This is such valuable information! I'm bookmarking this thread for future reference. It's really helpful that you specified the exact document name "Medicare Premium Notice Detail" - I bet that will save other people a lot of time and frustration. The explanation about how WEP/GPO affects the payment display in their system is eye-opening too. Congrats on getting your BCBS reimbursement sorted out!

This is exactly the kind of detailed, helpful thread that makes this community so valuable! I'm dealing with a similar Medicare premium verification issue for my employer's health savings account reimbursement. Like you, my SS benefit is reduced (in my case due to early retirement at 62), and I've been getting the runaround from both Medicare and SS about documentation. Reading through everyone's suggestions - especially the specific document names like "Medicare Premium Notice Detail" and asking for a Technical Expert - gives me a clear roadmap for my own situation. It's frustrating how these systems seem designed to make everything as confusing as possible, but threads like this really help navigate the bureaucracy. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and especially to Ezra for following up with the successful resolution. This is going straight into my bookmarks for reference!

Great summary Sean! You've got a solid understanding now. One additional tip from my own experience - when you do eventually contact SSA to review your earnings record, ask them to show you your "earnings record" (Form SSA-7005) which lists all your years of earnings. This will help you see exactly which years are in your top 35 and whether any future part-time earnings might actually replace lower years from early in your career. Also, you can create a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov to view your earnings history and get benefit estimates anytime. It's really helpful for planning and you don't have to wait on hold! The online calculator will show you exactly how your benefits would change if you claim at different ages. Sounds like you're making a smart, well-informed decision. Enjoy your semi-retirement phase!

I'm in a very similar situation - turning 66 next month and planning to cut my hours significantly while delaying my Social Security claim. This thread has been incredibly informative! One thing I wanted to add that hasn't been mentioned yet: if you have a spouse, don't forget to factor in spousal benefits and survivor benefits when making your timing decision. Delaying your claim not only increases your own monthly benefit, but it also increases the survivor benefit your spouse would receive if you pass away first. That 8% annual increase applies to survivor benefits too. Also, I've heard that if you change your mind after filing, you have 12 months to withdraw your application and repay any benefits received (without interest) if you want to restart the delayed retirement credit clock. Haven't had to use this myself, but it's nice to know there's a safety net if circumstances change. The my Social Security online account that Isabella mentioned is definitely worth setting up - I use it to run "what if" scenarios all the time!

Update: I called SSA again today and finally got through after a 2.5 hour wait! The agent confirmed I do qualify for survivor benefits since we were married exactly 9 months. She said I can receive 100% of his benefit amount since I'm at full retirement age for survivors. I have an appointment next week to complete the application. Thank you everyone for your help and advice!

Maya, I'm so glad you were able to get through and get confirmation about your eligibility! That 2.5 hour wait sounds absolutely brutal, but it's great that the agent confirmed you qualify for the full survivor benefit. Just wanted to add that when you go to your appointment, it might be helpful to ask about when your first payment will arrive - sometimes there can be a processing delay of several weeks. Also, since you mentioned you were planning to file for your own retirement benefits anyway, you might want to ask them to run the numbers on both scenarios to make sure the survivor benefit is indeed the better option for your specific situation. Best of luck with your appointment next week!

As a former SSA field office manager, I can confirm everything that's been shared here is accurate. The 10-year rule is absolute - no exceptions for age, health, or circumstances. One thing I'd add: make sure she understands that if she does qualify for benefits on her own record, she should file her application BEFORE her spousal benefits terminate if possible. This can help avoid any gap in payments. Also, if she worked for the government or railroad, different rules might apply, so she should mention that to SSA. The transition period can be financially devastating for people who aren't prepared, so having all the information upfront is crucial.

I work as a benefits counselor and want to emphasize something that hasn't been fully addressed yet - the emotional impact this will have on your dad's ex-wife. Losing spousal benefits after 7 years can be absolutely devastating, especially for someone in their 70s who may have limited ability to increase their income. The financial shock often leads to depression and anxiety. While your dad understandably wants out of the marriage, I'd strongly encourage him to consider being as generous as possible in any settlement negotiations. Even a modest monthly supplement for a few years could make the difference between her being able to stay in her home or having to move to subsidized housing. The guilt he's feeling now will only get worse if she ends up struggling financially. Sometimes doing the right thing costs money, but it's worth it for peace of mind.

I went through this exact same situation two years ago! The process was actually much smoother than I expected once I understood that SSA handles all the comparison work. I applied online at ssa.gov and it took about 6 weeks to get approved. One tip that really helped me: when you're gathering documents, also look for any old tax returns where you filed jointly - SSA sometimes asks for these to verify the marriage dates if there are any discrepancies with your other documents. I ended up getting the divorced spouse benefit which was about $200 more per month than my own would have been. Don't stress about not knowing your ex's benefit amount - the system really does work without you having to figure that out yourself!

I'm going through this same process right now and wanted to share what I learned from my appointment last week. The SSA representative was really helpful and confirmed that you don't need your ex's benefit information. She told me they actually prefer when people apply for both benefits simultaneously because it saves them from having to call you back later to explain options. One thing that surprised me - if you don't have your ex's SSN, they can usually find his record using his full name, date of birth, and place of birth. I didn't have his SSN but they located his file within minutes using those details. Also, she mentioned that even if your ex hasn't filed for benefits yet, you can still get divorced spouse benefits based on what he would be entitled to at his full retirement age. The whole appointment took about 45 minutes and I walked away feeling much more confident about my decision to file early. Hope this helps!