I'm new to this community and wanted to thank everyone for this incredibly thorough discussion! My partner and I are about 5 years away from retirement, and I've been trying to get a head start on understanding Social Security benefits. This thread has been more helpful than hours of trying to navigate the SSA website. The key takeaway that really clicked for me is that Social Security sees you as two completely separate individuals when you're both claiming on your own work records. The fact that you're married is essentially irrelevant to your individual benefit calculations. It's only when multiple people are trying to collect from ONE person's earnings record that the family maximum comes into play. Your situation with the $5,900 combined monthly benefit is exactly what dual-earner couples should expect - no reductions, no caps, just the full benefits you've both earned through your individual work histories. Your sister-in-law's confusion is totally understandable since "family maximum" does sound like it would apply broadly, but it's actually quite specific. This discussion should definitely be pinned or saved somewhere for future reference - I'm sure many people run into this same worry when they start planning for retirement!

I'm new to this community but wanted to add my perspective as someone who works in retirement planning. This is such an excellent question and the responses here have been spot-on! The confusion about "family maximum benefits" affecting married couples is incredibly common in my line of work. I probably get asked about this at least once a week by clients who've heard something similar from well-meaning friends or family members. To put it as simply as possible: Social Security calculates your benefits based on YOUR individual work record, period. Your marital status doesn't create any kind of household cap when both spouses are claiming on their own earnings histories. You've each paid into the system separately, earned your own credits separately, and you'll receive your benefits separately. The family maximum benefit rule exists for very specific situations - mainly when children or non-working spouses are collecting benefits based on one worker's record. It's designed to prevent one person's earnings record from supporting too many dependents at unreasonably high levels. Your projected $5,900 combined monthly benefit is exactly what you should expect to receive. No reductions, no caps, no complications. You and your husband have both earned these benefits through decades of work, and Social Security will honor that regardless of your marriage. Your financial advisor was absolutely correct not to mention any household limits because they simply don't exist in your situation. Keep those retirement plans on track - you're in great shape!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you might want to consider having your tax preparer or accountant help you calculate the right withholding percentage before you submit the W-4V form. Since you mentioned your accountant already flagged the underpayment issue, they probably have all your income details and can run scenarios to see which percentage (7%, 10%, 12%, or 22%) gets you closest to breaking even. It might be worth the consultation fee to avoid another big surprise next year. Also, keep in mind that if your pension or other income changes during the year, you may need to adjust your withholding accordingly.

As someone new to this community, I want to thank everyone for such detailed and helpful responses! I'm in a similar situation - just started receiving SS benefits and completely overlooked the tax withholding aspect. Reading through all these comments has been incredibly educational. A few things I'm taking away: 1) The W-4V form with only 4 percentage options (7%, 10%, 12%, 22%), 2) The 1-2 month processing delay, 3) The importance of considering your total income picture, and 4) That certified mail or hand delivery might be the safest way to submit. I'm definitely going to use the IRS Withholding Estimator tool and possibly consult with a tax professional before choosing my percentage. This thread should honestly be pinned as a resource for new SS recipients!

I'm really sorry you're going through such a difficult situation after 32 years of marriage. Based on all the helpful responses here, it sounds like you have a much clearer picture now about the Social Security aspects of your situation. Just to summarize what I'm understanding: since your husband is already collecting his retirement benefits, you won't need to wait 2 years after your divorce is finalized to claim divorced spouse benefits. The main timing factor for you is reaching age 62, which gives you time to get the divorce completed without worrying about that waiting period. One thing I'd suggest is keeping a written record of all this information you've gathered here, along with the key points to discuss when you do speak with SSA directly. It might also be worth checking if your local Social Security office offers any informational sessions about retirement planning - sometimes hearing this information in person can help clarify any remaining questions. You're handling a lot right now, but it's clear you're approaching this thoughtfully and asking the right questions. That preparation will really help you make the best decisions for your financial future. Take things one step at a time, and don't hesitate to reach out for professional guidance when you need it.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this difficult situation after such a long marriage. Reading through all the responses here, it's clear you've gotten excellent advice about the Social Security timing rules. I wanted to add one practical tip that might help with your planning process. Since you have about 2 years before you turn 62, this could be a good time to create a "Social Security file" where you keep all the relevant documents and information in one place. Include things like your Social Security Statement (which you can get online at ssa.gov), your marriage certificate, and eventually your divorce decree. Also consider keeping notes about your ex-husband's work history and when he started collecting benefits - SSA may ask about these details when you apply. You might also want to set a reminder for yourself to check back on any rule changes as you get closer to 62. While the fundamentals are unlikely to change, sometimes there are updates to the application process or documentation requirements. The fact that you're thinking through all these details now shows you're really on top of your planning. After 32 years of marriage, you deserve to feel confident about your financial security going forward. Hang in there - you're asking all the right questions and gathering the information you need to make good decisions for your future.

I wanted to add something that might be helpful for your planning - make sure you understand how your reduced Social Security benefits will be calculated at 63. Since your full retirement age is 67, taking benefits at 63 means you'll receive about 75% of your full benefit amount (roughly a 25% reduction). This reduction is permanent, but as others mentioned, any money withheld due to exceeding the earnings limit will be recredited to you after you reach FRA. Also, I'd suggest running some scenarios with the SSA's online calculators or speaking with a financial planner who understands military survivor benefits. The combination of guaranteed DIC income plus reduced early SS benefits might actually work out better for your situation than waiting, especially considering your family health history concerns. Just make sure you factor in healthcare costs too - Medicare doesn't start until 65, so you'll need coverage for those two years between retiring at 63 and Medicare eligibility.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through this exact situation two years ago. I'm a military widow receiving DIC ($1,800/month at the time) and started collecting Social Security at 62. The DIC absolutely does NOT count toward your earnings limit - I can confirm this from personal experience. What I found really helpful was calling SSA before I actually filed for benefits to discuss my specific situation. They walked me through exactly how the earnings test works and confirmed that only my potential part-time work income would count toward the $22,320 limit. One thing that surprised me was how straightforward the whole process was once I had all my documentation together. I brought my DIC award letter to my SSA appointment and they noted it in my file but explained it was completely separate from the earnings calculation. The peace of mind of having that guaranteed DIC income really did make taking early SS at a reduced rate feel like the right choice for me. I hope your planning goes smoothly - this community is great for getting real experiences from people who've actually navigated these waters!

I went through this exact situation about 18 months ago when I switched from my deceased wife's survivor benefits to my own retirement benefits at age 66. My payment date stayed exactly the same (4th Wednesday), which was a huge relief since I had all my bills set up around that schedule. However, I did experience the processing gap that several others have mentioned - there was about a 6-week period between my last survivor payment and my first retirement payment. One thing I learned that might help: when I called to make the switch, the representative told me they could provide an estimated timeline for when my first retirement payment would be processed. This helped me plan financially for the gap. I also made sure to ask for email confirmation of my application, which included a note that my payment date would remain unchanged. The whole process took about 2 months from application to receiving my first retirement payment, but knowing what to expect made it much less stressful. My advice would be to definitely call them, get everything documented in writing, and make sure you have enough savings to cover 6-8 weeks of expenses just in case there are any processing delays.

Based on all these experiences shared here, it sounds like the official SSA policy is that your payment date should remain the same when switching from survivor to retirement benefits, but there's definitely a risk of administrative errors during the transition. The most consistent advice seems to be: 1) Specifically ask the SSA representative to document that your payment date will stay the 3rd Wednesday, 2) Get written confirmation of this in your approval letter, and 3) Budget for a potential 6-8 week gap between your last survivor payment and first retirement payment. It's frustrating that SSA doesn't seem to clearly communicate these potential delays upfront, but at least knowing what to expect helps with planning. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - this kind of practical advice is so much more valuable than just the official policy statements!