That's a good point about the 35-year calculation. For anyone unfamiliar, Social Security uses your highest 35 years of earnings (indexed for inflation) to calculate benefits. Years with no earnings count as zeros in this calculation. This is why the spousal benefit is particularly important for those who spent time out of the workforce or had lower earnings for significant periods.

As someone who just went through this process with my parents last year, I can confirm the system does automatically calculate both benefits and gives the higher amount. However, I'd strongly recommend setting up a my Social Security account online if your wife hasn't already - this lets you track the application status and see exactly what benefits are being calculated. The processing can take 2-3 months to get the full amount right, so having online access helps you monitor what's happening rather than waiting and wondering. Also, definitely ask about those retroactive benefits when she applies - at 70, the 6 months of backpay is usually worth more than the small reduction in monthly benefits.

Congratulations on making a well-informed decision! Your situation really highlights how important it is to look at the whole picture rather than just the monthly benefit amounts. The earnings test can be such a trap for people who are still working - I've seen too many folks get surprised by those overpayment letters. Since you're waiting until June, you might want to start gathering your documents now so you're ready to apply right when you hit FRA. Having your tax returns, W-2s, and other paperwork organized ahead of time will make the process smoother. And definitely keep that Claimyr tip in mind when you're ready to call - dealing with SSA phone lines is nobody's favorite activity! Four months will fly by, and then you'll have that peace of mind knowing you're getting your full benefit without any earnings test headaches. Good luck with those home repairs when the time comes!

Welcome to the community, Maya! You've gotten some excellent advice here. I went through a very similar decision process last year and also chose to wait until FRA - best financial decision I made. One additional tip: since you're planning to wait until June, consider setting up a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov if you haven't already. You can verify your earnings record is accurate and get updated benefit estimates. Sometimes there are errors in their records that can affect your benefit amount, and it's much easier to correct them before you apply. Also, don't forget that once you reach FRA, you can earn as much as you want without any benefit reduction - so if you decide to pick up extra hours or take on additional work after June, it won't affect your Social Security at all. That flexibility alone is worth the wait!

This thread has been incredibly educational! As someone new to Social Security benefits, I had no idea about the difference between the "cash receipt principle" for retirement benefits versus the "when earned" rule for disability benefits. Reading everyone's experiences really highlights how confusing these rules can be, especially when different SSA representatives give conflicting information. What strikes me most is how the timing of reaching FRA in the same year can actually work in your favor with the monthly earnings test versus the annual test. It seems like this is a detail that should be more prominently explained when people first apply for early retirement benefits. The community knowledge here is fantastic - you all understand these nuances better than some of the official representatives! I'm bookmarking this discussion for future reference since I'm sure I'll have more questions as I navigate this system.

This thread has been a lifesaver! I'm in a similar situation where my company laid everyone off right before the holidays, but I didn't get my final paycheck until early January. I've been terrified about getting hit with an overpayment notice since I started collecting benefits early last year. Reading all these explanations about the "cash receipt principle" and how the monthly earnings test works in your FRA year has been incredibly enlightening. It's shocking how many different answers people get from SSA reps on the same issue! I'm reaching my FRA in April, so it sounds like I'll benefit from the monthly limit for the first few months of this year too. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences - this community clearly understands these rules better than many of the official representatives. I feel so much more confident about my situation now!

For a DAC claim like this, I'd recommend applying in person if possible, or at least starting with a phone appointment. Explain clearly that you're applying for Disabled Adult Child benefits based on her parent's record. The online system doesn't handle these specialized cases as well. Bring every medical record you can find from when she was 20-22 to establish that the disability began before 22. School records showing she had to drop out or accommodate her condition can help too. If her parents are both receiving Social Security, she could potentially file on either record - usually the higher earner's record would be best. This could be life-changing for her - both monthly income AND Medicare coverage regardless of her age after 24 months of benefits.

I'm so glad you found this community and asked this question! As someone who's been through the Social Security maze myself, I can tell you that what everyone is saying about the Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefits is absolutely spot-on. The fact that your sister's disability started at age 20 and her parents are receiving Social Security makes this a very promising situation. Don't let the years of discouragement stop you now - I've seen so many people miss out on benefits they were entitled to simply because they were given incorrect information early on. One thing I'd add: when you go to apply, be very specific about requesting DAC benefits and emphasize that her disability began before age 22. Sometimes the intake staff aren't familiar with all the nuances of these programs. If you get pushback or confusion, ask to speak with a supervisor or disability specialist. Also, keep in mind that if approved, there might be some retroactive benefits available too, which could provide a significant lump sum. Don't give up if you get an initial denial - the appeals process exists for a reason and many deserving cases get approved on appeal. Wishing you and your sister the best of luck with this process!

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to chime in since I just went through the SSA application process for survivor benefits last month. The representatives I spoke with confirmed multiple times that COLA applies to ALL Social Security benefits regardless of type or claiming age. What really helped me understand this was when they explained that COLA is essentially the government's way of protecting ALL beneficiaries from inflation - it wouldn't make sense to exclude certain groups. I also found it helpful to know that the COLA is announced every October (usually around the 10th-15th) and takes effect the following January. You can actually find the official COLA announcement on the SSA website each year. One tip: once you start receiving benefits, you can sign up for a my Social Security account online to easily track your payments and see when the COLA adjustment gets applied. Hope this helps ease your worries about claiming at 60!

I'm new to this community but wanted to add my perspective as someone who works in the Social Security field. Everyone here is absolutely correct - COLA applies to ALL Social Security benefits regardless of when you claim them or what type they are. I see this confusion come up a lot, and I think it stems from people mixing up the early retirement penalty (which is permanent for retirement benefits) with COLA eligibility (which applies to everyone). The key thing to remember is that COLA is specifically designed to help ALL Social Security recipients maintain their purchasing power against inflation. It would defeat the entire purpose if certain beneficiaries were excluded. You'll receive the same percentage increase as everyone else, applied to whatever your monthly benefit amount is. The fact that your benefit might be reduced for claiming at 60 doesn't change your eligibility for annual COLA adjustments. Best of luck with your application process!