I'm brand new to this community and just wanted to say how incredibly valuable this discussion has been! I'm 43 and have been avoiding my Social Security planning for way too long because the whole thing seemed so complicated and confusing. After reading through everyone's explanations about the estimates being in today's purchasing power, I finally worked up the courage to log into my MySocialSecurity account for the first time. What a relief to understand that I should be looking at those numbers and asking "could I live on this amount with today's expenses?" rather than trying to imagine what life will cost in 24 years! The "inflation-protected floor" concept that several people mentioned really resonates with me. It's such a smart way to think about Social Security - as this stable foundation that maintains its buying power over time, which I can then build additional retirement savings on top of. I was honestly getting paralyzed trying to do inflation math in my head for everything, but this framework makes retirement planning feel so much more manageable and concrete. Thank you to everyone who took the time to explain this so clearly - this community is an amazing resource for those of us just starting to figure all this out!

I'm new to this community and just wanted to express how grateful I am for this incredibly thorough discussion! I'm 48 and have been putting off really diving into my Social Security planning because I kept getting confused by the numbers on the MySocialSecurity website. Like so many others here, I was looking at my estimated benefits and thinking "how is this going to be enough in 19 years?!" Understanding that these estimates are shown in today's purchasing power has completely transformed how I'm approaching retirement planning. Instead of trying to do impossible inflation calculations in my head, I can now ask the much more practical question: "Would these benefit amounts cover my basic living expenses at current prices?" When I frame it that way, the numbers are actually quite reassuring as a foundation to build upon. The "inflation-protected floor" concept that's been discussed throughout this thread really clicks for me. Knowing that Social Security is designed to maintain its purchasing power over time through COLA adjustments takes so much uncertainty out of the planning process. It means I can focus on calculating how much additional retirement savings I need to bridge the gap between that stable foundation and my desired lifestyle, all using today's dollars that I can actually understand and relate to. Thank you to everyone who shared their expertise and experiences - this community is such a valuable resource for demystifying these complex financial topics!

I went through this exact situation in 2023. Here's what happened: I was receiving widow's benefits with the earnings limit, then got offered a great job that put me way over the limit. I called SSA and told them my expected earnings for the year, and they calculated exactly how many more months of benefits I could receive before they needed to stop. They didn't ask for ANY money back from what I had already received. However, they did tell me that if I had waited until after I exceeded the limit to report it, I would have had an overpayment to deal with. The most important thing is TIMING. Report BEFORE you exceed the limit and you should be fine. Also, keep in mind that if you're under FRA now but will reach it within a few years, you might want to run the numbers to see if it makes more sense to: 1. Take the job now and stop widow benefits 2. Wait until FRA when there's no earnings limit and then take the job You can always restart widow benefits later if needed.

Just wanted to add another perspective here - I work for a nonprofit that helps people navigate Social Security benefits, and this is a really common question. The key distinction is between VOLUNTARY suspension (what you're planning to do) versus INVOLUNTARY overpayment (what happens when SSA discovers unreported earnings). When you proactively contact SSA to report expected earnings that will exceed the limit, they'll typically: 1. Calculate how many more benefit payments you can receive before hitting the annual limit 2. Stop payments at that point 3. NOT request repayment of benefits already received However, I'd strongly recommend getting this in writing after you call. Ask them to send you a letter confirming the suspension and the reason for it. This protects you if there are any questions later. Also worth noting - if your new job offers health insurance, make sure you understand how stopping widow benefits might affect any Medicare premiums or other benefits you're receiving. Sometimes people forget about these connected benefits when making earnings decisions.

This is such valuable information for anyone planning retirement timing! I'm actually in a similar boat - turning 67 in August 2025 and debating whether to start benefits immediately or wait a few months. From what I'm reading here, it sounds like there's really no advantage to waiting since the 2024 earnings won't be processed until the October AERO run regardless of when you start. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone here dealt with state pension systems that might interact with Social Security timing? I have a small state teacher's pension that I'm also trying to coordinate, and I'm wondering if there are any timing considerations there that might affect the optimal strategy for when to file for Social Security. The automatic recalculation process sounds reassuring though - it's nice to know SSA handles this behind the scenes rather than requiring us to track it manually!

As someone who just started receiving benefits in February 2025, I can confirm what others have shared about the timing. My 2024 earnings definitely weren't included in my initial benefit calculation, and my SSA representative explained that I should expect an automatic adjustment around October 2025 through the AERO process. What's been helpful for me is setting up a separate savings account where I'm putting aside the estimated difference between my current benefit and what I expect after the recalculation. That way, when the retroactive payment comes, I can treat it as a true bonus rather than counting on it for monthly expenses. Also, I'd recommend creating a my.ssa.gov account if you haven't already - being able to see your earnings record online makes it much easier to estimate the potential impact of your 2024 earnings on your benefit calculation. The peace of mind of knowing exactly what's in your record is worth the few minutes it takes to set up the account!

I'm so sorry for the loss of your uncle, Lara. What a wonderful community response you've received! As someone who just went through the Social Security application process myself last year, I can confirm everything everyone has said - your inheritance will not affect your retirement benefits at all. I wanted to add one small practical tip for your appointment: if you're anything like me, you might be nervous and forget to ask important questions. I'd suggest writing down a few key questions beforehand, even though you now know the inheritance won't be an issue. Things like when your first payment will arrive, how to set up direct deposit, and whether you want to sign up for Medicare Part B at the same time (since you're turning 65). The staff at my local SSA office were actually much more helpful and patient than I expected. Your uncle's gift sounds like it will provide wonderful financial security alongside your Social Security benefits. Best of luck with everything!

Welcome to the community, Lara! I'm so sorry for the loss of your uncle, but what a wonderful gift he's left you. Reading through all these responses has been really heartwarming - this community truly shows up for each other. I just wanted to add my congratulations on how well you've handled this situation. You came here with a legitimate concern, asked the right questions, and now you're walking into your SSA appointment fully prepared and confident. That's exactly how it should work! Your $2,150/month benefit is absolutely secure, and it sounds like your uncle's inheritance will provide a nice foundation of financial security for your retirement years. I hope your appointment goes smoothly and that you can focus on the positive aspects of this new chapter in your life. This thread is going to be so helpful for other people who find themselves in similar situations. Thank you for asking the questions and allowing this community to share their knowledge and experience!

I'm currently going through this exact same process! Filed my son's DAC application about 9 weeks ago when I started collecting retirement benefits. He's been on SSI since he was 8, and just like everyone else here, I was told it would be a "straightforward transition" since his disability was already established. His mySSA account has been inaccessible for about a month now, which really stressed me out until I found this thread. It's amazing how many people are experiencing identical timelines and issues - really shows this is just the normal (albeit frustrating) SSA process. I finally got through to someone last week using the early morning calling strategy (called right at 8am on a Tuesday). The rep confirmed they have everything they need and said it's "in processing" but couldn't give me any specific timeline. At least I know it's moving forward! The inconsistent information from different reps is definitely the most aggravating part. I've been told everything from "6 weeks" to "up to 5 months" depending on who I talk to. Based on everyone's real experiences here, I'm now prepared for the 3-4 month reality rather than the optimistic estimates. Thanks to everyone for sharing your timelines - this community has been more helpful than anything I've gotten directly from SSA! It's reassuring to know we're all going through the same waiting game together.

I'm currently dealing with this exact situation as well! Filed my daughter's DAC application about 7 weeks ago when I started my retirement benefits. She's been receiving SSI since she was 12, and like so many others here, I was assured it would be a "quick process" since her disability was already established. Her mySSA account went down about 2 weeks ago, which had me really panicked until I found this thread. It's incredible how many of us are going through nearly identical experiences with the same timeline issues and account access problems! What strikes me most is how SSA consistently gives misleading timeframes upfront. Based on all the real experiences shared here, it's clear that 3-5 months is the actual reality, not the 6-8 weeks most of us were initially told. They really should be more transparent about this from the beginning to save families so much unnecessary stress and confusion. I've started keeping detailed records of all my contact attempts after reading through everyone's suggestions here - definitely wish I had thought of that sooner. Planning to try the early morning calling strategy that several people have had success with. This community has been absolutely invaluable for understanding what's actually normal in this process. It's both frustrating and reassuring to know we're all experiencing the same lengthy but apparently standard waiting period. Thanks to everyone for sharing your real timelines and experiences - it's more helpful than anything I've gotten directly from SSA!