Made the switch from Divorced Spousal SS to my own SS!

[mn54]

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Originally Posted by W2R YAY!!!! This will be like getting 2 dental implants/year for free.

$3300 for an implant ( including an abutment and crown) is an awfully good price.

[W2R]

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Originally Posted by mn54 $3300 for an implant ( including an abutment and crown) is an awfully good price.

You're right. The two I got last year came to $7,800 so that is $3,900 each. Seems like the prices keep going up, oh well.

[SecondCor521]

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Originally Posted by W2R But not deleriously happy enough for any "Wheee!!!" right now because the market just isn't there.

Thank you!

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Originally Posted by W2R Oh, you reminded me of something I should mention for the benefit of anyone reading this thread in the future. The SS lady offered me either the monthly payment I had computed, or else a monthly payment that was a few hundred dollars less along with a lump sum of a few thousand dollars. I don't remember the exact amounts. But I turned down the lump sum because to me, the whole point of claiming at age 70 is to get a bigger monthly amount. I suppose that in some circumstances, people might unexpectedly need a lump sum but I don't.

I think that SS gives people the option to retroactively claim up to six months of benefits. The lump sum is the catch up payment for those retroactive six months, but the catch is that you are then treated as claiming six months earlier and are left with a lower benefit for life. I think you made the right decision to forego the catchup and smaller check and get a bigger check for life (especially since you were already claiming divorced spousal benefits).

[audreyh1]

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Originally Posted by W2R Yes. And of course I verified that I was claiming at 70!!! I put it in the comments section of the online form, and the lady from SS also repeated that back to me on the phone. SS will inform me of the date of my first direct deposit later on, in the awards letter. It's kind of hard to worry very much when I don't even have the deposit date yet. Oh, you reminded me of something I should mention for the benefit of anyone reading this thread in the future. The SS lady offered me either the monthly payment I had computed, or else a monthly payment that was a few hundred dollars less along with a lump sum of a few thousand dollars. I don't remember the exact amounts. But I turned down the lump sum because to me, the whole point of claiming at age 70 is to get a bigger monthly amount. I suppose that in some circumstances, people might unexpectedly need a lump sum but I don't.

Glad you didn’t fall for that. Apparently a lot of people do. It was a subject of an article a while back where the author felt like SS recipients were being cheated out of their full amount. It looked like in some cases recipients were only being offered the 6 month lump sum back pay and lower check.

[Golden sunsets]

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Originally Posted by CRLLS If one requests to start benefits before FRA, you are right. If benefits start at or after FRA, then the first month of eligibility is the month of your birthday. SS always pays in the month after your eligibility. If W2R is requesting to switch benefits at 70, her first payment on her own delayed benefits should be received the first month after her birthday. I'm fairly certain on that.

There is one exception to this rule. If your birthday is on the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd of the month, then your birthday is considered to have occured in the prior month. In my case my 70th birthday is on 12/1. Social Security therefore considers my birthday to have occured in November, so my first month of collecting at the higher rate will be in December; paydate is the second Wednesday to be exact. And further juice is added on 1/1/19, when the 2019 cola takes effect, assuming there is one.

If I am not mistaken W2R’s 70th bday is on June 8th, after the 3rd, so her month of reaching 70 is June. Her new higher payment, paid in arrears would be in July.

[SecondCor521]

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Originally Posted by Golden sunsets There is one exception to this rule. If your birthday is on the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd of the month, then your birthday is considered to have occured in the prior month.

Err, I don't think so. If your birthday is on the 1st, you are deemed to have achieved any given age as of the end of the previous month. But not the second or third of the month. And the government doesn't consider your birthday to change at all, it's just how old they define you to be.

[Golden sunsets]

Ok-I didn’t verify your statement, but I’ll defer to your knowledge. I was (mistakenly) recalling DH’s OMB retirement date on the 1st-3rd of the month-a different matter entirely. But the rest of my synopsis remains the same. My 70th bday despite it occurring in December is considered to be November. W2R’s first bumped up payment will be in July, assuming she claims on her 70th bday and not 69 years and 11 months.

[Yarnstormer]

That’s awesome! This forum is the best resource! I hope my “file survivor at 60 and switch to my own increased benefit at 70” plan plays out. Fingers crossed they don’t change the rules or I haven’t misinterpreted them!

[W2R]

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Originally Posted by Yarnstormer That’s awesome! This forum is the best resource! I hope my “file survivor at 60 and switch to my own increased benefit at 70” plan plays out. Fingers crossed they don’t change the rules or I haven’t misinterpreted them!

Thank you!

I have forgotten the rules governing the strategy you are planning, but I hope that everything goes smoothly. SS is very complex so be sure to do everything you can to research and learn about this aspect of it. Good luck.

[UpAnchor]

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Originally Posted by SecondCor521 If your birthday is on the 1st, you are deemed to have achieved any given age as of the end of the previous month. But not the second or third of the month.

I can confirm this. DW's birthday was Nov 3rd and she did not receive her first payment until 1/10/18.

[UpAnchor]

BTW, in the process of DW signing up, the SS rep in our local office commented that a good way to remember which month your birthdate qualifies you for is to ask yourself the question, "Was I age xx for the entire month in which my birthday occurs?" Since, in DW's case the answer was "no", then her qualifying month was December - the first month during which she was age xx for the entire month. Since SS pays in arrears, the first payment would land in January. This is why the first of a month is treated differently than the second or third. If born on the first, one is considered to have been ones age for the entire month.

[CRLLS]

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Originally Posted by UpAnchor I can confirm this. DW's birthday was Nov 3rd and she did not receive her first payment until 1/10/18.

She must have filed before her FRA?

[UpAnchor]

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Originally Posted by CRLLS She must have filed before her FRA?

Yes.

[MissMolly]

My husbands birthday was February 19. He turned 66 - full retirement age. He signed up in November to start in February. He will get his first check in March for the full amount for age 66. You do not have to wait an extra month if you are full retirement age. We have received confirmation from SSA.

[UpAnchor]

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Originally Posted by CRLLS She must have filed before her FRA?

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Originally Posted by UpAnchor Yes.

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Originally Posted by MissMolly My husbands birthday was February 19. He turned 66 - full retirement age. He signed up in November to start in February. He will get his first check in March for the full amount for age 66. You do not have to wait an extra month if you are full retirement age. We have received confirmation from SSA.

CRLLS & Miss Molly, you guys are right. And thanks for the clarification regarding FRA.

[audreyh1]

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Originally Posted by UpAnchor BTW, in the process of DW signing up, the SS rep in our local office commented that a good way to remember which month your birthdate qualifies you for is to ask yourself the question, "Was I age xx for the entire month in which my birthday occurs?" Since, in DW's case the answer was "no", then her qualifying month was December - the first month during which she was age xx for the entire month. Since SS pays in arrears, the first payment would land in January. This is why the first of a month is treated differently than the second or third. If born on the first, one is considered to have been ones age for the entire month.

Wow - I think I can remember that!

Both DH and I have late month birthdays, so we should expect the SS to start the following month, but not get a check until the month after.

Wait - that rule only applies to someone starting SS right when they turn 62?

[audreyh1]

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Originally Posted by MissMolly My husbands birthday was February 19. He turned 66 - full retirement age. He signed up in November to start in February. He will get his first check in March for the full amount for age 66. You do not have to wait an extra month if you are full retirement age. We have received confirmation from SSA.

OK I’m confused now. If FRA or older you get paid for the month you reach FRA and get the check the next month?

[always_learning]

Congratulations W2R! I am a planner and I, too, love it when plans work out as hoped. Woohoo!

I'm also a Bluebell fan, so do treat yourself. Mint Chocolate Chip is my weakness but I'm an equal-opportunity ice cream eater.

[W2R]

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Originally Posted by always_learning Congratulations W2R! I am a planner and I, too, love it when plans work out as hoped. Woohoo! I'm also a Bluebell fan, so do treat yourself. Mint Chocolate Chip is my weakness but I'm an equal-opportunity ice cream eater.

Thank you!
Yum, I love Bluebell Mint Chocolate Chip... I still haven't bought any Bluebell to celebrate, but maybe I will do that today.

[UpAnchor]

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Originally Posted by audreyh1 OK I’m confused now. If FRA or older you get paid for the month you reach FRA and get the check the next month?

I believe that's the way it works. And I should have remembered that before posting above. I turned FRA late last month (Feb). Yet I'm due to receive my first spousal on Mar. 14th, next Wednesday. Much shorter wait than poor DW!