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One more important point: If you do end up with an overpayment because you exceeded the earnings limit, you have options. You can request a waiver if it wasn't your fault and repayment would cause financial hardship, or set up a reasonable payment plan. Don't panic if you get an overpayment notice.
HA! Good luck with that waiver. I tried for 6 months to get a waiver and they denied me. They take the money back one way or another.
I'm still confused about how they even know what we earn month to month on 1099 work. do they just find out at tax time the next year??
You're required to self-report monthly earnings that exceed the limit. If you don't and they discover it later (usually through tax records the following year), they'll assess an overpayment that you'll have to repay. Better to report proactively than deal with an unexpected overpayment notice later.
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I rememebr going through this EXACT nightmare last year!! The most frustrating thing was that NOBODY at SS seemed to be able to tell me the exact amount we'd get until we actually filed. They kept saying "it depends" and "we calculate it at filing" which was useless for planning!!! Our family max ended up being about 175% of my husbands PIA, if that helps. AND make sure when your son transitions to DAC that you immediately start the Medicare process, they messed that up for us and it took months to fix!!
It's so frustrating not being able to get clear answers for planning! Did you find that your actual benefits ended up being close to what you calculated beforehand? And thanks for the Medicare tip - I'll make sure to stay on top of that application.
One additional consideration: If your husband has significant health issues that may impact his life expectancy, there's another strategy to consider. If he has a qualifying medical condition with a poor prognosis, he might consider applying for SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) instead of early retirement. If approved for SSDI: 1. He would receive his full FRA benefit amount ($3,330) with no reduction for early filing 2. Your son would still convert to DAC 3. You would still be eligible for DCIC 4. The family maximum would apply, but the starting benefit amounts would be higher The approval process for SSDI can be lengthy, but given the significant difference between his age-63 benefit ($2,497) and his full FRA benefit ($3,330), it might be worth exploring if his health condition is severe enough to qualify.
That's an interesting option I hadn't considered. His health issues are primarily stress-related and high blood pressure, so not sure if they'd qualify for disability. But the financial difference is significant enough that it might be worth looking into. Thank you for suggesting this alternative approach!
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Has anyone actually CALLED Social Security lately? I've been trying for WEEKS to get answers about this exact situation and can't get through!!! This system is BROKEN!!! How are we supposed to make important life decisions when we can't even talk to a human being????
try going to the office in person. i gave up on calling and just went there. had to wait 2 hours but at least got my questions answered face to face
One more important detail based on your situation: Since you're reaching FRA in January 2026, you'll be eligible for Medicare in January 2025 (Medicare eligibility starts at 65). The Initial Enrollment Period for Medicare starts 3 months before your 65th birthday month and extends 3 months after. So you'll need to decide about Medicare about a year before you reach FRA. If your employer has 20+ employees, you can decline Part B during this period without penalties, but you'll need to get that employer coverage verification I mentioned. Just be aware of this timeline so you're not caught off guard by Medicare decisions before your FRA.
This timeline is super helpful! So I need to be ready for Medicare decisions in late 2024, even though I'm not planning to take Social Security until January 2026. I'm going to mark my calendar now so I don't miss anything important. Thank you!
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If your waiting till FRA anyway, why not just file a restricted application for spousal benefits only? That way you can collect half of her benefit while still letting yours grow until 70. My financial advisor told me this was possible if you were born before 1954.
Unfortunately, that strategy (restricted application) is only available to people born on or before January 1, 1954. Based on the ages given in the post, the person asking the question would have been born around 1961-1962, so they're not eligible for that approach. The rules changed with the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015.
Oh man, I didn't realize that! Thanks for correcting me. These rule changes are so confusing.
Thanks everyone for the really helpful information. I think I understand better now - my wife can get the spousal supplement but only AFTER I file for my own benefits, and it'll be based on my FRA amount not my increased age 70 amount if I delay. If I'm understanding correctly, our best strategy is probably: 1. I continue working and delay my benefits until 70 to maximize my own amount 2. Once I file, my wife will automatically get the difference between her reduced benefit and half of my PIA 3. If I pass away before her, she'd then be eligible for survivor benefits equal to my full benefit including delayed credits Is that right? I think we need to run the numbers to see whether it makes sense financially for me to file earlier so she can get the spousal supplement sooner, or if the increase to my own benefit from waiting is worth more in the long run.
You've got it exactly right! Running the numbers is definitely smart. The key factors to consider are: 1. Your health/longevity expectations (longer life expectancy favors delaying) 2. How much your wife's benefit will increase with the spousal supplement 3. Your current income needs Since your wife is already 67, for every year you delay filing, that's a year she misses out on the higher spousal amount. But if you live well into your 80s, the higher amount from delaying would make up for it over time.
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ALSO!!! I forgot to say - if either of you has ANY government pension from work not covered by Social Security (like some teachers, state employees, etc.) then the Government Pension Offset (GPO) or Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) could DRASTICALLY change all your calculations!!! My sister lost like 2/3 of her expected survivor benefits because of GPO! It's CRIMINAL how they don't make this clear!!!
Thankfully neither of us has any government pension or non-covered work, so we should be spared that particular complication. But wow, losing 2/3 of expected benefits is huge! The system really is needlessly complex.
One more important thing - in your Scenario 3, if your wife passes away while you're both 64, and you want to take survivor benefits immediately, remember you'd need to apply for those benefits. They're not automatic. And if you're still working, the earnings test would apply until you reach FRA as someone else mentioned. Also be aware that taking survivor benefits doesn't affect your own retirement benefit growth. Your retirement benefit would still grow with delayed retirement credits until 70, regardless of whether you're receiving survivor benefits.
That's a key point about the survivor benefits not being automatic - thank you! And it's reassuring to confirm that my own retirement benefit would continue to grow even while I'm receiving survivor benefits. That makes the strategy even more attractive assuming I can navigate the earnings test issues.
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So wait im confused... does this mean if i start my ss benefits in January too, I can work all of December without any impact? What if I'm only 63 though? Is there a special rule just for people turning 65 in December or does this apply to everyone?
The age doesn't matter for this particular question. What matters is that December 2024 and January 2025 are in different calendar years. If you start benefits in January 2025 (regardless of your age), your 2024 earnings (including December) won't affect those benefits. However, if you're under Full Retirement Age (FRA) when receiving benefits in 2025, you'll be subject to the annual earnings test for any work you do in 2025. This currently limits you to earning around $21,240 (2024 figure, will increase slightly for 2025) before benefits are reduced. So anyone can work December 2024 and start benefits January 2025 without December earnings affecting those benefits - this isn't age-specific.
Thank you all for the responses! I called SSA this morning using that Claimyr service someone mentioned (got through in about 3 minutes!) and confirmed that I can indeed work through December without it affecting my January payment. The representative explained that since December 2024 and January 2025 are in different tax years, they're treated separately. I'm going to work through December as planned and will start receiving my retirement benefits in January. Since I'm fully retiring at that point, I won't have any earned income in 2025 that would trigger the earnings limit. I appreciate everyone's help in understanding this confusing topic!
Social Security WEP penalty cutting 2/3 of my spousal benefits - unfair compared to coworkers
I just discovered I'm being penalized on my Social Security spousal benefits because of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and I'm absolutely devastated. After dedicating 20+ years raising our children, I finally started working at age 60 for a school district with a non-SS-covered pension (403b). I worked there until 66 when I retired to help with my daughter's twins.When I applied for spousal benefits last year (I'm now 73), Social Security slashed my monthly payment by TWO-THIRDS because of this WEP rule! Meanwhile, coworkers who stayed 5 more years with the district got switched to a different retirement plan that doesn't trigger WEP. Some colleagues even transferred their 403b funds elsewhere before claiming SS and avoided the penalty completely.I delayed taking my pension until 72 hoping this would get fixed, but SSA says this reduction continues FOR LIFE even though my modest pension will likely run out in 10-12 years. I'll be getting around $870/month instead of $2,450 because of this provision I never knew existed!Has anyone successfully fought this? Is there any appeal process or exception I can apply for? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
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To address your question about what happens when your pension runs out: Under GPO rules, if your pension stops, the offset should stop as well. This is different from WEP, which generally continues even if your pension ends.When your pension payments end, you need to notify SSA immediately with proof that you're no longer receiving the pension. At that point, they should recalculate your spousal benefits without the GPO reduction. Make sure to keep documentation showing your pension has ended.If your pension is paid as a lump sum rather than monthly payments, SSA will calculate what the monthly amount would have been and apply the offset as if you were receiving monthly payments. Regarding your 403b specifically - some confusion might exist because 403b plans can be structured different ways. If your 403b was truly a pension from non-covered employment (no SS taxes paid), then GPO applies. But if it was more like a savings plan similar to a 401k where you contributed your own money, different rules might apply.This is definitely worth reviewing with SSA to ensure they've categorized your retirement plan correctly.
Thank you SO much for this information! This gives me some hope that at least when my pension runs out, I might get my full spousal benefit. I'll definitely keep documentation about when my pension ends.And you've given me another avenue to explore - my 403b was partly my contributions and partly employer contributions. I need to verify if SSA is treating it correctly. I'll gather all my pension documentation before calling them.I can't thank everyone enough for all this guidance. I feel much better equipped to address this situation now.
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wait i'm confused...doesnt the 10 year rule only apply if ur divorced? if ur actually married when they die dont u get survivors benefits regardless of how long u were married? or am i thinking of something else
You're correct. The 10-year marriage duration requirement only applies to divorced spouse benefits (both retirement and survivor). If you were married at the time of death, there's only a 9-month marriage requirement for survivor benefits (with some exceptions for accidental death). Since the original poster was divorced when her ex passed away and they were married for 15 years, she qualifies under the divorced spouse rules.
Thanks everyone for all this helpful information! One last question - does anyone know if I need to go to the Social Security office in person to apply for survivor benefits, or can I do it online? Their website is a bit confusing to navigate.
For survivor benefits, the SSA generally requires an interview either in person or by phone. While you can start the process online, you'll likely need to complete it with a representative. This is because survivor claims often have complexities that require discussion. I'd recommend calling ahead to schedule an appointment rather than walking in, as wait times can be very long. Make sure to have your ex's Social Security number, death certificate, marriage certificate, and divorce decree ready.
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I was in a similar boat to u last year & honestly the BEST thing we did was just schedule an appointment at our local SSA office. My husband & I brought all our questions written down & the rep walked us thru everything step by step. Took about an hour but so worth it! Just be prepared for a long wait to get an appointment (took us like 3 weeks).
That's a great suggestion! In-person appointments can be really helpful for complex situations. If you're having trouble getting an appointment, that's where services like Claimyr can help - they can connect you with an SSA representative over the phone much faster than waiting on hold yourself. But an in-person appointment is definitely worth the wait if you can get one.
make sure u look at the tax situation too bc sometimes waiting doesnt help if ur gonna pay more taxes on the bigger benefit its all about whats left after taxes
While tax considerations are important, they rarely outweigh the benefit of delaying Social Security for a higher-earning spouse. The permanent 8% per year increase in benefits (plus COLAs on that larger amount) typically overshadows any tax differences. Plus, survivor benefits are a critical factor - ensuring the surviving spouse gets the highest possible benefit for life is usually worth potential tax implications. That said, a comprehensive financial plan should absolutely include tax planning.
Aiden Rodríguez
nobody knows how long theyll live. take the money now and enjoy life thats my philosophy!
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Sophia Nguyen
•EXACTLY!!! I've been saying this for years!! Too many people try to maximize some theoretical "lifetime benefit" and then drop dead a month after claiming. Life is SHORT especially after facing something like cancer.
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Isabella Brown
After reading all the comments and your responses, it seems like filing at 62 might make sense in your specific situation. The child benefits alone could total well over $100,000 over the 11 years. Just be absolutely sure both you and your wife fully understand the long-term implications for survivor benefits. One resource I recommend is the book "Social Security Made Simple" by Mike Piper. It's very accessible and covers these complex situations well. You might also consider consulting with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security strategies before making your final decision.
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Emily Jackson
•Thank you for the book recommendation - I'll definitely check that out. I think we're leaning toward early filing, but I want to make sure we're fully informed. I appreciate everyone's insights on this decision!
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