I'm dealing with a very similar situation and want to add some practical advice based on my experience. I retired from banking at 62 and started substitute teaching in Texas, which also doesn't participate in Social Security for teachers. Here's what I learned after spending months worried about this exact issue: 1. Kentucky's Teacher Retirement System requires 5 years of service credit to vest. As a substitute working 2-3 days per week, you're probably earning about 0.4-0.5 years of service credit per school year. You'd need to work well over a decade to vest. 2. I called SSA multiple times and they confirmed that WEP only applies if you actually receive a monthly pension from the non-covered employment. Just paying into the system doesn't trigger it. 3. Your my.ssa.gov account won't show potential WEP reductions unless you're actually receiving a non-SS pension. The system assumes normal benefit calculations until there's an actual pension to factor in. 4. With 35+ years of substantial SS earnings, even if WEP somehow applied later, your reduction would be minimal due to the substantial earnings exception. The bottom line: enjoy your substitute teaching without worry. You're extremely unlikely to work long enough to earn a Kentucky pension, and your SS benefits should calculate normally based on your corporate career. I've been subbing for two years now and love the flexibility and purpose it provides in retirement!

As someone who recently navigated this exact situation, I can share some reassurance! I retired from IT management at 62 and started substitute teaching in Ohio (also a non-SS state for teachers). I was initially terrified about WEP implications until I did deep research and spoke with SSA. The key insight that gave me peace of mind: WEP is triggered by receiving an actual pension, not just contributing to a non-SS system. Most state teacher retirement systems require 5+ years to vest, and as a part-time substitute, you're earning fractional service credit each year. I've been subbing for 18 months now at about the same frequency as you (2-3 days/week) and according to my district's HR, I'm earning roughly 0.4 years of service credit per school year. At that rate, I'd need to substitute until I'm about 75 to even qualify for a minimal pension - which definitely isn't my plan! Your 35+ years of substantial SS earnings actually work strongly in your favor. Even in the unlikely scenario that you eventually earned a small teacher pension, the WEP reduction would be minimal due to your extensive SS-covered work history. I'd still recommend calling SSA for official confirmation (I used that Claimyr service another poster mentioned to skip the hold times), but mathematically, your situation looks very safe. Enjoy the substitute teaching - it's been one of the most rewarding parts of my retirement!

I'm going through this exact same transition right now and finding all these experiences really helpful! I was completely caught off guard when my regular MySocialSecurity login suddenly stopped working and I got redirected to login.gov. Like many others here, my first thought was that it might be some kind of scam or phishing attempt. After reading through everyone's detailed experiences, I'm much more confident about moving forward with the setup. It's particularly reassuring to see that literally everyone who's completed the transition has had their historical data - benefit statements, payment records, saved documents - transfer over perfectly. That was my biggest concern since I've been using my Social Security account for years and have important information saved there. The tips about starting from ssa.gov rather than going directly to login.gov, having your phone ready for verification codes, and using a desktop computer for better visibility all make perfect sense. I appreciate everyone taking the time to share their step-by-step experiences and practical advice. This thread has transformed what initially seemed like a potentially suspicious situation into something I can approach with confidence. Planning to tackle the setup this weekend - thanks to this community for all the guidance!

I just completed my login.gov transition this morning after reading through all the helpful advice in this thread! Like many others, I was initially suspicious when I got redirected from my usual MySocialSecurity login, but everyone's detailed experiences here gave me the confidence to move forward. The setup took me about 18 minutes total. I followed the advice to start from ssa.gov and use my desktop computer rather than my phone - definitely recommend that approach for better visibility. Had to upload my driver's license for identity verification, but it was approved within minutes. The two-factor authentication setup was straightforward once I had my phone ready for the verification codes. I'm happy to confirm what everyone else has reported - all my historical data transferred over perfectly. Years of benefit statements, payment history, saved documents, everything is exactly where it was before. The interface looks slightly different but all the functionality is the same once you're logged in. For anyone still hesitating: this really is a legitimate security improvement, not a scam. The enhanced protection gives me much more confidence about my personal information being secure. Thanks to everyone in this thread for sharing your experiences and tips - this community discussion made all the difference in helping me understand what was happening and feel confident about making the transition!

As a new member here, I'm dealing with this exact same frustrating situation! Still haven't received my 2025 IRMAA letter and it's making financial planning impossible. My income increased substantially in 2023 due to some retirement account withdrawals, so I'm definitely expecting higher premiums but have no clue what to budget for. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief - I was starting to think SSA had lost my file completely! The information about processing delays and the dedicated Medicare premium hotline at 1-800-772-1213 is incredibly valuable. I had no idea there was a separate line with shorter wait times. Planning to call first thing Monday morning. It's so helpful to have a community where people share real solutions instead of just complaining. Thanks to everyone for the practical advice and income threshold estimates - at least now I can make some educated guesses for my 2025 budget while waiting for the official letter!

I'm new to this community and facing the exact same IRMAA letter delay! Haven't received mine yet and it's driving me crazy trying to plan my 2025 budget. My situation is a bit different though - I had a one-time large inheritance in 2023 that pushed my income way up, but my regular income is actually quite modest. After reading all the helpful advice here, I'm definitely going to try the dedicated Medicare premium line at 1-800-772-1213 that everyone's recommending. It's such a relief to know this is a widespread issue and not just me! Quick question for those who've gotten through - when you call that Medicare premium line, do they ask for any specific information or documents, or can they look everything up just with your Social Security number? Want to make sure I'm prepared before I call. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is invaluable for navigating these bureaucratic nightmares!

I'm so sorry for your loss, and what a difficult situation to navigate while grieving. Just wanted to add a few practical considerations that might help with your decision: 1. **Tax implications**: Your $75K salary will be taxed, while Social Security survivor benefits are often partially or fully tax-free depending on your total income. Make sure to factor in the after-tax comparison when weighing the numbers. 2. **Health insurance**: If this job comes with good health benefits, that could be a significant factor. Losing spousal coverage and needing to find your own can be expensive. 3. **Timing strategy**: Since you mentioned you're turning 60 next month, you might consider applying for survivor benefits first, receiving them for a few months, then starting the job later in the year. This way you could take advantage of that first-year monthly earnings test that was mentioned. The good news is this isn't a permanent decision - you can always reassess as your situation changes. And remember, the withheld benefits aren't lost forever; they'll increase your monthly payment once you reach FRA. You're being very thoughtful about planning for your financial future, which your husband would surely want for you.

I'm really sorry for your loss. Going through this financial planning while grieving is incredibly challenging, and you're doing such a thoughtful job thinking through all the angles. One additional consideration that might help with your decision: since you've been out of work for 8 months, you may want to factor in the emotional and professional benefits of returning to work beyond just the financial calculation. Many widows find that having structure, purpose, and social connections through employment can be valuable for their overall wellbeing during this difficult transition. Also, if you do decide to take the job, consider asking about flexible start dates or part-time options initially. Some employers are willing to work with candidates on timing, especially if they know you're dealing with Social Security coordination issues. This could help you maximize those early months of survivor benefits while transitioning back into the workforce. Whatever you decide, you're clearly being very strategic about securing your financial future. That's exactly the kind of forward-thinking approach that will serve you well in the years ahead.

This is such great information! I'm in a similar situation - turning 66 next year and wondering about working past FRA. From reading all these responses, it sounds like the key takeaway is: NO earnings limit once you reach your Full Retirement Age, which is fantastic news for those of us who want to keep working. One question I have though - does anyone know if there are any tax implications to be aware of? Like, will having both Social Security benefits AND work income push me into a higher tax bracket? I'm trying to plan ahead financially and want to make sure I understand the full picture before making my decision. Also, @Olivia Kay, it sounds like you're in a really good position to keep working and building up that college fund for your grandson while also potentially increasing your future SS benefits. That's awesome!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm 64 and was considering claiming early at 62 but after reading all these responses, I'm thinking I should wait until my FRA at 66 and 10 months. The fact that there's NO earnings limit after FRA is huge for me since I love my job and want to keep working. One thing I'm curious about - does anyone know how quickly SSA recalculates your benefits if you keep working after claiming? Like if I start collecting at FRA but then have a really good earning year, will my monthly benefit automatically increase the following year? Or do I need to contact them to request a recalculation? Also want to echo what others have said about using that Claimyr service to actually talk to someone at SSA. The wait times when calling directly are absolutely brutal, so having a way to get through faster sounds like a lifesaver!