Confused about Social Security filing strategy - will early filing affect spousal & survivor benefits after GPO repeal?

I think your probably right that you wont get spousal since your over half but I'm not 100% on that. As for online or in person I did mine online and it was super easy took like 20 minutes. Applied in February and got my first payment in April so plan for at least 4-6 weeks.

Let me clarify a few things for you: 1) You're correct - since your PIA is more than half of your spouse's, you wouldn't qualify for spousal benefits even when your spouse files. This is because spousal benefits are only the difference between your own benefit and 50% of your spouse's PIA (if that amount is higher). 2) Filing early affects YOUR retirement benefit permanently (about 6.67% per year reduction before FRA). It also affects survivor benefits you might receive if your spouse predeceases you, as you'd get either your benefit or your spouse's benefit (whichever is higher), but if you filed early, your survivor benefit would be reduced. 3) This is a common misconception about the GPO repeal. GPO affected government pensions, not regular Social Security benefits. If you take benefits early, survivor benefits would still be reduced based on when you filed for your own benefits. 4) Online is generally faster and easier. You should apply about 3 months before you want benefits to begin.

I was in almost the same situation!!! Filed at 63 and husband waiting till 70. Best decision we made because we needed cash flow now and his bigger benefit later will help us BOTH more in the long run. One tip - keep checking your MySocialSecurity account after you apply because sometimes they don't tell you if they need more info!!!

Regarding your follow-up question about survivor benefits: The rules are complicated, but if you're already past your FRA when your spouse dies, the early filing reduction doesn't apply to survivor benefits. So in your example, if you file at 63 but your spouse dies when you're 75 (assuming your FRA is around 67), you would be eligible for the full survivor benefit without reduction for early filing. You'd receive either your own reduced benefit or 100% of your spouse's benefit, whichever is higher. What causes confusion is that if you're UNDER your FRA when you apply for survivor benefits, there would be a reduction. But that's a separate situation.

The SSA phone lines are IMPOSSIBLE right now. I tried for weeks to get simple answers to questions like yours and kept getting disconnected after 2+ hour waits. Finally I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to an agent in under 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU The agent confirmed that if your benefit is more than half your spouse's, filing early only affects your own benefit, not any future spousal benefits (since you wouldn't get those anyway). Definitely worth the quick call to confirm your specific situation.

Yes, it's completely legitimate. They don't replace SSA - they just help you skip the phone queue. I was skeptical too but after wasting DAYS trying to get through myself, it was totally worth it. You still talk directly to actual SSA representatives.

I want to point out something important that nobody has mentioned yet. The OpenSocialSecurity calculator is generally excellent, but it doesn't always account for the earnings test if you're still working. If you're under FRA and earn over $22,320 in 2025, they'll withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above that limit. This could significantly impact whether filing early makes sense. Also, if maximizing survivor benefits matters to you, the spouse with the higher PIA might consider filing earlier than 70 if health is an issue, since the survivor benefit will be based on what they were receiving (or eligible to receive). There's no one-size-fits-all strategy.

THE GPO REPEAL IS A JOKE!!! All it does is help government workers who had pensions. It literally does NOTHING for regular SS recipients like us. The whole system is BROKEN and they keep making it more confusing on purpose!! Why can't they just make a simple calculator that tells you EXACTLY what to do instead of all these ridiculous rules and exceptions?!?!

One last thing to consider: OpenSocialSecurity's recommendation for you to file now and your spouse at 70 is probably based on maximizing expected lifetime benefits based on average life expectancies. But personal factors matter too - your health, family longevity, and current financial needs. If you're comfortable financially and both have longevity in your families, you might actually do better both waiting until 70, despite what the calculator says. Every situation is unique.

has anyone actually had there benefits start exactly when they wanted? i applied online 3 months b4 I wanted mine to start but my first payment came 6 weeks after the date i selected. no explanation. typical government efficiency lol

To answer your original question about online vs. appointment - definitely do it online if your case is straightforward! When I tried to get an appointment, they told me it would be 4 MONTHS wait. Did it online in 20 mins instead. Just make sure you have all your docs ready (birth certificate, marriage certificate if applicable, bank account info for direct deposit, etc).

Based on everything shared here, it seems like following the OpenSocialSecurity recommendation makes sense for your situation. Since your benefit is more than half your spouse's, there's no spousal benefit to consider, and filing early only affects your own retirement amount. Your survivor benefits would still be protected as long as you're past FRA when that situation might arise. You can apply online about 3 months before you want benefits to begin. Just be prepared for potential processing delays.