I'm dealing with this exact same situation! Filed my retirement application in early December for January 2025 benefits and have been stuck at "2/3 process complete" for about 3 weeks now. No confirmation letter either. I was starting to panic that I'd somehow messed up my application after planning this retirement for so long, but reading all these responses has been incredibly reassuring. It's amazing to see that literally dozens of us are experiencing the identical delay - I had no idea that year-end applications created such predictable backlogs. The detailed explanations about how SSA gets overwhelmed with January start date applications really helps put this in perspective. Like everyone else here, I've been guilty of obsessively checking that online status multiple times a day! I'm definitely going to follow the advice to stop refreshing that page and wait until mid-January before worrying. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it's such a relief to know we're all going through this together and that these delays are just part of the normal process during busy season rather than a sign something's wrong!

I'm going through the exact same situation! Applied for my retirement benefits in early December for January 2025 and have been stuck at "2/3 process complete" for several weeks now. Like everyone else here, I was starting to get really worried that something went wrong with my application, especially since this is such an important milestone I've been planning for years. Reading all these responses has been incredibly reassuring though - I had no idea that year-end applications create such predictable delays or that SSA gets overwhelmed with January start date requests during this time. The explanations about the three processing stages and why confirmation letters are typically the last thing to arrive really helped me understand what's happening behind the scenes. I've definitely fallen into that trap of checking the online status obsessively every day! Based on everyone's advice here, I'm going to try to be patient and wait until mid-January before following up. It's amazing how much better it feels knowing that so many of us are going through this identical experience together. Thanks to this whole community for sharing your stories and creating such a supportive space - it's turned what felt like an individual crisis into a shared, normal part of the process!

I'm so grateful for all the detailed advice in this thread! I'm turning 66 next month and have been anxious about starting my retirement application online for weeks. Reading everyone's experiences has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. The save feature sounds like exactly what I need - I tend to be a perfectionist and knowing I can pause to double-check information or gather documents without losing my progress is such a relief. I'm definitely going to follow the advice about doing a weekend preview run first, then taking time during the week to organize all my documents before doing the real application. One quick question - when you save and get the re-entry number, does the system send you any reminders if you don't come back to complete it for a while? I'm worried I might get distracted by other things and forget to finish it within that 6-month window. Also, has anyone tried accessing their saved application from a different computer or device, or does it need to be the same one? Thanks again to everyone for sharing such practical and encouraging advice. This community has turned what felt like an insurmountable task into something that actually seems doable!

As someone who just completed my Social Security retirement application online two months ago, I can definitely echo what everyone else has said about the save feature being a lifesaver! I was so nervous about the whole process that I actually ended up pausing and resuming my application five different times over the course of two weeks. What really helped me was treating it like a research project rather than something I had to complete perfectly in one sitting. I'd work on a section, save my progress, then spend a day or two verifying information or tracking down documents before continuing. The re-entry system worked flawlessly every single time. One tip I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you're really anxious about potential technical issues, consider completing the application during off-peak hours (like early morning or evening). I did mine around 7 PM on a Tuesday and never experienced any system slowdowns or crashes that some people have mentioned. The whole experience was much smoother than I anticipated, and the questions were more straightforward than I expected. You've got this - the fact that you're planning ahead and asking these questions shows you're already well-prepared!

I've been dealing with this exact same situation! Started collecting at 62, went back to work part-time, and kept getting these mysterious payments that had me totally confused. After months of wondering, I finally got through to SSA (early morning calling really does work better!) and discovered mine were a combination of Medicare premium adjustments and earnings recalculations. The most helpful thing the rep told me was that when you're working while collecting early retirement benefits, SSA does continuous monitoring of your earnings record. Sometimes they discover they miscalculated your monthly benefit amount based on the annual earnings limit, or they get updated W-2 information that changes your benefit calculation slightly. These corrections get paid out as separate lump sums rather than adjusting your ongoing monthly payment. For anyone still trying to figure this out - definitely request that detailed breakdown letter mentioned in earlier comments. It saved me so much confusion and anxiety about whether these were overpayments I'd have to return. Turns out they're completely legitimate adjustments that happen more often than you'd think!

I'm new to this community and just started dealing with Social Security at 64 after taking early retirement. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea there were so many different types of adjustments and mystery payments that could show up. I haven't suspended my benefits yet, but I'm considering going back to work part-time in a few months. Based on all the stories shared here, it sounds like I should definitely expect some of these random payments if I do suspend. The Medicare premium refund explanation makes perfect sense - I never would have thought about that connection. The tip about calling SSA at 7am seems to be mentioned by multiple people, so I'm definitely going to remember that if I need to get through to them. And requesting that detailed breakdown letter sounds like a game-changer for understanding what these payments actually are. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread is way more informative than anything I could find on the official SSA website! It's really helpful to know that these mystery payments are normal and not something to panic about.

This has been an absolutely fantastic discussion that covers so many aspects I hadn't considered! As someone new to retirement planning, I'm grateful for all the detailed insights everyone has shared. One thing I'd like to add that might help others - if you're feeling overwhelmed by all the variables (like the original poster mentioned), consider breaking it down into phases. First, get your actual earnings record from SSA.gov and understand your baseline. Then model 2-3 realistic scenarios rather than trying to optimize every possible variation. I've been lurking on this community for a while, and what strikes me most about threads like this is how much the "soft factors" matter alongside the numbers. The stress relief, health benefits, time with family, and ability to pursue meaningful work or volunteering seem to be just as important as maximizing every dollar of Social Security benefits. For anyone still working through these decisions: it sounds like the key is getting comfortable with "good enough" rather than perfect optimization. The delayed retirement credits provide a solid foundation of guaranteed growth, and the flexibility to adjust your approach (like picking up part-time work if needed) means you're not locked into one path forever. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - this kind of practical wisdom is invaluable for those of us planning our own transitions!

This has been such an incredibly comprehensive and helpful discussion! As a newcomer to this community, I'm amazed by the depth of real-world experience and practical advice everyone has shared. What really strikes me is how you're all emphasizing that this isn't just a mathematical optimization problem - it's a life decision that involves balancing financial security with personal well-being, health, relationships, and quality of life. The technical aspects (35 highest years, delayed retirement credits, wage indexing) are important to understand, but the "soft factors" seem equally crucial. A few key takeaways that resonated with me from this thread: - Download your actual SSA earnings record and analyze it rather than guessing - Test different scenarios in the Retirement Estimator (not just the Quick Calculator) - Consider the "practice run" approach of living on your projected retirement budget - Remember that delayed retirement credits provide guaranteed 8% annual growth - Factor in tax planning opportunities during gap years - Don't underestimate the health and psychological benefits of reduced work stress For the original poster - it sounds like you're asking exactly the right questions and being very thorough in your analysis. The fact that you're planning this carefully years in advance puts you in a great position to make an informed decision that works for your specific situation. Thanks to everyone for creating such a welcoming and informative discussion. This is exactly the kind of community wisdom that makes complex decisions feel more manageable!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since it might help. My uncle went through almost the exact same situation last year - early retirement at 63 due to layoffs, then acute leukemia diagnosis at 64. The DIBRRB process everyone's mentioning really works! His benefit went from about $1,700 to $2,200 monthly after SSDI approval. One thing that really helped was having his oncologist write a very detailed letter explaining not just the diagnosis, but specifically how the treatment (chemo, fatigue, immune system issues) makes any work impossible. The SSA seemed to really focus on those functional limitations rather than just the diagnosis itself. Also, since AML is on the Compassionate Allowance list, his case was fast-tracked and approved in about 6 weeks. Don't get discouraged if you have to follow up - we called several times to check status, but it was worth it. The financial relief during such a stressful time was incredible. Sending you both strength during this difficult journey!

I'm so sorry to hear about your husband's diagnosis, Jessica. As someone new to this community, I've been following this thread and am truly impressed by how knowledgeable and supportive everyone has been. I wanted to add one more perspective that might be helpful. My sister went through a very similar situation - she had taken early retirement at 62 after her company downsized, then was diagnosed with breast cancer at 63. The DIBRRB process that everyone has mentioned was truly a blessing for our family. Her monthly benefit increased from about $1,450 to $1,950, and the approval came through in just 7 weeks thanks to the Compassionate Allowance program. One practical tip I'd share is to keep copies of everything - every form, every medical record, every phone call log with reference numbers. The process moves quickly with Compassionate Allowance cases, but having everything organized really helped when they needed additional documentation. Also, don't hesitate to have family members help with the paperwork and phone calls - dealing with a cancer diagnosis is exhausting enough without having to navigate bureaucracy alone. Your husband is fortunate to have such an advocate in you. Wishing you both strength and hoping for the best possible outcome with both his treatment and the SSDI application.