I have read your REVISED 'How to Get What’s Yours' Social Security Benefits book and need some verification that I properly understand the rules as they apply to me and my husband.
My husband took Social Security at age 70 and retired at age 74 last year so he has received additional payment adjustments yearly due to that.
I turned 66 in late June 2020 so I lost out on filing for just a spousal benefit and letting my retirement benefit grow.
My own retirement benefit is MORE than half my husband’s PIA at 66 so it looks like I will only get my FRA benefit unless I wait longer and accrue DRCs on my record.
We have been married for over 40 years so it is my understanding that since I am now FRA, I would receive his CURRENT full monthly benefit at time of his passing. He was the higher wage earner.

Most likely, I will be calling the 1-800 to apply.

I found the printed Retirement Benefits application on the SSA website:
SSA-1-BK (3-2019)

There are a few questions that are a bit perplexing to me.
18b: I only worked from 1971 until 2000 so I would then list 2001-2019 that I did not have any wages at all? Or is this a trick question in which they’re asking if there was ever any NON covered SS employment. NOT the case for me as all employment was covered.
I never worked where I was NOT covered under Social Security. However, I have not worked past 2000.

18b: do I list the years I did NOT work?
I know SS knows this as I have my current SS benefits statement.

Or does this question 18b pertain to work such as working for the government or being a teacher where you are not covered by Social Security?
In which case, I would write Yes to 18a and then skip to 19.

Line 20, I believe I answer NONE since I have not worked in any capacity since 2000. So Line 21 would then be 0.
I can't find the "How Work Affects your Benefits in instructions so I'm completely puzzled by this.
21b What would I put in 'you did not earn more than *$______ in wages

Now here's the section about FRA benefits: Question 25
I'm frankly don't know which one to choose: b or c or leave blank because look at warning.

I turned 66 at end of June and thought I should indicate July 2020 as my starting month.
Trying to get this right, especially with the no doubt, lessened Social Security staff due to COVID processing forms.

Thank you for your patience.

Hi,

Almost no one files for benefits using an SSA-1-BK nowadays. Instead, when a claim for Social Security retirement benefits is filed by phone or in person, a Social Security representative completes an electronic version of the form. The questions on that application are different from the ones on the SSA-1-BK. In fact, question 18 on the SSA-1-BK isn't even asked on the electronic version.

In any case, though, question 18 is not a trick question. The purpose of the question is to determine if the applicant's Social Security's earnings history matches their allegation. If, for example, a person alleged having Social Security covered earnings in every year from 1978 to the present and if their Social Security earnings history showed some of those years with zero earnings, then the Social Security representative would try to resolve that discrepancy.

Question 20 is simply looking for information about the applicant's recent work and earnings for Social Security earnings test purposes. So, since you haven't had recent earnings you'd answer that question 'No', and enter '$0' in question 21.

If you want to claim benefits effective at full retirement age (FRA), you'd check the block in 25(b). Social Security would then start your benefits effective with June 2020, since you don't need to be FRA for an entire month to be eligible for your FRA rate. In other words, you'll be due your FRA rate if you start your benefits effective June 2020 even though you didn't reach your FRA of 66 until the latter part of that month.

I hope that answers your questions, but I would not suggest using form SSA-1-BK to file for your benefits. Instead, you should either file online (https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/apply.html) or by calling Social Security to make an appointment to speak with a claims representative. You may also want to consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to analyze your options.

Best, Jerry