# Countdown to retirement **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 25, 2023, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653 "2023-03-25T17:37:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 28
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/541 "2023-12-03T17:16:20Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Then when I applied for SS and was approved, her SS checks immediately went up to becoming half of what mine were (and mine were based on 35 years of earnings above the SS maximum). This happened auto-magically when you were approved? You did not have to request it? mmm ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/542 "2023-12-03T17:21:27Z")
> [@InternetLegend](#): > > If my benefit wouldn’t go up, there’s no point in him delaying the satisfaction of seeing a government check Yes, make the appointment, even if it’s a phone call. I’ve found the SS reps to be helpful and courteous, and willing to answer questions. If you have a local office, a face-to-face is even better, but it’s tough to get a timeslot anytime soon. Another factor to consider is if you could start drawing before he does. You could be getting a smallish check now, and then wait until he decides to start his benefits before getting your 50%. Also, at the risk of sounding morbid, you will be entitled to his full benefit, should he predecease you. If you live a long time, the extra dollars each month could add up over the years. But do make that appointment, and please don’t consider my advice to be the gospel truth! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/543 "2023-12-03T18:36:00Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > This happened auto-magically when you were approved? You did not have to request it? Yes, automatically/magically, which surprised the hell out of both of us. We learned it happened automatically when the Mrs. went online to her SS account to see if she could request the change there; it had already happened. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/544 "2023-12-03T19:44:47Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > … If you have a local office, a face-to-face is even better, but it’s tough to get a timeslot anytime soon. … I started my Social Security benefits online (I’m single so there was nothing to figure out). When it came time for my Part B enrollment I made an appointment — six weeks or so in advance — since I had to submit proof that I’d been insured by my employer continuously since turning 65. So far, so good. My last day at work was a Friday. The next day I received a notice that there was a problem and my Part B coverage could not start till I submitted more paperwork. Since my employer coverage had stopped the day before, I didn’t feel like waiting another six weeks; so on Monday I went to the local SSA office about an hour before it opened and joined the existing queue. When the office opened those with appointments were admitted first, then the rest of us got numbers that varied depending on our business. I was prepared to wait all day (I’d brought a good book in addition to my paperwork), but my number came up within an hour. Point — if any — being, if you have any kind of urgent issue that can’t be resolved by phone, don’t bother with a far-off appointment: go to the local office. YMM, of course, V depending on your location, but in general your chances of a quick resolution are 'way better. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/545 "2023-12-03T20:35:03Z")
I was curious and just looked: my county of 250k people has _three_ SSA offices. Nice! ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/546 "2023-12-03T20:56:44Z")
When we went face to face with an appointment like 7 1/2 years ago there were a lot of people waiting. Things are worse now, since the government hasn’t increased the customer support budget in years, and Republicans want to cut it further. (Article in the Times today about this.) For my second, during Covid, I made a phone appointment which took about 3 months to get. But when a screwup was sending my check to the wrong bank account, one we closed, I waited on hold for about 90 minutes and got it fixed right away. Medicare we did totally on line. I’m sure there are some places where there is less wait time in offices, and maybe people have forgotten they are open. Ours is in (long) walking distance from us. The SS staff have been universally great, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/547 "2023-12-03T23:44:19Z")
Interesting about the spousal benefit - I wasn’t aware of that. However, it may not do us any good: though I turn 70 in March (and for obvious reasons am holding off until then to start collecting), my wife just turned 59 and retired earlier this year. When she turns 62, she can file for what would be her reduced Social Security benefit. Or she could wait, of course. [She isn’t eligible to get the spousal benefit, either, until she turns 62](https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/quickcalc/spouse.html). And from what I just read, [if she applied for both, she’d just get the higher of the spousal benefit and her own benefit.](https://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/social-security/articles/how-to-maximize-social-security-with-spousal-benefits) If the two amounts are pretty close, what I’m wondering is whether she can claim the spousal benefit and collect that until she turns 70, and then file for her own Social Security, and would she be able to collect that at the rate you get for waiting those additional years, which would then presumably be much bigger than her benefit as my spouse? (An answer to that one is NOT needed urgently - we have three years to figure that one out! 😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/548 "2023-12-03T23:53:17Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > If the two amounts are pretty close, what I’m wondering is whether she can claim the spousal benefit and collect that until she turns 70, and then file for her own Social Security, If I’m doing my math correctly, no she can’t . From [Social Security](https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/applying7.html#:~:text=If%20your%20spouse%20was%20born,benefit%20until%20a%20later%20date.) > - **Between age 62 and their [full retirement age](https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/ageincrease.html)**, the amount is permanently [reduced by a percentage based on the number of months up to their full retirement age](https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/quickcalc/spouse.html#calculator). > - If your spouse is under full retirement age and: > - Work while receiving benefits, the [retirement earnings test](https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/whileworking.html) may affect their benefits. > - Also qualifies on their own record, their application will include both benefits. > > - **At their full retirement age** , the spouse’s benefit cannot exceed one-half of your full retirement amount. > > If your spouse was born before January 2, 1954, and has already reached full retirement age, they can choose to receive only the spouse’s benefit and delay receiving their own retirement benefit until a later date. If your spouse is full retirement age and applying for spouse’s benefits only, **they can apply online** by using the retirement application. > > If your spouse’s birthday is January 2, 1954 or later, the option to take only one benefit at full retirement age no longer exists. If your spouse files for one benefit, they will be effectively filing for all retirement or spousal benefits. It appears that whenever she applies she will be applying for all the benefits she qualifies for. . ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2023, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/549 "2023-12-04T00:34:11Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > If the two amounts are pretty close, what I’m wondering is whether she can claim the spousal benefit and collect that until she turns 70, and then file for her own Social Security, and would she be able to collect that at the rate you get for waiting those additional years, which would then presumably be much bigger than her benefit as my spouse? That trick used to be available. As @Doreen’s cite indicates, that “loophole” / good deal was closed by Congress a few years ago to anyone born after 1-1-1954. Which includes the lovely and talented **Mrs.Firefly**. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2023, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/550 "2023-12-04T01:06:15Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > As @Doreen’s cite indicates, that “loophole” / good deal was closed by Congress a few years ago to anyone born after 1-1-1954 Exactly. My wife was born 3-12-1954 (Don’t tell her that I told you.). We asked about doing this, but found out that she couldn’t. So she started drawing her normal benefit at age 67. Two years later, when I turned 70 and started drawing, her benefit automatically was raised to 50% of my monthly benefit. It was only about a 60 dollar increase, but it was applied with no intervention from us. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2023, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/551 "2023-12-04T01:33:15Z")
My wife’s own benefit is bigger than 50% of my own larger benefit. So we’re effectively independent when it comes to claiming; we’re each getting our own and only our own whenever we each put in for it and that’s all there is to it. We’re thinking to both wait to 70, but with a weather eye out for any lifespan limiting health issues that might appear along the way. Conveniently, I’m drawing survivor’s benefits from my late first wife’s account while letting mine grow to 70. So it’s sorta like the old play **Firefly** was asking about. Damn shame about the sacrifices required to make it happen though. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2023, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/552 "2023-12-04T14:38:57Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > It appears that whenever she applies she will be applying for all the benefits she qualifies for. That answers the question. Thanks for all the info! ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2023, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/553 "2023-12-12T17:50:14Z")
My countdown is nearly at its conclusion: my last full day of work is _the day after tomorrow_. It still doesn’t seem real. Technically I’ll be on the clock on Friday, but I’ll just be turning in my laptop, badge, and parking pass, then waving goodbye. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2023, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/554 "2023-12-12T19:15:40Z")
I’m just hitting 3 months now. All I can say is: Come on in, the water’s mighty fine!! 😁😁 ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2023, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/555 "2023-12-12T19:18:51Z")
Congratulations ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2023, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/556 "2023-12-12T19:23:34Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Technically I’ll be on the clock on Friday, but I’ll just be turning in my laptop, badge, and parking pass, then waving goodbye. Yay! My last day was a Friday, and since my laptop and state phone were old models they didn’t want back, I got told to keep them. This was in part due to the need for me to continue working with the state Dept. of Justice on legal cases, and in part them really not wanting to bother with the hardware. So I use my state cellphone to sign in to the state government VPN when there is legal work for me to do. No one wanted my ID either. Enjoy! I hope you love it as much as I and others here do! ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2023, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/557 "2023-12-12T19:30:44Z")
Congratulations! If you feel any pangs of regret, consider that it’s just the work habit leaving the body. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2023, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/558 "2023-12-12T20:55:59Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I’m just hitting 3 months now. All I can say is: > > Come on in, the water’s mighty fine!! 😁😁 It’s been 7 1/2 years for me, and it’s still fine. I kind of wonder how I ever shlepped to work every day. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2023, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/559 "2023-12-12T21:18:35Z")
Congrats, RT! It’s been 8 months for me, and like @Voyager mentioned, I don’t know how I managed to drag my behind into work all those years. Retirement: Where every day is a good day. mmm ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2023, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653/560 "2023-12-12T21:26:54Z")
Thanks, y’all! I still can’t believe it’s so close. But it’s time. My body and my soul both say so from deep down. Qadgop, my agency would have replaced my laptop a few months back, but I told them, “why bother?” given how little time I had left. But they’ll still want it and my badge back, this is the Federal government after all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653.md?page=27) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-retirement/981653.md?page=29)