Need help applying for SS at 70

[Vivbet]

[Topic is now in Personal Finance (Not Investing) - mod mkc]

My spouse, who will turn 70 in March, received a letter from the SS administration dated November 2nd saying: “We are writing to tell you that you should apply now for Social Security retirement payments….You should contact us right away to apply for retirement benefits. ”

Seems straightforward, but I remember reading here at one time that Social Security will try to give you a one-time check for the months past 69 or 69.5, and then your future payments will be based on retiring at that age instead of at 70. In other words, the check will come at the expense of the future payments.

I also remember that on that thread there were suggestions on how to apply to avoid this scenario, but I can’t seem to find the thread.

If anyone could provide suggestions on how to apply to Social Security while ensuring that we get payments based on age 70, I’d greatly appreciate that. After waiting this long,we certainly do not want to make a mistake!

Thank you.

[Artsdoctor]

If he's been signed up for his "my social security" account for several years, just log on directly and you can direct the date to start his benefits. If he's not registered, then you can sign in through ID.me (which comes in handy for other governmental agencies).

[turtlebug]

Is this what you're looking for?

https://bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=384197

[dratkinson]

I applied at a local SS office 3-4mos before I turned 70. I didn't do it online because I feared I'd be asked a question based on SS-speak that I could not answer. By visiting a SS office, I hoped to talk to a human who could explain and help me around any SS-speak.

I visited the SS office in the mid-afternoon, waited >1hr, and saw a polite/helpful human so process worked smoothly.


The SS human generated and explained application paperwork. Example:
--My benefit is based on age 70: I also wanted to avoid a lump sum check for backdating benefit.
--My fed tax makes 85% of my total annual SS benefit taxable. Easy to understand.
--SS will withhold a percentage for fed tax (not state tax) if requested. However, the percentage is applied to the remaining monthly SS benefit after Medicare/IRMAA are subtracted. Meaning there's a small disconnect between f1040 fed tax-owed and SS fed tax-withheld.

I recall the max fed tax percentage withheld was 24%. I've since wished I could withhold more. Looking online I've confirmed 24% is max fed withholding. If it bothers me enough, may one day again walk into SS office to see if a human can increase the percentage.


Small problems. I forgot to bring in my SS card for identification, but I did have my Medicare card in my wallet and human accepted that.

A friend applied online and ran into a problem. Long story short: it required several phone calls/days to resolve his problem. So there's a lot to be said for allowing a SS human to walk you through the application process.

On the other hand, I've read some BHs say they applied online and it was quick and painless.


So whether you apply online or as a walk-in, I guess it depends upon how much handholding you think you'll need.

[jebmke]

Is this what you're looking for?

https://bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=384197

I used language similar to that described in this post. I did the whole thing online.

I applied in September (2022) to start January, 2023 (first payment in Feb). I did not receive a determination letter until December. Unrelated to the application process, I found that they had calculated the amount incorrectly. In late January I filed an appeal and in February I received two payments - one was the "wrong" amount and the other was the difference. In March, the payment was made correctly in one deposit.

[Vivbet]

Is this what you're looking for?

https://bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=384197

Yes, thank you turtlebug, this has the information I need.

Without this board, I would have never known we needed to make such specifications.

[AAA]

I applied at a local SS office 3-4mos before I turned 70. I didn't do it online because I feared I'd be asked a question based on SS-speak that I could not answer. By visiting a SS office, I hoped to talk to a human who could explain and help me around any SS-speak.

I visited the SS office in the mid-afternoon, waited >1hr, and saw a polite/helpful human so process worked smoothly.

I also had a useful visit to a Social Security office when I decided to start collecting. The helpful employee alerted us to spousal benefits.

[Nicolas]

I followed the advice from the earlier thread (below) and applied online three months early and wasn’t paid retroactive benefits. In other words it was successful. I got my full delayed benefit. I never visited a SS office, I think they were closed then anyway due to the pandemic.

2) under "Remarks" at end of application
"I am choosing to receive MAXIMUM delayed retirement credits and do NOT want my benefits to be paid retroactively.

[nesdog]

I saved several threads posted over the years before I applied a few months ago, including the one linked above. That was hugely helpful and I followed it.

I received my award letter last week and all is exactly as I wanted it. As someone else said earlier, I would never have gotten this right without this forum.