Thank you everyone for the helpful responses! To summarize what I've learned: 1. I CAN work during my first month of eligibility (month after turning 62) 2. I need to stay under the monthly earnings limit of $2,340 for 2025 3. SSA counts gross wages when EARNED, not when paid 4. After my first year on benefits, they'll switch to an annual test I'll be careful to reduce my hours enough to stay safely under the limit. My birthday is mid-month so my first eligible month will be the following month. I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and knowledge!

Great summary! One additional point that might be helpful - if you do accidentally exceed the monthly earnings limit in your first year, don't panic. SSA will send you a notice and you'll just need to repay the benefits for that specific month. It's not the end of the world, though obviously it's better to avoid it. Also, since you mentioned your HR department gave you conflicting information, you might want to double-check with them about how they report wages to SSA. Some payroll systems report earnings based on pay date rather than work date, which could affect your calculations. Make sure you're both on the same page about when your earnings will be reported for each month. Good luck with your retirement planning!

I've been lurking on this thread and finally decided to jump in because I've been having the exact same phone system issues! Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who shared their strategies - this is like a masterclass in dealing with SSA's broken phone system. I'm particularly intrigued by the landline vs cell phone suggestion from Lauren. I've been calling from my iPhone and getting disconnected constantly, so I'm definitely going to try my old landline tomorrow. Also planning to try that Tuesday 10:30 AM time slot that someone mentioned. One question for those who successfully got through to discuss survivor benefits - did you find the representatives knowledgeable about the timing strategies? I'm in a similar situation and want to make sure I'm asking the right questions when I finally reach someone. The idea of maximizing lifetime benefits by choosing the right claiming strategy seems really important but also complicated. This community is amazing - it's so helpful to know we're not alone in dealing with this bureaucratic maze!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I've been struggling with the exact same SSA phone system issues for weeks now, trying to get information about my late mother's benefits and whether I might be eligible for anything as her adult disabled child. Reading through all these strategies and tips has given me so much hope and a clear action plan. I'm going to try the local office direct number approach first, calling on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning around 10:30 AM using my landline instead of my cell phone. I never would have thought about any of these details without this community's shared wisdom. It's both frustrating and reassuring to know that so many others have faced these same challenges with the phone system. The fact that we all have to become experts in working around a broken system just to access basic information about our benefits is really disheartening, but I'm grateful for forums like this where people share their hard-earned knowledge. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share what worked for you - it's going to save many of us a lot of time and frustration!

Thank you all so much for the helpful information! I've learned so much from this discussion. Based on everything shared, I think I'm going to: 1. Schedule an appointment with SSA to get exact benefit calculations for different scenarios 2. Consider that my ex won't even be eligible to file for 7+ years (when he's 62+) 3. Remember that remarriage would eliminate spousal benefits but not survivor benefits 4. Factor in the WEP/GPO phase-out timeline for my pension The timing elements are particularly important - I hadn't fully considered the age gap between me and my ex. Even if I stay single, I can't get spousal benefits until he files, which is years away. It's a lot to consider, but I feel much better informed now. I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and knowledge!

Great summary of your action plan! One additional tip - when you call SSA, ask them to run calculations for both your own benefit record AND what spousal benefits would look like on your ex's record (using his current earnings). They can give you estimates even though he hasn't filed yet. This will help you see the actual dollar difference between staying single for spousal benefits vs. remarrying. Also, since you mentioned your ex has health issues, you might want to ask about survivor benefit amounts too - that could be significantly higher than spousal benefits and would be available regardless of your marital status (since you're already over 60). The WEP/GPO phase-out is definitely real - I work in benefits administration and we're already preparing for the 2025 changes. For someone with a $2,600 teacher's pension, you'll see meaningful increases in your Social Security benefits over the next few years. Good luck with your decision!

New member here! My husband is in almost the exact same situation - he's 67 and we're planning to start his SS benefits in January 2025 when his employer coverage ends. He's had Medicare Part A since 65 but stayed on the group plan. After reading through everyone's experiences here, I'm definitely going with checking "YES" for Part B and specifying January 2025 as the start date. The stories about penalties from checking "NO" like @Oscar Murphy experienced are terrifying! Based on all the great advice shared, here's my plan: - Check YES for Part B on the retirement application - Be very clear about January 2025 benefit start date - Take screenshots of all confirmation screens before submitting - Wait about a week, then call SSA to verify both SS and Part B dates align - Get agent name, reference number, and request written confirmation - Follow up if no letter arrives within 3 weeks The system glitch stories from @Evan Kalinowski are concerning, but it sounds like being proactive with verification calls is the key to catching any problems early. One question - for those who had to use that Claimyr service to reach SSA, was it worth the cost given how hard it is to get through on the phone these days? Thanks everyone for sharing your real-world experiences! This thread is so much more helpful than the confusing official SSA guidance.

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for sharing their experiences with this Medicare Part B timing issue! I'm dealing with almost the identical situation - my spouse is 67 and we're planning to start SS benefits in January 2025 when employer coverage ends. After reading through all these real-world experiences, I'm convinced that checking "YES" for Part B while clearly specifying January 2025 as the benefit start date is the right approach. The penalty stories from @Oscar Murphy are exactly what we want to avoid! What really stands out to me is how critical the verification step is. Even though most people seem to have success with the online system, the system glitch experiences from @Evan Kalinowski show that you can't just trust everything will process correctly without following up. My plan based on everyone's advice: - Check YES for Part B enrollment - Specify January 2025 benefit start date very clearly - Screenshot all confirmation screens before submitting - Wait 5-7 days then call SSA to verify both dates align - Get agent details and request written confirmation - Use Claimyr if needed to avoid long hold times This thread has been incredibly more helpful than anything on the official SSA website. Thank you all for sharing both your successes and cautionary tales - it's exactly what newcomers like me need to navigate this confusing process successfully!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Everett. It's wonderful to see that you were able to get your survivor benefits application started! Thank you for sharing your positive experience with Claimyr - that's exactly the kind of real-world solution that can help others in this community who are facing similar challenges with the SSA phone system. The fact that you went from potentially waiting 2+ hours on hold (with the risk of dropped calls) to getting connected in just 15 minutes is remarkable. Your update will definitely be helpful for other members dealing with SSA phone access issues. Wishing you all the best as you continue through the application process.

I'm really sorry for your loss, Everett. It's encouraging to see your update that the Claimyr service worked so well for you! As someone new to this community, I've been learning so much from everyone's shared experiences with navigating SSA services. The phone wait times really are ridiculous - it's frustrating that people dealing with difficult life situations like losing a spouse have to jump through so many hoops just to speak with someone. Thank you for sharing what worked for you, and I hope the rest of your application process goes smoothly. It's clear this community really looks out for each other!