Confused about SSA Form W-4V tax withholding - need ID number and spouse submission timing?

For Form W-4V line 4, your Social Security number is all you need. That's your identification number for SSA purposes. Regarding your husband's form - it's best to wait until he's approved before submitting his W-4V. The system needs an active benefit to attach the withholding request to. As for the name change, if your husband provided his previous name on the application and his SSN matches his current legal name, SSA can usually process it without additional documentation. However, if there's any discrepancy between his SSN records and current ID, they'll contact him requesting documentation. It doesn't hurt to have the name change papers ready just in case, but I wouldn't worry about proactively sending them unless SSA specifically requests them.

dont overthink the W-4V its pretty simple. i just put my ssn on line 4 when i did mine last year. worked fine

I had a similar situation with my husband's name change (he was adopted as a teenager). We brought the papers with us just in case but SSA never asked for them. I think as long as his SSN record matches his current name it's fine, but if there's confusion they'll definitely let you know! One thing nobody mentioned - you can actually file the W-4V by mail too if you don't want to go to the office. I mailed mine in and it took about 3 weeks to process.

Just to add some additional info about Form W-4V - when you submit it, you'll need to specify what percentage you want withheld (7%, 10%, 12%, or 22%). Make sure you consider your overall tax situation to select the appropriate amount. Many retirees underestimate how much tax they'll owe on combined income sources. Regarding the husband's name change - SSA has access to a surprising amount of historical records. If his SSN was issued under his current name, there shouldn't be an issue. If it was under his previous name, they might request documentation, but they'll specifically tell you what they need. Finally, when your husband gets approved, you might want to check if you qualify for spousal benefits if they would be higher than your own retirement amount. You can't receive both, but you're entitled to whichever is larger.

the SS office near me is ALWAYS packed!!! waited 3 hrs last time i went. total nightmare. good luck with that

I JUST went through this whole tax withholding thing and trust me its confusing!! On line 4 I put my SSN and it worked fine. But beware they take FOREVER to actually start the withholding!! I submitted my W-4V in January and they didn't start taking taxes out until MARCH. So don't panic if it doesn't show up on your first payment. ALSO make sure your % is enough!!! I did 7% and my accountant says thats not enough and I'm gonna owe a bunch next year. UGH.

My cousin had name change issues with SS and it was a NIGHTMARE to fix. Took like 6 months to sort out!

Don't stress too much about the withholding form - it's pretty straightforward. For your husband, I'd suggest waiting until he gets his approval letter with his claim number before submitting his W-4V. That way everything will match up in their system. Has your husband checked his my Social Security account online to see the status of his application? Sometimes you can see if they need additional documents there.

Just wanted to add that if you're concerned about the processing time for withholding, you might want to consider making quarterly estimated tax payments to the IRS in the meantime. That way you won't get hit with a big tax bill or underpayment penalties while waiting for the W-4V to kick in. You can set these up online through the IRS website pretty easily. Also, once your husband's benefits are approved, you'll both want to review your combined tax situation since Social Security benefits can become taxable depending on your total income. Good luck with everything!

I went through a similar situation with my parents recently. For the W-4V form, your SSN is definitely what goes on line 4 - that's your identification number in their system. One thing I'd recommend is calling SSA first before making the trip to the office. Sometimes they can walk you through the form over the phone or even process it for you, which saves the hassle of waiting in those long lines. The number is 1-800-772-1213, though you'll probably need to call early in the morning to avoid long hold times. Regarding your husband's name change situation - if he's had his current SSN for years under his legal name, it's usually not an issue. SSA has pretty comprehensive records. But having those name change documents ready (even just copies) is smart, just in case they do ask. Better to have them and not need them than the other way around!

I just went through this exact process a few months ago! For line 4 on the W-4V, your Social Security number is correct - that's the identification number they're looking for. Regarding timing with your husband's form, definitely wait until his benefits are approved. I made the mistake of trying to submit my spouse's W-4V before approval and they couldn't process it because there was no active benefit record to attach it to. For the name change issue, I wouldn't worry too much. My brother had a similar situation from childhood and SSA never requested additional documentation during his application process. If there were any red flags in their system, they would have mentioned it during the initial application. But it's smart to have those papers on hand just in case they do ask later. One tip - when you do go to submit your W-4V, bring a copy of your benefit award letter. It helps speed up the process since they can quickly verify your information. Good luck with everything!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! Just got my approval letter last week and was confused about the same things. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - especially about using the SSN on line 4 and waiting for my spouse's approval before submitting his form. One thing I wanted to add that I learned from my local SSA office - they actually prefer if you call ahead to make an appointment for forms like the W-4V rather than just walking in. The wait times are much shorter with an appointment, and they can block out enough time to make sure everything is filled out correctly. My local office books appointments about 2-3 weeks out, so it's worth calling soon if you want to go the in-person route. Also, totally agree with everyone about having those name change documents ready just in case. My husband had a similar childhood name change and we're taking the same approach - have the papers ready but not worrying about it unless they specifically ask.