I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm in a very similar situation - turning 67 in June 2025 with an FRA of 66 and 10 months in April 2025. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly educational and reassuring. The advice about taking screenshots of the application summary page is something I never would have thought of, but it makes perfect sense for documentation purposes. I'm also planning to follow the suggestion about calling SSA a few days after submitting my online application to verbally confirm they have the correct benefit start month recorded. One thing I'm curious about - for those who have successfully gone through this process, did you notice any difference in how the online application handled the timing questions versus what you might expect from an in-person application? I'm planning to apply online for convenience, but I want to make sure I'm not missing any advantages of applying in person where I could have real-time clarification of my choices. The level of detail everyone has shared here about documentation, verification calls, and earnings record checks has given me a comprehensive roadmap for getting this right. That monthly payment difference really does add up significantly over time, so all this preparation is definitely worthwhile. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences!

This entire discussion has been absolutely invaluable! As someone who's been stressing about this exact timing issue, seeing so many people share their successful experiences with applying early but starting benefits at exactly their FRA gives me tremendous confidence. I'm particularly grateful for all the practical tips that go beyond just the basic timing advice - things like taking screenshots of the application summary, checking earnings records for discrepancies, setting up organized documentation folders, and verifying bank account information. These are the kinds of real-world details that can make the difference between a smooth process and costly mistakes. The systematic approach outlined here (apply in October, specify January 2025 start date, call to verify a few days later, carefully review confirmation letter, compare first payment to benefit estimate) gives me a complete roadmap to follow. Knowing that multiple people have successfully navigated this exact scenario using these methods is incredibly reassuring. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and advice. This thread should be required reading for anyone approaching their FRA who wants to start benefits at exactly the right time!

I'm glad you got some clarity from SSA! This thread has been really helpful for understanding the earnings test - I had no idea it was based on annual income rather than monthly. I'm 61 and considering early retirement next year, but I'd also like to do some consulting work. Based on what everyone shared here, it sounds like I need to be really careful about tracking my total annual earnings and maybe even consider having benefits withheld upfront if I know I'll exceed the limit. The fact that withheld benefits actually increase your payment later at FRA is something I definitely didn't know. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice that's hard to find on the SSA website!

As someone who's been navigating the Social Security system for a few years now, I really appreciate how this discussion broke down the earnings test complexities. The annual vs monthly calculation is probably the most misunderstood aspect of early retirement benefits. One thing I'd add for anyone in a similar situation - if you're self-employed or have irregular income like consulting work, it's even more important to stay in touch with SSA throughout the year. Your earnings can fluctuate significantly, and it's better to overestimate and adjust than to underestimate and face a larger overpayment. Also, for those worried about phone wait times, I've found that calling right when they open (8 AM local time) or during lunch hours (12-2 PM) tends to have shorter hold times. Mid-morning and late afternoon seem to be their busiest periods. The automatic benefit recalculation at FRA that Natasha mentioned is really a silver lining that more people should know about - it essentially means you're not permanently penalized for working while receiving early benefits.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Going through this process while grieving is incredibly difficult, but you're being very smart to prepare thoroughly. One document that hasn't been mentioned yet but could be helpful is any divorce decree if either you or your husband were previously married - SSA sometimes needs this to verify that previous marriages were legally ended. Also, if you have any life insurance policies or pension documents from his employer, those won't affect your Social Security benefits but the representative might be able to give you general guidance about how they interact with survivor benefits for your overall financial planning. The fact that you're asking these questions and gathering everything in advance shows you're going to handle this appointment well. Don't be too hard on yourself if you feel emotional during the meeting - the representatives are used to working with people in your situation and should be understanding and patient.

I went through this exact process when I turned 60 after losing my spouse, and I want to echo what everyone has said about being over-prepared with documents. One thing that really helped me was organizing everything in a clear folder with labeled sections - it made the appointment go much smoother when I could quickly find what they asked for. Also, don't forget to bring a pen! I know it sounds silly, but you'll likely need to fill out some forms there, and having your own pen saves time. The representatives really are helpful once you get through the initial paperwork verification. Since you're working part-time and making around $18K, you should be well under the earnings limit, which is great. Just remember that this appointment is really about getting information and understanding your options - you don't have to make any final decisions that day. Take your time to process everything they tell you. You're handling this difficult situation with such grace and preparation!

Just wanted to add my personal experience here - I delayed claiming for 14 months past my FRA and can confirm that the monthly proration worked exactly as described. My benefit increased by about 9.3% (14 months × 0.667% per month). What really helped me make the decision was creating a simple spreadsheet comparing the cumulative benefits over different time periods. Even though you get less money in the first few years by waiting, the crossover point where delaying becomes advantageous is usually around age 78-80 for most people. Given that life expectancy keeps increasing and healthcare costs are rising, that extra monthly income for potentially 15-20+ years can really add up. The key is looking at your total expected lifetime benefits, not just the monthly amount.

As someone who's been through this exact situation, I can confirm that the delayed retirement credits are definitely prorated monthly at 2/3 of 1% per month. I delayed claiming for 8 months past my FRA and received about a 5.3% increase in my monthly benefit. What I found really helpful was calling SSA and asking them to run a benefit estimate for different claiming dates - they can show you exactly what your monthly benefit would be at various ages. One thing I wish someone had told me is that you can actually file a "restricted application" strategy in some cases, but the rules changed for people born after 1954. Also, don't forget that Medicare Part B premiums are automatically deducted from your Social Security check, so factor that into your net benefit calculations. The extra monthly income from delaying has been worth it for me, especially since it also increased my spouse's potential survivor benefit. Good luck with your decision!

This thread has been absolutely phenomenal! As someone who helps people navigate government benefits applications, I wanted to add a few practical tips that might be helpful: **Document Authentication Tip**: If you have any documents that are old or potentially questionable quality, consider getting them authenticated/certified by a notary before submitting. Some SSA offices are pickier than others about document condition, and having notarized copies can prevent rejections. **Medical Records Consideration**: While not always required for standard retirement applications, if you have any chronic conditions or disabilities, keep your medical records organized too. Sometimes people discover they qualify for disability benefits in addition to or instead of retirement benefits, especially if they're applying before Full Retirement Age. **Bank Statement Backup**: Along with your direct deposit information, consider bringing a recent bank statement to verify your account details. This can speed up the direct deposit setup process and prevent payment delays due to incorrect routing numbers. **Emergency Contact Information**: Make sure SSA has current emergency contact information for a trusted family member or friend. If they can't reach you and need urgent clarification on something, having an alternate contact can prevent application delays. The systematic approach everyone has outlined here - starting early, creating comprehensive document systems, checking earnings records first, and having multiple backups - is exactly what I recommend to my clients. You're all doing this exactly right!

This entire thread has been like a masterclass in Social Security preparation! I'm about 2 years out from my own retirement and had no idea how complex this process could be. One thing I wanted to add that I learned from helping my mother with her application last year - if you've ever received any kind of settlement (legal, insurance, workers comp, etc.), make sure you understand how those might affect your benefits. My mom had received a small settlement from a car accident years ago and it caused confusion during her application because SSA wanted to verify it wasn't disability-related. Also, for anyone dealing with the stress of document gathering - consider making this a family project if you have adult children who can help. My siblings and I divided up the tasks of requesting different documents for our mom, which really sped up the process and reduced her anxiety about managing everything alone. The advice about starting 6+ months early cannot be overstated. We thought 3 months would be plenty and ended up scrambling at the end when her military records took forever to arrive. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences so openly - this thread should be pinned as a resource for anyone approaching retirement! The real-world advice here is so much more valuable than the generic checklists you find on government websites.