I'm dealing with a similar WEP situation and it's incredibly frustrating! I'm a retired teacher receiving a pension, and when I tried to apply for spousal benefits online last month, I got the same error messages. What's particularly annoying is that the SSA website makes it sound like ALL spousal benefit applications can be done online now, but they don't mention anywhere that WEP cases are excluded. I ended up having to schedule an appointment for February 14th, which felt like forever to wait. One thing that helped me was contacting my congressman's office - they have caseworkers who can sometimes expedite SSA appointments for constituents. It might be worth a try if you're really in a bind financially. Good luck with your March appointment!

I'm in a very similar situation as a retired federal employee with CSRS pension - tried to apply for spousal benefits online and hit the same wall due to WEP. The frustrating part is there's absolutely no clear warning on the SSA website that WEP cases can't be processed online. I wasted hours trying different approaches before finally giving up and scheduling an appointment. One tip that might help while you're waiting: if you haven't already, try calling the SSA national number (1-800-772-1213) early in the morning (right at 8am) and ask to speak with a claims specialist about establishing a "protective filing date" for your spousal benefits application. Even if they can't process your full application over the phone, getting that protective filing date established could ensure your benefits start from when you first attempted to apply, not from your eventual appointment date. I was able to get this done after about 45 minutes on hold, and it gave me some peace of mind about the timing. The whole system really needs to be modernized to handle these common pension offset situations online. It's 2025 - there's no excuse for forcing people to wait months for something that should be straightforward!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm 62 and just filed for benefits last week while continuing my part-time retail job. The gross vs. net distinction was really confusing me too, but everyone here has made it crystal clear that it's the GROSS wages that count. I'm definitely going to implement several strategies mentioned here: setting up that monthly phone reminder like Natasha suggested, creating a simple Excel tracking sheet like Libby described, and most importantly, filing that SSA-723 form proactively to avoid any overpayment surprises down the road. The tip about local SSA office workshops is fantastic too - I had no idea they offered those! I'm going to call my local office tomorrow to see when their next session is scheduled. One quick question for the group: for those who've been through this process, how long does it typically take for SSA to process and respond to the SSA-723 estimated earnings form? I want to submit mine soon but wondering if there's any urgency or if it's processed pretty quickly. Thanks again to everyone for sharing your real experiences - this has been like getting a crash course from people who actually understand the system!

This has been such an enlightening discussion! As someone who's 63 and considering claiming benefits while continuing to work part-time as a substitute teacher, I've learned so much from everyone's real experiences here. The unanimous confirmation that it's GROSS wages (not net) that count toward the $22,320 annual limit is exactly what I needed to know. My substitute teaching income is quite irregular - some weeks I might work 5 days, other weeks none at all - so tracking against that monthly $1,860 limit is going to be crucial. I'm particularly grateful for learning about: - The SSA-723 form for proactive earnings reporting (definitely doing this!) - The first-year rule that only counts earnings from when you START collecting benefits - Simple tracking methods like monthly phone reminders and spreadsheets - Local SSA workshops (calling my office tomorrow!) One specific question for substitute teachers or others with irregular income: how do you handle estimating annual earnings when your work schedule varies so much? I could work anywhere from 50-150 days in a school year depending on demand and my availability. Should I estimate conservatively and report lower earnings, or try to project a realistic middle-ground scenario? Thanks to everyone for creating such a valuable resource thread!

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! I'm 48 and have been quietly researching early retirement options, and stumbled upon this discussion while looking into Social Security implications. The depth of knowledge and real-world experiences shared here is phenomenal. What really stands out to me is how this conversation evolved from a simple question about benefit reductions into a comprehensive early retirement planning guide. The resources mentioned - Anypia calculator, local SSA appointments, quarterly tracking, seasonal work strategies - are exactly what I needed to move from vague retirement dreams to actual concrete planning. I'm particularly intrigued by the seasonal work approach and the quarterly tracking of benefit changes. As someone in the tech field, I'm wondering if there are seasonal consulting opportunities that could work similarly to the tax preparation example mentioned. The transparency about actual outcomes versus projections is so valuable too. Hearing that careful conservative planning tends to result in meeting or exceeding expectations gives me confidence that this is an achievable goal rather than just wishful thinking. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise - this community knowledge is invaluable for those of us just starting this planning journey!

This has been such an enlightening thread to read! I'm 50 and have been contemplating early retirement at 56, and the wealth of information shared here has been incredibly valuable. What really impressed me is how the discussion evolved from a basic question about Social Security reductions into a comprehensive planning framework. The combination of technical tools (Anypia calculator), practical strategies (seasonal work, quarterly tracking), and real-world experiences has given me a clear roadmap to follow. I'm particularly interested in the seasonal work approach mentioned by @Jamal Harris. As a former project manager, I'm thinking seasonal work during busy periods (like helping companies with year-end projects or Q4 initiatives) could be a perfect fit - enough to maintain work credits while still having most of the year free. The transparency about actual vs. projected outcomes has been so reassuring. Knowing that conservative planning typically results in meeting or exceeding expectations gives me confidence this isn't just wishful thinking. I'm going to start with downloading the Anypia calculator and scheduling an SSA appointment to get personalized projections. Thank you to everyone who shared their expertise and experiences - this community knowledge has been invaluable for moving from retirement dreams to actionable planning!

I'm also new to collecting Social Security while working part-time and this discussion has been incredibly helpful! I just started receiving benefits in December and I'm doing some remote data entry work with earnings similar to yours - usually between $1,200-$1,800 per month. Based on everything I've read here, it sounds like the smart approach is to call SSA and document your estimated earnings even though you're likely under the $22,320 annual limit. I've been keeping track of my income in a basic notebook, but after seeing all the recommendations for spreadsheets, I'm definitely going to upgrade my system! Your situation with medical coding sounds very similar to mine - the variable income makes it tricky to predict exactly what you'll earn for the year, but giving them a realistic range estimate seems to be the way to go. Thanks for asking this question - it's helping so many of us who are figuring out this whole process for the first time!

I'm also new to this - just started collecting benefits in January while doing part-time bookkeeping work from home. This thread has been incredibly helpful! Based on everyone's advice, it definitely sounds like calling SSA to document your estimated earnings is the smart move, even if you're staying under the annual limit. Your monthly range of $1,100-$1,900 puts you at roughly $13,200-$22,800 annually, which could potentially get close to that $22,320 threshold depending on how busy your workload gets. I think giving them a realistic range estimate when you call makes perfect sense for variable income like yours. I'm going to set up one of those tracking spreadsheets everyone keeps mentioning before I make my own call to SSA. It's so reassuring to see how many people are successfully navigating this same transition - makes the whole process feel much more manageable! Thanks for asking this question, it's helping all of us newcomers figure out the right approach.

I'm 61 and have been researching this exact scenario for months! One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is how this decision affects spousal benefits. If you're married, taking your SS early can impact when and how much your spouse can claim on your record. Also, I'd recommend calling SSA directly to get a personalized benefit estimate - their online calculators are helpful but talking to an actual representative can clarify some of the more complex scenarios. Another consideration: if you have any debt or are supporting adult children, the guaranteed monthly income from SS (even reduced) might provide more peace of mind than waiting for the larger amount. I've seen too many people's retirement plans derailed by unexpected expenses or market downturns that forced them to tap retirement accounts earlier than planned. The part-time work + early SS strategy seems most successful for people who can find flexible employers willing to work within the earnings limits. Have you already identified potential part-time opportunities, or are you still exploring what's available in your field?

I've been following this discussion closely as someone who made the decision to take SS at 62 while working part-time about 18 months ago. Here's what I wish I had known beforehand: **The Good:** - Monthly SS income provides real peace of mind, even at the reduced amount - Part-time work keeps me engaged and provides extra income without the stress of full-time employment - I've been able to delay touching my 401k, which has continued growing **The Challenging:** - Tracking earnings is more stressful than I expected - I literally have a spreadsheet that I update after every paycheck - Found out the hard way that bonuses and holiday pay count toward the earnings limit (went $300 over one year and had to repay benefits) - Tax season became more complicated with the combination of SS benefits and work income **My Advice:** 1. Build in a buffer - if the limit is $22,320, aim for $20,000 max to account for unexpected income 2. Get everything in writing with your employer about your hour limitations 3. Consider jobs with predictable, steady hours rather than variable schedules 4. Factor in ALL income sources - even small 1099 work adds up The strategy has worked for my situation, but it requires much more active management than I initially anticipated. The financial security has been worth the extra administrative hassle, but everyone's situation is different. Make sure you're prepared for the ongoing tracking and potential complications!