this all at once. Just make sure your application indicates you're married to an SS beneficiary.

i woudlnt wait around for them to ask. i showed up at the office with ALL my docs (birth cert, marriage license, tax forms) and im glad i did because they actually needed them and would have delayed my benefits. if u havn't been able to get thru by phone better just go in person

You're in a somewhat unique situation since you're both filing so close together. To clarify a few things: 1. Since you're at FRA, you will automatically be considered for the higher of either your own benefit or the spousal benefit (up to 50% of your husband's PIA). 2. SSA typically does need to see a marriage certificate for spousal benefits, but they often don't request it until they're ready to process that portion. 3. The "Step 2" you're seeing online is unfortunately not very informative - processing could be nearly complete or barely started. My recommendation: call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 first thing in the morning (7 AM Eastern) when wait times are shortest. If you can't get through after 2-3 attempts, then yes, bringing your marriage certificate to the local office is a good idea. Bring original documents and go early in the day.

When I tried to do spousal benefits they messed EVERYTHING up!!! Took 7 months to fix and I had to go to the office THREE TIMES with the same documents! Don't trust them to do anything right - document EVERYTHING and keep copies of all paperwork you submit. And get names of everyone you talk to!!!

I had the exact situation last year with my wife. SSA never asked for our marriage certificate despite me telling them multiple times we were married. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to someone at SSA after weeks of busy signals. The agent I spoke with said my application was just sitting there waiting for the marriage certificate they never asked for! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Worth trying before making the trip to the office.

Just wondering - do you have your marriage certificate listed in your mySocialSecurity account under documents? I think there's a section where you can upload documents now.

make sure ur calculating the spousal benefit right btw. its not just 'half his benefit' like most ppl think. if ur already getting ur own ss check the spousal just makes up the difference to get u to half of his. alot of times its way less than people expect

My advice after 30+ years dealing with SSA: always be proactive. Their systems are backlogged and understaffed. I'd recommend both calling AND visiting your local office with marriage certificate in hand. For calling, try exactly at opening time (usually 7am) on Wednesdays or Thursdays when call volumes tend to be lower based on my experience. Don't count on them figuring things out automatically.

I went through this exact situation last year! My advice is to definitely bring your marriage certificate to the office, but call ahead first to see if you can schedule an appointment. Walking in without an appointment at most SSA offices means you'll be waiting 2-4 hours easily. When I finally got through by phone, they told me they had been waiting for my marriage certificate for weeks but never sent a request letter. Brought it in the next day and my spousal benefit was processed within 10 days. Also, make sure you bring a certified copy, not just a photocopy - they're particular about that. The extra $300/month I got was definitely worth the hassle!

I'm in a very similar situation right now! Just turned 67 last month and waiting on my first payment too. From what I've been reading here, it sounds like being proactive is definitely the way to go. I've been trying to call for over a week with no luck - those busy signals are so frustrating! I think I'm going to take the advice about trying early morning calls on Wednesday or Thursday, and if that doesn't work, I'll just head to the office with my marriage certificate. It's reassuring to hear that others have gotten through this process successfully, even if it takes some persistence. Good luck with getting your spousal benefit sorted out!

I went through this exact process about 6 months ago and definitely recommend being proactive! SSA's system is incredibly backlogged right now. Here's what worked for me: I tried calling for 2 weeks straight with no luck, then finally went to my local office with my certified marriage certificate (make sure it's certified from the county clerk, not just a copy). I arrived 30 minutes before they opened and was still 4th in line! The agent told me my application had been sitting there waiting for documentation they never requested. Once I provided the marriage certificate, my spousal benefit was approved within 2 weeks and I received back pay. The key is bringing ALL your documents - marriage certificate, both Social Security cards, photo ID, and any correspondence you've received from SSA. Don't wait for them to ask - they're too overwhelmed to follow up properly. Good luck!

I'm dealing with a similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Based on everyone's experiences, it seems like the key is definitely being proactive since SSA's systems are so overwhelmed right now. I'm planning to try the early morning calling strategy (7 AM on Wednesday/Thursday) that several people mentioned, and if that doesn't work after a few attempts, I'll head to the office with all my documents. One thing I'm curious about - for those who successfully got their spousal benefits processed, how long did it take to see the adjusted payment amount once you provided the marriage certificate? I want to set realistic expectations for timing. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's really reassuring to know others have navigated this successfully!

I'm a newcomer to this community but found this discussion really valuable! I'm actually in a very similar situation - just turned 67 and waiting on my Social Security to start, with a husband who has higher benefits. Reading through everyone's experiences, it's clear that being proactive is absolutely essential with SSA right now. The consensus seems to be: try the early morning calling strategy first (7 AM on Wed/Thu), but don't wait too long before visiting the office with your certified marriage certificate and ALL documents. What really stood out to me is how many people had their applications sitting there waiting for documents SSA never actually requested - that's so frustrating but good to know! I'm definitely going to follow the advice here about arriving early at the office and bringing everything: certified marriage certificate from county clerk, both SS cards, photo IDs, and any SSA correspondence. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences - it's exactly what people like us need to hear!

As someone new to this community, I've been following this discussion closely since I'm in a very similar situation! Just reached FRA last month and dealing with the same spousal benefit questions. What strikes me most from everyone's experiences is how inconsistent SSA's process seems to be - some people get asked for documents, others don't, and applications just sit there waiting. Based on all the advice here, I think the smart approach is definitely to be proactive. I'm going to try the early morning calling strategy (7 AM on Wed/Thu) that several people recommended, and if that doesn't work after a few attempts, I'll head to my local office with my certified marriage certificate and all other documents. It's frustrating that we have to work so hard just to get benefits we're entitled to, but at least knowing what to expect helps. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences - this kind of practical advice from people who've actually been through the process is invaluable!

As a newcomer to this community, I've been reading through this entire discussion and it's incredibly helpful to see so many people sharing their real experiences! I'm in a very similar situation - just hit my FRA and trying to figure out the spousal benefit process. What really stands out from everyone's advice is the importance of being proactive with SSA's overwhelmed system. The consensus seems clear: try the early morning calling strategy (7 AM on Wed/Thu) first, but don't wait too long before visiting the office with your certified marriage certificate and all supporting documents. I'm particularly struck by how many people had their applications just sitting there waiting for documents SSA never actually requested - that's both frustrating and valuable to know! I'm planning to gather my certified marriage certificate from the county clerk, both our Social Security cards, photo IDs, and any correspondence from SSA, then try calling first thing tomorrow morning. If that doesn't work after a few attempts, I'll head to the office early next week. Thanks to everyone for sharing such practical, real-world advice - it's exactly what people like us need to navigate this process successfully!