I wanted to add something that might be helpful for anyone dealing with this situation - keep really good records of your monthly earnings while you're subject to the earnings limit! I learned this the hard way when SSA asked me to provide documentation of my part-time work income for their annual reconciliation. Having detailed pay stubs and records made the whole process much smoother. Also, if your income varies month to month like mine did, consider setting aside some of your Social Security payments in a separate account just in case there's an overpayment situation that needs to be resolved later. It's rare, but it can happen if your actual earnings end up being different from what you initially estimated. The peace of mind is worth it, and you can always use that money later once you reach FRA and don't have to worry about the earnings limit anymore.

I've been following this discussion closely since I'm in a very similar situation - planning to file for benefits soon while continuing to work part-time. What strikes me most is how the automatic recalculation at FRA really does work as designed, based on everyone's actual experiences here. The key insight I'm taking away is that those withheld benefits aren't truly "lost" - they're essentially converted into a permanent monthly increase for life after reaching FRA. For anyone still on the fence about this decision, it seems like the math works out pretty well in the long run. The temporary reduction while working gets compensated by higher monthly payments for potentially decades after FRA. Plus, you get the benefit of additional income during those working years when you might really need it. The administrative side sounds manageable too, especially with the automatic recalculation process. Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - it's made this complex topic much clearer than any SSA publication I've read!

I'm new to this community and wanted to thank everyone for this incredibly reassuring discussion! I was having the exact same panic after seeing those misleading articles claiming Login.gov would be "mandatory" for receiving Social Security benefits. Like many others here, I've been struggling with the identity verification process for weeks - my state ID keeps getting rejected and I'm not receiving the phone verification codes. I was genuinely terrified that my monthly retirement payments might stop because of these technical issues. Reading all of your experiences has been such a huge relief! It's clear from multiple people who have spoken directly with SSA representatives that Login.gov is ONLY for online account access, not for actual benefit eligibility. The fact that so many of you continued receiving your monthly payments throughout weeks of Login.gov technical difficulties really proves this point. I'm definitely going to try some of the great troubleshooting suggestions mentioned here - using incognito browsing, trying during off-peak hours, checking if my phone carrier is blocking verification texts, and maybe visiting my local library for better internet connection. The tip about taking ID photos in natural light against a dark background sounds promising too. But most importantly, I can finally stop losing sleep over this! It's frustrating how those sensationalized headlines caused so much unnecessary anxiety for seniors who are just trying to access services we've earned. Thank you all for creating such a supportive community and sharing your real experiences to cut through all the fear-mongering. This discussion has been invaluable for a newcomer like me who was genuinely scared about potentially losing benefits over website technical problems!

I'm new to this community but wanted to add my experience to this incredibly helpful discussion! I was having the exact same panic about Login.gov after reading those scary headlines claiming benefits would be cut off without it. Like so many others here, I've been struggling with the verification process - my driver's license photo keeps getting rejected and verification texts aren't coming through. I was genuinely worried I might lose my Social Security payments over these technical glitches. This entire thread has been such a relief! Seeing so many people confirm with actual SSA representatives that Login.gov is ONLY for online account access, not benefit eligibility, has finally put my mind at ease. The fact that everyone's monthly payments continued throughout their Login.gov struggles really drives this point home. I'm going to try some of the great troubleshooting tips mentioned here - using incognito browsing, checking with my phone carrier about blocked verification texts, and maybe visiting my local library for better internet connection. The suggestion about taking ID photos in natural light against a dark background sounds really promising too. But most importantly, I can stop worrying about losing my benefits! These misleading headlines have caused so much unnecessary stress for seniors. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences and creating such a supportive community. Your stories have been invaluable for helping newcomers like me understand that our monthly payments are secure regardless of website technical issues!

I'm actually in a very similar situation - turning 70 in August 2025 and have been doing a lot of research on this exact timing question! From everything I've learned, you're absolutely right about the 3-4 month application window. I'm planning to apply in April/May to be safe. Just wanted to add one thing that helped me understand the payment schedule better: Social Security actually has a really clear chart on their website that shows exactly which Wednesday of the month you'll get paid based on your birth date. Since you're born on the 15th, you'll definitely get paid on the 3rd Wednesday of each month once payments start. I've also been tracking the delayed retirement credits on my Social Security statement online, and it's pretty amazing to see how much the benefit grows each month you wait past full retirement age. At this point we're so close to 70 that it would be crazy to claim early now! The finish line is in sight for both of us. Good luck with your application process!

This is such a comprehensive thread with great advice from people who've actually been through the process! As someone who's turning 70 next year as well, I really appreciate everyone sharing their real experiences. One small detail I wanted to add that might help with your exact planning: since you mentioned wanting to know the precise date for your calendar, the third Wednesday of August 2025 will be August 20th. So that's when you can expect your first payment to hit your account (barring any processing delays). Also, I've been using the Social Security benefits calculator on ssa.gov to play around with different scenarios, and it's pretty incredible how much those delayed retirement credits add up. For someone with a decent earnings history, waiting from age 66 to 70 can mean an extra $800-1200+ per month for life. That's a guaranteed return you just can't get anywhere else in today's market! The patience has definitely paid off - congratulations on making it to the finish line. Your future self will thank you for every month you waited!

Emma, I went through almost the exact same situation when I got laid off at 64 last year. The good news is that you CAN collect both - unemployment benefits absolutely do NOT count toward your Social Security earnings limit. I collected both for about 6 months with no issues whatsoever. A few things I learned along the way: - You'll need to report your SS benefits to your state unemployment office (they'll ask about "other income" during your weekly certifications) - Some states reduce unemployment benefits dollar-for-dollar with SS, others don't - definitely call your state office to find out - Keep detailed records of all payments and communications from both agencies - Consider having taxes withheld from both sources to avoid a big bill later The unemployment office might initially tell you that you can't collect both, but that's usually because their staff doesn't always understand the distinction between "earned" and "unearned" income. Stand your ground if needed - the SSA website is very clear that unemployment doesn't count against the earnings test. Good luck with your job search! The combination of both benefits should give you some breathing room while you figure out your next steps.

I just went through this exact situation last month! Got laid off at 63 and was so confused about whether I could collect both. After multiple calls to both agencies, I can confirm that unemployment benefits DO NOT count against your Social Security earnings limit - they're considered "unearned income" by SSA. However, here's what I learned the hard way: my state (Michigan) does reduce unemployment benefits by about 50% of whatever Social Security I receive. So while SSA doesn't care about my unemployment, the unemployment office definitely cares about my Social Security! The weekly certification process is a bit more tedious now because I have to report my SS amount every week, but it's manageable. Just make sure you have your exact monthly SS amount handy for those certifications. One tip - I set up tax withholding on both benefits right away. With both income sources, you'll likely owe taxes on a good portion of your Social Security benefits, so it's better to have it taken out now rather than get hit with a big bill later. Hang in there - the financial breathing room from having both really helps while job hunting!

One more thing to consider - if you're taking care of any children or dependents with disabilities that your late husband was supporting (even if not biological children), there might be benefits available to them. Also, while the 9-month marriage rule is generally strict, there are occasionally unique circumstances where SSA can make exceptions. For anyone dealing with a similar situation, it's worth filing an application even if you think you'll be denied, because: 1. The application establishes your protective filing date 2. You get a formal, appealable decision 3. Sometimes unusual circumstances do result in exceptions In your specific case, since you mentioned you're 58 now, the most viable path would likely be examining benefits based on your 10+ year first marriage when you reach age 62, while comparing that amount to what you'd receive on your own record.

wait i'm confused...if you were with him for 16 years why did you only get married 6 months before he died? not judging just wondering if there was a reason because that timing seems important