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One more thing - when you do claim at 70, make sure you understand how your benefits will be taxed. Depending on your other income sources, up to 85% of your Social Security can be subject to federal income tax. Many people don't plan for this and get surprised at tax time. Your state may also tax SS benefits differently.
YES!! THIS!! I got BLINDSIDED by taxes on my SS benefits!! Had no idea they would be taxed!!! The government is taking my money TWICE!!! Complete ROBBERY if you ask me!
To answer your specific question about finding this on the website: The tool you want is called the "Retirement Estimator" which you can find here: https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/estimator.html When you log in with your my Social Security credentials, you can see estimates based on different claiming ages. There's also an option to enter custom earnings amounts for future years where you could enter zeros. If you want even more detail, you can download the "Detailed Calculator" software mentioned earlier, but for most people, the online tool provides sufficient information.
Perfect, thank you for the direct link! I'll check out the Retirement Estimator today. I feel much better about my retirement plans now that I understand how this works.
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One more important factor to consider: if your husband passes away before you, you would be eligible for survivor benefits. As a widow, you could receive up to 100% of what he was receiving (or entitled to receive). If you've taken your retirement early but then later qualify for survivor benefits, you can actually switch to the higher survivor benefit while your reduced retirement benefit stops. This is one of the few exceptions to the usual claiming rules. So even if you do decide to take your retirement early, it doesn't necessarily mean you'll be stuck with a reduced amount for your entire life if you outlive your husband. This is especially relevant since women typically outlive men by several years.
I hadn't even thought about the survivor benefit aspect. That's actually somewhat reassuring. Since my husband's benefit will be much higher than mine, I'd definitely want to switch to that if he passes before me. There are so many factors to consider!
btw has anyone noticed how the COLA this year is a joke?? 3.2% when groceries go up like 20%??? not related to your question sorry just mad about it lol
EXACTLY!!! The COLAs are RIGGED too! They use some fake inflation number that doesn't include REAL costs like healthcare and food that seniors actually buy!!! It's all part of the same corrupt system!!!!
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Actually I think they also count investment incom and rental properties too. That's what the form says under 'earnings' right???
No, they don't. Investment income and rental income do NOT count toward the earnings limit unless you're actively running a business as a real estate professional. The earnings limit ONLY applies to wages and active self-employment income. Passive income like investments, rentals, pensions, interest, dividends, capital gains, etc. doesn't count toward the limit.
Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! To summarize what I've learned: only my work income counts toward the earnings limit (about $22,300 for 2025), NOT my Social Security benefits. And they use the gross amount before deductions. I really appreciate all the clarification - this makes my retirement planning much easier. I'll be sure to report my expected earnings accurately when I apply next year to avoid any surprises.
Perfect summary! And remember that once you reach your full retirement age, the earnings limit disappears completely - you can earn any amount without reduction in benefits. Good luck with your retirement planning!
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My son lost most of his financial aid becuz of SS benefits. But he still qualified for some grants and scholorships. Make sure ur kid applies for EVERYTHING even if u dont think hell get it. My son got a random $2500 scholorship from a local business just by filling out a 1 page form!!!
That's a great tip, thank you! I'll make sure he applies for everything possible.
Just a final note: one strategy some families use is to put the Social Security benefits into a dedicated college savings account (not a 529, as that would still count as an asset). Then when your child is in their junior year of high school, you can use those funds to pay for necessary family expenses, which can indirectly help your EFC calculation for FAFSA. This requires planning ahead, but might be something to consider if your son is still a couple years from college.
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My neighbor's kid got approved for benefits continuation by enrolling in a program that combined GED prep with vocational training. It was technically a "transition program" for students with special needs. Maybe look into whether your county has something similar? Sometimes they're run through the school district or county services.
That sounds like exactly what we need! I'll research transition programs in our area - hadn't thought about approaching it from the special needs angle but that makes sense given his anxiety issues. Really appreciate the suggestion.
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Quick tip about the application process - have all your docs ready before you start! They'll want your birth certificate, maybe marriage/divorce papers depending on your situation, and bank account info for direct deposit. The online application lets you save and come back, but it's easier if you have everything ready from the start. Also, take screenshots of your confirmation page when you submit! My neighbor's application somehow got lost in their system and having the confirmation number saved him weeks of hassle.
Great advice about the screenshots - I wouldn't have thought of that. I'll definitely have all my documents ready before I start the application. Is the online application pretty straightforward, or are there tricky parts I should be aware of?
To tie everything together for your planning purposes: 1. Apply about 3 months before March 2025 (so December 2024 or January 2025) 2. Specifically select March 2025 as your benefit start month on the application 3. Understand your first payment would normally arrive in April 2025, but processing delays might push this to May or even June 4. Budget accordingly, knowing there could be a gap between when you expect payments to start and when they actually begin 5. Remember you'll get back payments for any months you're eligible but haven't received payment for yet 6. Your $68K earnings won't reduce your benefits, but will likely make a portion of your benefits taxable Does this help clarify the timing for your situation?
Yes, this is incredibly helpful! I'm going to mark my calendar to start the application process in December 2024. I'll make sure to have extra savings to cover any potential delays in receiving my first payment. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain all these details - it's exactly the information I needed to plan properly for 2025. Thank you all!
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My friend's situation was kinda similar and I think there was a surprise with how much she got so def have your husband ask very specific questions during his phone appt! Good luck
Yes!! Make sure he SPECIFICALLY asks: "If I wait until FRA to file, would I receive a higher total benefit through the combination of my own benefit plus a spousal supplement?" The answers they give are often so vague unless you ask exactly the right question!
Just to clarify one more point that sometimes confuses people: The decision about when to file is separate for each of you. You've already filed, but your husband still has options. If your husband files at 62, he gets approximately 70% of his FRA benefit (the $749). If he waits until FRA, he gets 100% of his FRA benefit (probably around $1070). If he waits until 70, he gets 132% of his FRA benefit (around $1412). The spousal benefit doesn't increase after FRA, so there's no spousal advantage to waiting beyond FRA. But his own benefit continues to grow until 70. Since his own benefit is already higher than the reduced spousal benefit, waiting longer would just increase that gap.
This is really helpful information. We need the income now, so waiting isn't really an option for us, but it's good to understand exactly what the tradeoff is. I appreciate everyone helping me understand how this actually works!
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Why did Social Security deduct $400+ from my November check instead of normal Medicare premium?
Just checked my payment for November 2024 on my ssa.gov account and noticed they took out over $400 from my monthly Social Security payment! My regular Medicare Part B premium is only around $170, so I'm completely confused about where this extra $230+ deduction came from. This reminds me of last year's nightmare when SS messed up my deductions. Had to make multiple phone calls and visited the local office twice for an IRMAA appeal. Some SS rep claimed I submitted the wrong tax years, then later another rep admitted THEY made the mistake. Never got an official resolution on that appeal - the deductions just quietly went back to normal, so I stopped pursuing it. I did receive notification that my Part B premium would increase to about $180 for 2025, which I was expecting, but that doesn't explain this sudden $400+ deduction for November. Does anyone know what might cause such a large unexpected deduction? And what's the best approach to figure out why it happened and how long it will continue? After last year's runaround, I'm dreading another battle with SSA over incorrect deductions.
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Download your Medicare Premium Bill statement directly from your Medicare.gov account - it will show exactly what they're charging and why. The breakdown should show the standard premium plus any IRMAA amount. If you can't access it online, call the Medicare helpline at 1-800-MEDICARE rather than SSA. I've found Medicare reps much more helpful and knowledgeable about premium issues than SS representatives.
I didn't think about checking Medicare.gov instead! That's a great suggestion. I'll try that right away. Hopefully I can get this resolved before the December payment so I'm not short on funds for the holidays.
After you figure out why they took the extra money, make sure to document EVERYTHING. Names of reps you talk to, reference numbers for calls, copies of all forms you submit. This has saved me multiple times when dealing with SSA mistakes. Also - when you submit the SSA-44 form, consider taking it to your local office in person and getting a receipt, rather than mailing it. They're notorious for "losing" mailed forms.
This is crucial advice. I always use certified mail with return receipt when sending anything to SSA. And I keep a detailed journal of every interaction - date, time, who I spoke with, and exactly what was said. It's saved me repeatedly when they claim they have "no record" of previous conversations.
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I just read the actual bill text - it's even MORE complicated than people are saying!! The phase-in depends on when you retired and how many "substantial earnings" years you had under Social Security. Some people might see bigger increases faster while others get less. It's DELIBERATELY complicated so they can claim they "fixed" it while still saving money. Classic government bait and switch!!
That's interesting - do you have a link to where you found the full bill text? I'd like to read the details myself. These things always end up being more complex than the news headlines suggest.
To address your original question more directly: Yes, if the WEP/GPO repeal passes, your spousal benefit would increase, though gradually over time. The bill has bipartisan support, which is rare these days, so there's legitimate hope it might finally pass after many previous attempts. While waiting to see what happens with the legislation, I strongly encourage you to apply for the Medicare Savings Program and Extra Help program. With your described income level, you might qualify for assistance with Medicare premiums, deductibles, and prescription drug costs, which could provide immediate relief.
I really appreciate this info! My husband and I will look into those Medicare programs right away. And you're right that the bipartisan support is encouraging - maybe this time it will actually happen. Thanks for the ray of hope!
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CosmicCaptain
wait im confused about something... if shes born in 1964 isnt her regular FRA 67 not 66 and 8 months? why are there different FRAs for different benefits?? thats so confusing!
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Freya Thomsen
•Great question! There actually ARE different Full Retirement Ages for different benefit types. For people born in 1964: - Regular retirement/disability FRA: 67 - Widow/Survivor FRA: 66 and 8 months This is because Congress set different FRA rules for survivor benefits than for retirement benefits. It's confusing, but important for planning. This age difference creates the unique opportunity for someone in this situation to file a restricted application for just widow's benefits at 66+8mo while letting their own retirement benefit continue growing until 70.
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Javier Torres
Thank you all for the amazingly helpful advice! I've made notes of everything and have a much clearer plan now: 1. Get specific benefit amounts from SSA (what my SSDI converts to at 67, projected amount at 70, and widow's benefit at 66+8mo) 2. At 66+8mo, file restricted application SPECIFICALLY for widow's benefits only if they're higher than my SSDI 3. At 70, reassess and take whichever is higher - my maximized retirement or the widow's benefit I'll use that Claimyr service to actually reach SSA since the regular phone line has been impossible. I'll update when I have more information, in case it helps someone else in a similar situation.
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