I am currently receiving survivors benefits and want to start my own benefit Jan 2022. I called the SS office in my area and was told I could file online, even though I am currently receiving my late wife's survivor benefit. I was skeptical, but went online and was surprised that the website did indeed allow me to file my application. Do you think it will go through? Has anyone else in these circumstances done this? Did SS come through for them?

If I collect my spouse's benefit now and I want to start collecting my benefit, is this something I can sign up for online before I turn 70.
Thank you,
Deb

Hi Larry,
My DOB: 4/29/52. My wife's DOB: 5/10/49.
We were fortunate to sneak under the wire regarding changes made by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 which allowed us to be grandfathered in and to pursue the claiming strategy I describe below.
At age 66 my wife "filed and suspended" on her RIB in order to establish a filing date and to earn DRCs on her earnings When she turned 70 she started receiving her maximum benefit.

Where on SS website do I apply to switch from ex-spouse benefit to mine at age 70 thank you.

Hi. Here is a link to the page on Social Security's website that you'd use to apply for retirement benefits: https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/.

Best, Jerry

4 years ago my wife began her retirement benefits at age 62. For the past 4 years I have been receiving a spousal benefit. I recently applied and was approved verbally over the phone for my own retirement benefits to start in December. I read somewhere that when you apply and give the marriage info (which they already have from when she applied) they should automatically inform her of her entitlement and increase her benefit accordingly. Have you ever heard of that being the case or must my wife call Social Security to apply for the excess spousal benefit?

My wife at age 66 (her FRA) filed a "restricted spousal only" application in 2018. That process went very well and she has been receiving 1/2 of my PIA since that filing. She turns 70 in 2022 and we want to file then for her own full benefit which will be more than 1/2 of my PIA. Does she need to file at a Social Security office or can that be done online via the SSA site. What info will be needed and if at the SSA office does she need an appointment. Thank you in advance

I have been receiving spousal benefits and just turned 70. I want my own benefit and understand that I need to file a new application for benefits - I cannot just make a change in my account and I cannot find anything in my current account online to make a new application. Do I have to set up an entirely new account online to do this? I really don't want to do it by phone or in person.

Dear Larry; I am waiting until I turn 70 to claim my maximum social security retirement benefit. I will turn 70 on 12/16/2021. As I understand your answer to another claimant, I should file my claim no earlier than December 2021 in order to make sure I get the full benefit rate for a 70 year old claimant. Do I have to wait until after my birthday on 12/16/2021? Or can I file on any day after December 1? As I understood your response to a previous claimant, Social Security considers you to become 70 in the month of your birthday, correct?

Larry- I will be 70 in March of 2021. Will then be changing from spousal to my own. Expect to get about $3400.00 per month. My wife (born July 1954) started hers at 62. On her own acct. she gets $1221.00. When I'm 70 will I have to reapply for my own? The other question is on her. When I'm 70 and she is 67-68 would it be better for her to switch to spousal till she is 70 and can she? Reading where she may not be old enough to do it and if so would it be practical since she started at 62? Thanks for your help.

I am waiting until I turn 70 to collect SS Retirement benefits. I turn 70 December 26, 2021. I understand I can apply up to 4 months before I want benefits to start. Does that mean I can apply as early as August or September? Also do I indicate that I want my benefits to begin in the month I turn 70 (December) to get the maximum amount and expect my first payment to begin in January 2021 as SS pays one month in arrears?