Reached my Social Security FRA next month - online application vs. in-person for spousal benefit coordination?

Congrats on reaching FRA! I applied online last year and it was super simple. Took maybe 20 minutes total. As for the spousal benefit, it does NOT happen automatically. Your wife will need to contact SSA separately to apply for the increased benefit if she qualifies for it (if your benefit would give her more than she currently receives).

There are pros and cons to each application method. Online is convenient and often faster processing, but in-person or phone appointments give you access to a claims specialist who can answer questions in real-time. Regarding your wife's situation: If your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) is higher than hers, she may be eligible for an increased benefit - up to 50% of your PIA minus her own benefit. This is NOT automatic though. She'll need to call or visit SSA to apply for this adjustment. Since you have this spousal benefit coordination question, it might actually be worth scheduling an appointment rather than applying online. This way you can ensure both claims are handled correctly from the start.

just did mine online last month took 5 min no problems yet check came on time

I waited THREE HOURS at my local SSA office just to be told I could have done everything online!!! Don't waste your time going in person unless you have a really complicated situation. The offices are understaffed and overcrowded. Online is the way to go.

I'm in a similar boat - my FRA is in April and my husband's been collecting for years. I spoke with an SSA rep who told me that spousal benefits HAVE to be applied for separately, they don't just automatically adjust it. Apparently the system doesn't automatically check if a spouse could get more money when their partner files. My husband had to submit a separate application for the spousal benefit. It was backdated to when I filed though, so he didn't lose any money. Are you sure your wife will get more with the spousal benefit? It's only helpful if 50% of your benefit is more than her current benefit amount. Might be worth calculating before you go through the trouble.

If you're trying to call SSA to discuss this or set up an appointment, good luck! I spent WEEKS trying to get through. The phone lines are constantly busy or they disconnect you after waiting for an hour. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a real person at SSA within 5 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Totally worth it for the time saved and stress avoided. I was able to get all my questions answered about my complicated filing situation in one call.

One important point to consider regarding your wife's potential spousal benefit: There's a difference between spouse's benefits and the excess spousal benefit. If your wife is already receiving her own retirement benefit, she would only receive the difference between her benefit and up to 50% of your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), if that calculation is higher than her current benefit. For example, if your PIA is $2,500 and your wife's benefit is $1,000, she could receive an additional $250 ($2,500 × 50% = $1,250, minus her $1,000 = $250 excess spousal benefit). This isn't automatic in the system. You should definitely contact SSA by phone or in person to ensure this is set up correctly. Ideally, get your wife's spousal benefit application submitted at the same time as your retirement application.

my cousins wife had this EXACT situation and she didn't know about the spousal thing for like 2 years and missed out on so much money!!!!! make sure you call them call them call them don't just do it online!!!!

my sister applied online and her husband got the spousal increase automatically