As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful for this thorough and informative discussion! I'm 60 and planning to start Social Security in the next year or two, so Kennedy's question about 1099 contractor work has been extremely relevant to my situation. What really stands out to me is how much confusion exists around these work restrictions. I've also heard various "hour limit" myths from different sources, so it's tremendously reassuring to see experienced community members definitively clarify that for retirement benefits, it's strictly about earnings, not hours worked. The practical advice shared here has been outstanding - from the importance of tracking net earnings through business deductions to understanding the first-year monthly earnings test. The tip about maintaining separate business accounts and negotiating predictable monthly payments with clients are the kinds of real-world strategies that make all the difference. I'm particularly encouraged by the success stories from Isaac, Ella, and others who are actively managing 1099 work while receiving Social Security benefits. Knowing that business deductions can reduce net earnings by 15-20% or more provides much better planning clarity than I had before. Kennedy, I really hope you move forward with that contract position! Based on all the expert advice shared here, it sounds very manageable at $1,850/month, especially with the first-year monthly test working in your favor. Please keep us posted on how it works out - your experience will be invaluable for others considering similar paths!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to add my perspective as someone currently navigating this exact situation! I'm 62, started collecting Social Security benefits two months ago, and just accepted my first 1099 contractor position. Like many others here, I was initially confused by conflicting information about work restrictions. The "45-hour limit" myth is incredibly persistent - I heard it from three different people before finding this discussion! It's such a relief to see it definitively debunked by community members with real experience. What's been most helpful from this thread is understanding the practical implementation strategies. I've already set up a separate business checking account (thanks to those who recommended this!), started tracking every business expense with a simple app, and negotiated monthly payments with my client to help manage the first-year monthly earnings test. One additional tip I'd share: I found it helpful to create a simple monthly tracking spreadsheet that shows my year-to-date gross earnings, business deductions, net earnings, and remaining "budget" under the $1,860 monthly limit. This visual tracking helps me stay confident that I'm on the right path each month. Kennedy, if you're still following this discussion - definitely take that contract position! At $1,850/month with the first-year monthly test in your favor, you should be in great shape. Just stay organized with your record-keeping from day one, and don't forget to set aside that 25-30% for taxes that others mentioned. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise here. This community knowledge is truly invaluable for those of us learning to balance Social Security benefits with continued work!

As someone who just navigated this maze myself, I can confirm what the experts here are saying - you'll get 50% of your husband's PIA (what he would have gotten at FRA), not his reduced amount. One thing I learned the hard way: make sure to get everything in writing when you apply! I had a rep tell me one thing over the phone, then when my benefits started they were calculated differently. Turns out the phone rep was wrong, but it took months to straighten out. Also, since you mentioned the SSA phone wait times - try calling first thing in the morning right when they open (8am local time). I had much better luck getting through then versus calling later in the day. The hold times are still brutal, but at least you might actually reach someone! Your situation sounds straightforward - at 67 (your FRA) claiming spousal benefits, you should get that $1,200/month. Just be prepared to be very clear and specific about what you're requesting when you apply.

I went through this exact same situation about 18 months ago! The confusion is totally understandable because even the SSA reps seem to get mixed up about this rule sometimes. Here's what I learned after way too many phone calls and finally getting it sorted out: You will receive 50% of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) - which is the $2,400 he would have gotten at his FRA, NOT the reduced $1,850 he's actually receiving. So yes, you should get around $1,200/month. The key is that YOUR age when you claim determines any reductions to the spousal benefit, not when your husband claimed his benefits. Since you're claiming at your FRA (67), you get the full spousal benefit without any reduction. A couple of practical tips from my experience: - When you apply, be very clear that you want spousal benefits based on your husband's record - Ask them to confirm they're using his PIA (full retirement age amount) for the calculation - If possible, try to get the calculation details in writing or ask for a written estimate before your benefits start The $150+ difference per month between $925 and $1,200 really adds up over time, so it's definitely worth making sure they get this right! Good luck with your application.

I've been in a very similar situation and can share what I learned through my own experience with SSA. The key distinction that matters here is whether you're truly self-employed (running your own business with clients, business expenses, significant control over operations) versus being an independent contractor who just receives 1099s from companies you work for. From your description - working on projects for other companies who assign you work - you sound more like an independent contractor than a business owner. In that case, the 45-hour monthly rule typically doesn't apply the same way it would to someone running their own consulting firm or retail business. During your "grace year" (usually the first year you receive Social Security), there can be monthly earnings limits, but since you stayed well under the annual limit of $22,320, you should be fine. After the grace year, only the annual earnings limit matters regardless of how you distribute those earnings throughout the year. I'd still recommend calling SSA to get official confirmation for your specific situation, but based on what you've described, I think you're likely worrying unnecessarily. When you call, be clear that you're doing contract work for other companies rather than running your own business. That distinction is crucial for how they apply these rules. The whole system is definitely confusing, but it sounds like you've been very responsible about tracking your earnings and staying compliant!

I've been working as an independent contractor while receiving Social Security benefits for about 8 months now, and I went through a very similar concern when I first started. The confusion around these rules is completely understandable! From what I learned through my own experience and conversations with SSA, the 45-hour monthly limit primarily applies to people who own and operate their own businesses - not independent contractors who receive 1099s from other companies. The key factors SSA looks at for "substantial services" include whether you have your own clients, significant business investment, employees, or substantial control over business operations. Since you mentioned you're doing contract work for two different companies (they assign you projects), this sounds much more like independent contractor work than running your own business. In that case, as long as you stay under the annual earnings limit (which you have), you should be fine. That said, I'd definitely recommend calling SSA to get official confirmation for your specific situation. When you call, emphasize that you're an independent contractor working for other companies, not a business owner. Also mention that you've stayed well under the annual earnings limit. Even if there were an issue (which seems unlikely based on your description), any penalty would only apply to that single month, not your entire benefits. But honestly, from everything you've shared, I think you're probably overthinking this situation. The fact that you've been so careful about staying under the annual limit shows you're handling this responsibly!

Thanks everyone for the excellent advice! I'm going to help my wife apply for SSI to document her disability status, even though we expect to be denied due to our household income. We'll also work on gathering all her medical records and making sure her condition is well-documented. And we'll definitely use that phone service to speak directly with SSA about our specific situation. This community has been incredibly helpful - I feel much better informed about our options now. Turning off comments.

I'm glad you found all this advice helpful! Just wanted to add one small but important detail - when your wife applies for SSI to establish her disability status, make sure she keeps copies of EVERYTHING she submits. The initial application, all medical records, denial letters, everything. If she ever needs to apply for disabled widow's benefits later, having that complete paper trail will save you both a lot of headaches. Also, don't be discouraged if the SSI application gets denied initially - that's actually expected in your case due to household income, but the important thing is getting her condition officially reviewed and documented by SSA. Good luck to both of you!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for such an informative discussion! I'm 64 and starting to plan for my Social Security decision next year. Like so many others here, I've been getting the "January is best" advice from friends and family, but this thread has really opened my eyes to how context-dependent that recommendation actually is. What strikes me most is how this advice gets passed down without explanation of the underlying reasons or when it actually applies. Reading through everyone's experiences, it's clear that the January timing can be beneficial in specific situations - particularly for people still working who might hit earnings test limits, or those dealing with complex family benefit scenarios - but it's definitely not a universal rule. I found @Keisha Jackson's breakdown of the legitimate reasons why some advisors recommend January particularly helpful, and @Darcy Moore's real-world experience of filing in June with no issues was very reassuring. The stories about people who delayed unnecessarily and missed out on months of benefits they were entitled to really drive home the importance of understanding your individual situation rather than following generic advice. As someone who plans to be fully retired by my FRA with no complex benefit coordination needed, I feel much more confident now about filing when it's convenient for me rather than waiting for some mythical "perfect" month. This community is such a great resource for getting past the myths and understanding the actual rules!

As a newcomer to this community, I've found this discussion incredibly helpful! I'm 65 and approaching my own Social Security decision, and like everyone else here, I've been getting that persistent "January is best" advice without any clear explanation of why. What really stands out to me from reading all these responses is how this myth gets perpetuated because it sounds official and authoritative, but it's really only relevant in specific circumstances. The breakdown of when January timing actually matters (earnings test considerations, complex family benefits, tax planning preferences) versus when it's just unnecessary delay has been so clarifying. I particularly appreciated @Paolo Moretti's story about his sister and the payment delay - that's such a practical consideration that gets overlooked when people focus on the supposed "optimization" of starting in January. And @Oliver Weber's point about missing out on months of benefits you're entitled to really drives home why generic advice can be counterproductive. As someone who will be fully retired at FRA with straightforward benefits, I now feel confident that I can file when it's convenient for me rather than waiting for some mythical perfect month. This thread has been exactly the kind of real-world guidance that's impossible to find elsewhere - thanks to everyone for sharing both the technical explanations and personal experiences!