To summarize for the original poster: Since you just reached FRA last month and want benefits ASAP, select the current month as your benefit start date. Just be prepared that it might take 2-3 months for your application to be processed and payments to begin. Once they do start, you'll receive any back payments owed to you. And since you're already at FRA, there are no penalties or reductions regardless of when you start.

One additional tip that might help - when you submit your application online, make sure to print or save a copy of your receipt/confirmation number. If there are any delays or issues with processing, having that reference number will make it much easier when you need to follow up with SSA. Also, you can check your application status online at ssa.gov using your my Social Security account. Good luck with your application!

Based on what you've shared, I'll offer some perspective on realistic timeframes: 1. Simple spousal claims (no offset): 7-14 days 2. Spousal claims with pension offset calculations: 21-30 days 3. Complex cases with multiple factors: 30-45 days Since your application moved to a Processing Center and it may involve pension offset calculations, you're looking at category 2 or 3. I'd recommend waiting until you're at day 25 before becoming concerned. One important note: if you check your application status online, it won't show detailed progress once it's at the Processing Center - just that it's under review. This is why it appears "stuck" at step 2.

I'm going through something similar right now! Filed my spousal application 3 weeks ago and it's been bouncing between offices too. Started at my local office in Tampa, then moved to Birmingham Processing Center, and now it's showing Atlanta. I was panicking thinking something was wrong but after reading everyone's experiences here, it seems like this office-hopping is just how they manage their workload. The uncertainty is definitely the hardest part - I keep checking the tracker multiple times a day even though I know it probably won't change. At least now I have a better idea of realistic timelines. Sounds like anything under 30 days for cases with complications is actually pretty normal. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

Just curious, have u considered working more hours now to intentionally go over the earnings limit by a lot? If ur gonna get most benefits withheld anyway, might as well earn more $$ now, right?

I went through a similar situation a few years back and want to share what I learned. The key thing to understand is that there are actually THREE different mechanisms at play here that people often confuse: 1) **Early filing reduction**: This is permanent and can't be undone after 12 months 2) **Delayed retirement credits (DRCs)**: 8% per year if you suspend benefits 3) **Earnings test adjustment**: Happens automatically at FRA if benefits were withheld due to work In your case, since you're earning $35K and working 30 hours/week, you're definitely over the earnings limit. Here's what I'd suggest: Don't suspend voluntarily. Instead, let the earnings test do its thing and withhold your benefits naturally. You'll get the adjustment at FRA AND you won't lose out on any months where your earnings might dip below the limit. The earnings test adjustment can be surprisingly generous - in my case it brought my benefit up to about 90% of what the full FRA amount would have been. Not perfect, but much better than I expected when I first claimed early. Also, Lucas makes a great point about working more hours if you're comfortable with it. The earnings test has a cliff effect, so earning $25K vs $40K might result in the same benefit withholding.

Just to give you an expectation on payment amounts: if your partner was receiving $2,500 per month in SSDI, your daughter would be eligible for approximately $1,875 monthly (75% of his benefit). The good news is that once approved, they will pay all months due from the date of death forward as a lump sum, then continue with monthly payments. I also wanted to clarify something important - while you mentioned you were already receiving dependent benefits for your daughter while her father was alive, the survivor benefit amount is usually higher than the dependent benefit amount. So there's typically an increase in the monthly payment after the conversion to survivor benefits is complete.

I'm so sorry for your loss and the stress you're going through with this process. As someone who recently navigated the SSA system after a family death, I wanted to share a few things that might help: First, don't lose hope - your daughter absolutely qualifies for survivor benefits since she was already receiving dependent benefits on her father's record. The conversion should be straightforward once they process it. A few suggestions that worked for me: - Document every interaction you have with SSA (dates, times, who you spoke with, what was discussed) - If you haven't already, ask specifically for a "case manager" to be assigned to your daughter's claim - Consider contacting your local congressman's office for help - they have caseworkers who can sometimes get SSA to respond faster on stalled cases The waiting is absolutely brutal, especially when you're struggling financially. But based on what others have shared here, it sounds like once it goes through, you'll get all the back pay which should help with the bills that have piled up. Hang in there - you're doing everything right and advocating well for your daughter. The system is just painfully slow right now.

One more thing to consider: Since you're past your FRA, you should know that there's no advantage to waiting longer to claim ex-spousal benefits. Unlike your own retirement benefit, ex-spousal benefits don't grow with delayed retirement credits past your FRA. So if the ex-spousal benefit is going to be higher than your own benefit, you might as well claim now. But if your own benefit is higher, and especially if it's close, you might consider waiting until 70 to maximize your own benefit with delayed retirement credits (which grow about 8% per year until 70).

I just wanted to add something that might help with your decision timing. Since you mentioned you retired last year and are now 66 and 4 months, you should also consider your overall financial situation. If you need the income now, there's no penalty for earning money while collecting Social Security since you're past your FRA. Also, regarding getting information without opening a claim - you can actually request a Social Security Statement online at ssa.gov/myaccount which will show your own estimated benefits. While it won't show your ex-spouse benefit amount, it will at least give you your own benefit estimate to compare against. One last tip: if you do end up needing to wait 3 months for an appointment, you might want to go ahead and schedule it now anyway. You can always cancel if you figure things out sooner, but at least you'll have that backup option. Good luck with everything!