As someone who recently went through this exact decision at 69, I wanted to share my experience. I was in a very similar situation - still working full-time, good health, and torn between claiming immediately or waiting until 70. What ultimately helped me decide was thinking beyond just the break-even analysis. Yes, the math shows you'll come out ahead after about 13 years if you wait, but I realized I was also essentially getting a "longevity insurance" policy. The higher monthly payment at 70 provides better protection against inflation over a potentially long retirement. I ended up waiting, and here's what I wish I had known earlier: make sure to check if your state taxes Social Security benefits. Some states don't, which can make the effective difference between claiming at 69 vs 70 even more significant than the federal tax implications alone. Also, since you mentioned enjoying your work, consider that having the higher benefit amount starting at 70 might give you more flexibility to reduce your hours or transition to part-time work if your feelings about working change. The extra $250/month provides a nice cushion for that kind of lifestyle adjustment. The Claimyr service mentioned here is definitely worth it - I used them and got insights about my earnings record that I never would have understood from the SSA website alone. Good luck with your decision!

As a newcomer to this community, I've been following this discussion with fascination as someone who's 67 and will be facing this exact decision in a couple of years. The depth of analysis and real-world experiences shared here is incredible! Connor, what really stands out to me is how your situation seems to check all the boxes for waiting until 70: good health, family longevity history, no immediate financial needs, and current high earnings that might improve your benefit calculation. The "longevity insurance" perspective that Tyrone mentioned really resonates - that extra $250/month provides meaningful protection against inflation over what could be a 25+ year retirement. I'm particularly intrigued by the tax efficiency angle that Anastasia raised. If you could transition to part-time work at 70 when you start claiming, you might find yourself in a much better overall tax situation than claiming now while still earning $72k. The IRMAA implications alone could eat up a significant portion of the benefit from claiming early. The Claimyr service sounds like a game-changer for getting personalized analysis. I had no idea there was a way to bypass those notorious SSA wait times! I'm definitely keeping that in mind for my own future planning. Thanks to everyone for such a thorough and practical discussion. This is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that's so much more valuable than generic online advice!

As someone who recently went through a similar WEP situation, I wanted to share another resource that might help while you're trying to get through to SSA. The AARP website has a pretty detailed WEP calculator that can give you a rough estimate of your reduction based on your pension amount and years of substantial Social Security earnings. It's not as accurate as talking to an SSA rep directly, but it can help you get a ballpark figure while you're waiting to connect with someone. I used it before my appointment and it was within about $50 of what the SSA specialist calculated for me. Also, if you're comfortable with it, some fee-only financial planners who specialize in retirement planning are really knowledgeable about WEP calculations and can walk you through the process. Obviously you'll still want to verify everything with SSA directly, but it might help you understand the basics and prepare better questions for when you do get through. The 9am strategy definitely works - I got through in 12 minutes last Tuesday using that approach!

As someone who just went through this exact same process, I completely feel your pain! I had the same WEP questions about my state pension and spent WEEKS trying to get through to SSA. What finally worked for me was calling my local office at exactly 9:00 AM when they opened - got through in under 20 minutes! The rep was able to calculate my WEP reduction on the spot and it was actually $400 less per month than I had estimated using online calculators. Also, make sure to specifically ask for a written benefit estimate when you get through - having those numbers in writing is incredibly helpful for retirement planning. The phone system is absolutely terrible, but don't give up! The early morning strategy really does work, and once you get the right person on the line, they're usually very knowledgeable about WEP calculations. Hang in there!

I'm a former SSA field office manager who handled hundreds of survivor benefit cases, and I want to share some critical insider knowledge that could help you navigate this situation more effectively. First, regarding the "benefit preservation scheme" concern raised earlier - while SSA does scrutinize some arrangements, legitimate guardianships established for valid reasons are still fully recognized. The key is demonstrating that the guardianship serves the child's best interests beyond just financial considerations. Here's what SSA considers legitimate reasons for guardianship over adoption: - Preserving inheritance rights from biological father's family - Maintaining access to father's veteran/union/employer benefits - Continuing established medical/therapeutic relationships tied to father's insurance - Preserving the child's legal connection to father's family for emotional/cultural reasons When calling SSA, use this exact phrasing: "I'm researching how adoption affects survivor benefits for educational purposes. What is SSA's policy when a stepparent adopts a child receiving survivor benefits?" This frames it as general research rather than a personal situation. Most importantly - SSA has a 60-day grace period for reporting family changes. If you do proceed with any legal arrangements, you have 60 days to report them without penalty. Use this time wisely to ensure all paperwork is filed correctly. One final tip: Request written confirmation of any verbal information SSA provides. Ask them to send a letter confirming their policy explanation to your address. This creates an official record that protects you if there are any future disputes about what you were told.

As someone who went through a similar situation, I want to emphasize how important it is to get multiple professional opinions before making this decision. I consulted with three different attorneys - one specializing in family law, one in Social Security benefits, and one in estate planning - and each brought up different considerations I hadn't thought of. One thing that really helped me was creating a detailed financial comparison spreadsheet. I calculated not just the immediate loss of survivor benefits, but also factored in things like the tax advantages of those benefits (they're not taxable income), potential college funding impacts, and what my new husband's financial contribution would need to be to replace that income after taxes. Also consider your daughter's emotional connection to her father's legacy. At 10, she's old enough to have feelings about maintaining that legal connection through benefits versus having a new legal father relationship. Some families find middle-ground solutions like hyphenated names or other ways to honor both relationships. The guardianship route worked well for us, but make sure you understand the differences in your state - some states have limited guardianship options that give specific rights without full parental authority. Document your reasoning carefully and focus on your daughter's best interests in all aspects, not just financial. SSA wants to see that you're making decisions for legitimate family reasons, not just to preserve benefits. Take your time with this decision - there's no rush, and the consequences are permanent.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this incredibly frustrating situation! I went through almost the exact same thing with my elderly father last year when he moved to memory care. The SSA's refusal to recognize standard POA documents is absolutely maddening when you're just trying to help your parents with basic administrative needs. Based on all the excellent advice in this thread, here's what I'd recommend as your best path forward: 1. **Start with USPS mail forwarding immediately** - This gives you a safety net while you work through the SSA paperwork. You can set it up online and it lasts up to 12 months. 2. **Get medical documentation** - Ask your parents' doctor for a letter stating they have "limited mobility and cognitive impairment that prevents them from managing complex administrative tasks." This specific phrasing seems to carry weight with SSA staff. 3. **File SSA-1696 forms for both parents** - Have them sign multiple copies while your dad is having good cognitive days. Get them notarized at a UPS store or similar facility. 4. **Call SSA and specifically ask for a "disability specialist"** - Don't waste time with general representatives. Call right when they open (8 AM) for shorter wait times and less rushed specialists. 5. **Consider Representative Payee status for your dad** - Given his dementia, this might be more appropriate than the SSA-1696 and is designed specifically for beneficiaries with cognitive impairment. Also check with your parents' assisted living facility - they likely have social workers who deal with these SSA issues regularly and may have established relationships with local office staff. You're doing an amazing job advocating for your parents through this bureaucratic nightmare. The system shouldn't be this complicated, but persistence really does pay off. Hang in there! 💪

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this exhausting situation! I just went through something incredibly similar with my grandmother earlier this year, and the SSA bureaucracy is absolutely maddening when you're trying to help elderly family members who can't handle these complex processes themselves. Reading through all the fantastic advice here, I wanted to add one more tip that really helped me: when you visit the SSA office (after getting all your paperwork in order), bring a small folder with dividers containing: 1. Original signed SSA-1696 and SSA-1 forms plus 3-4 copies of each 2. Your legal POA documents (original + copies) 3. Medical letter from their doctors (original + copies) 4. Your government-issued ID 5. Their Social Security cards and/or benefit letters 6. Proof of new address (assisted living admission paperwork) 7. A simple one-page summary sheet with both parents' basic info (names, SSNs, DOBs, old address, new address) Having everything organized and readily available made such a difference with the SSA staff. They could see I was prepared and legitimate, which seemed to make them more willing to help work through the accommodation process. Also, if you run into resistance about the in-person appearance requirement, calmly ask to speak with the office manager and reference the SSA-1696 instructions that specifically mention accommodations for physical and mental limitations. Sometimes the front desk staff aren't fully familiar with all the accommodation procedures. Your persistence and advocacy for your parents is truly admirable. This process is unnecessarily complicated, but you're doing everything right! 💪

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for sharing such detailed and helpful experiences! I'm currently facing what sounds like a very similar situation - I believe I applied for Social Security retirement benefits a few months ago but can't locate any confirmation or status information anywhere. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly enlightening. The distinction between incomplete applications (sitting in the "Continue Application" section) versus properly submitted applications that just don't show up online for months is really important to understand. I had no idea that the SSA website saves partial applications or that it's so common for people to think they've submitted when they've only saved a draft. The tip about checking the "Continue Application" section is something I never would have thought to look for - it sounds like this has helped so many people in this thread! I'm also grateful for the clarification about Medicare Part A eligibility for those applying for early retirement. Like several others here, I had assumed it would be automatic, but now I understand why I wasn't seeing any Medicare-related confirmations. I'm planning to check my MySocialSecurity account first thing tomorrow morning during off-peak hours and look carefully for that "Continue Application" section. If that doesn't pan out, I'll try calling right at 8 AM as several people have recommended. This community is such a valuable resource for navigating these government processes - thank you all for being so generous with your time and experiences!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so grateful to have found this thread! I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation - I'm convinced I applied for Social Security retirement benefits several months ago but can't find any trace of it in my MySocialSecurity account. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly reassuring. It's both comforting and alarming to see how many people have encountered this same issue with the SSA website! The tip about checking the "Continue Application" section is something I never would have thought to look for, and it sounds like it's helped so many people here successfully complete their applications. I had no idea that the website saves partial applications or that it's so easy to think you've submitted when you've only saved a draft. The distinction between having a confirmation number/email (properly submitted) versus having neither (likely incomplete) really helps clarify what might have happened. I'm planning to log into my account early tomorrow morning and carefully search for that "Continue Application" section. If I can't find anything there, I'll try calling right at 8 AM as several people have recommended. Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences and practical advice - from taking screenshots of every page to calling during off-peak hours. This community is such a valuable resource for navigating these confusing government processes!