dont listen to bad advice in this thread. u ABSOLUTELY need to apply for kids separately, they DONT do it automatically when u get approved!!!! I learned this the hard way and lost months of payments

Just wanted to add my experience - I went through this exact same process last year when my SSDI got approved. The key thing is to call SSA immediately after your approval and specifically say "I need to file applications for auxiliary benefits for my dependent children." Don't just ask about "adding" them to your account because that confuses the representatives. You'll need to complete separate SSA-16 forms for each child, but you do this as their parent/representative - they don't need their own MySocialSecurity accounts. The whole process takes about 6-8 weeks once you submit everything. My kids' benefits were retroactive to the same month my SSDI started, so definitely don't delay! One tip: if you can't get through by phone, try going to your local SSA office first thing in the morning when they open. Bring birth certificates, Social Security cards for all three kids, and a copy of your approval letter. Good luck!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for this incredibly enlightening discussion! I'm 65 and have been procrastinating on claiming Social Security because the earnings limit rules on the SSA website made everything seem so overwhelming and complicated. This thread has been a complete revelation - especially discovering that the earnings limit disappears the exact MONTH you reach your Full Retirement Age, not just sometime during that calendar year. I was completely misunderstanding this and thought I'd need to worry about the limit for the entire year I turn 67, which would have caused me to make some terrible financial planning decisions. The breakdown of the different limits ($23,400 vs $63,840 depending on whether you reach FRA during the year) is absolutely crucial information that I've never seen explained this clearly anywhere else. Plus all the practical tips about tracking monthly earnings, understanding when bonuses count toward the limit, and how pre-tax retirement contributions can actually help you stay under the threshold before FRA - this is exactly the kind of real-world guidance you can't find in official government materials. I'm also incredibly grateful to learn about Claimyr as an alternative for reaching SSA representatives. After reading all these stories about hours-long hold times and constant disconnections, knowing there's a service that can get you through to an actual agent in 15-20 minutes seems like a lifesaver when you need answers about your specific situation. What amazes me most is how this community provides the practical context that makes these intimidating government rules actually manageable. The SSA website gives you the technical rules, but only real people who've navigated this process can share the wisdom about how it all works in practice. Thank you all for being so generous with your knowledge and creating such a valuable resource for those of us trying to make these important decisions!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to add my sincere gratitude for this incredibly comprehensive and helpful discussion! I'm 66 and have been anxious about claiming Social Security while continuing to work because the earnings limit rules seemed so confusing and intimidating on the SSA website. This thread has been absolutely game-changing for my understanding - especially learning that the earnings limit disappears the exact MONTH you reach your Full Retirement Age, not just during that calendar year. I had been planning to severely restrict my work hours for all of 2025 since I turn 67 in June, not realizing I only need to be careful about the limit from January through May! The clarification about the different earnings limits ($23,400 if under FRA all year vs. $63,840 if reaching FRA during the year, only counting pre-FRA months) is absolutely crucial information I never found explained clearly elsewhere. Combined with all the practical advice about monthly tracking, bonus timing, and how pre-tax retirement contributions can help you stay under the limit before FRA - this is exactly the real-world guidance I needed. I'm also grateful to learn about Claimyr as an option for getting through to SSA when needed. After reading all these horror stories about endless phone waits and disconnections, having a service that can actually connect you to an agent in 15-20 minutes seems invaluable. What strikes me most is how this community provides the practical wisdom that makes these complex government rules actually manageable. The official SSA materials give you the technical rules, but only real people with experience can explain how they work in practice and share the timing details that can save you from costly mistakes. Thank you all for creating such a supportive and knowledgeable resource!

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I'm gathering that: 1. The $32,000 threshold is definitely our combined income as a couple, not individual 2. We need to be careful about the earnings test since we're claiming before FRA 3. We should look into voluntary withholding to avoid surprises 4. We should check our state's rules on SS taxation 5. Some types of income I thought wouldn't count (like muni bonds) actually do count I think we need to reconsider our claiming strategy and possibly talk to a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security. This is way more complicated than I initially thought!

One thing that might help with your planning is to calculate your "provisional income" - that's what the IRS calls the income they use to determine SS taxation. It's your adjusted gross income + nontaxable interest + half of your SS benefits. Since you're claiming at 64, you might also want to consider timing other income sources carefully. For example, if you have any control over when you receive bonuses, retirement account distributions, or other income, you could potentially manage your provisional income to stay below the thresholds in some years. Also, don't forget that if you do end up paying taxes on your SS benefits, it's not necessarily a bad thing - it just means you have enough other income to live comfortably! The tax rates on SS benefits are typically lower than regular income tax rates anyway.

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! As someone who's 59 and just beginning to seriously research Social Security, I had completely wrong assumptions about how this all works. Like so many others here, I thought benefits would automatically start and had been planning to wait until around 72, thinking I was being financially savvy. Reading about the 6-month retroactive limit and people permanently losing $30,000+ is genuinely terrifying - and honestly infuriating that this isn't clearly communicated by the SSA. The real-world experiences everyone has shared here are worth their weight in gold. Stories like KaiEsmeralda's husband only getting 6 months back despite waiting until 70.5, and Millie's client losing over $30K by waiting until 73, really drive home how costly these mistakes can be. I'm immediately revising my entire retirement strategy to file right at 70. The practical tips about applying online 3 months early, saving application confirmation, and using services like Claimyr to reach SSA representatives are incredibly helpful. It's clear that community knowledge sharing is essential since the official channels seem so inadequate. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and knowledge - you've potentially saved me and many others from making life-altering financial mistakes. I'll definitely be sharing this thread with my family and friends approaching retirement because this information is too critical not to spread!

This thread has been absolutely crucial for someone like me who's just starting to learn about Social Security! I'm 55 and honestly had no idea that benefits don't automatically start or that there's such a harsh 6-month retroactive limit after age 70. Reading all these real experiences about people permanently losing $30,000+ is both eye-opening and terrifying - it's clear the SSA needs to do much better at communicating these critical rules to people approaching retirement. Like so many others here, I was casually thinking about waiting until my early 70s to maximize benefits, completely unaware that delaying past 70 actually costs you money rather than earning more. The practical advice shared here about applying online 3 months before turning 70, saving application confirmation, and services like Claimyr for reaching SSA representatives is incredibly valuable. What strikes me most is how this essential information is being shared through community discussions rather than clear government outreach. It's honestly concerning how many people could be making catastrophic financial mistakes simply from not knowing these rules exist. I'm definitely setting calendar reminders now to file right at 70 and will be sharing this thread with everyone I know approaching retirement. Thank you all for potentially saving newcomers like me from losing thousands in benefits we've earned throughout our working lives!

Since you're turning 70 in December, here's another important tip: Make sure you've also signed up for Medicare if you haven't already. While you can delay Social Security without penalty, delaying Medicare past 65 can result in permanent premium penalties unless you have qualifying coverage (like from current employment). If you delayed Medicare enrollment and don't have qualifying coverage, you'll want to discuss this during the Social Security application process. They can help determine if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to avoid penalties.

Congratulations on making it to 70 and maximizing your benefits! As someone who just went through this process myself, I wanted to add a few tips that might help: 1. Keep checking your my Social Security account online in the weeks after you submit your application. You should see your estimated benefit amount update to reflect the December start date, and it's good to verify the numbers match what you expect. 2. If you're still working (even part-time), remember there's no earnings test at age 70, so you can earn as much as you want without affecting your Social Security benefits. 3. Consider setting up text or email alerts with your bank for when the deposit hits. That first payment can feel like it's taking forever, and having an alert gives you peace of mind. You definitely made the right call avoiding the retroactive payment trap. At 70, you've earned every penny of those delayed retirement credits - don't give them up now! Looking forward to hearing about your first successful payment in January.