To directly answer your question: you should absolutely set up voluntary withholding if you're concerned about a tax bill. The W-4V form is available on the IRS website (irs.gov), or Social Security can mail you one. A few key points about Social Security taxation that many new beneficiaries don't realize: 1. Whether your benefits are taxable depends on your "combined income" (AGI + non-taxable interest + half your SS benefits) 2. For individual filers: - Below $25,000: No tax on SS benefits - $25,000-$34,000: Up to 50% of benefits may be taxable - Above $34,000: Up to 85% of benefits may be taxable 3. For married filing jointly: - Below $32,000: No tax on SS benefits - $32,000-$44,000: Up to 50% of benefits may be taxable - Above $44,000: Up to 85% of benefits may be taxable Many retirees find 10% withholding works well, but consult with a tax professional based on your specific situation.

Thank you all so much for the helpful information! I just downloaded the W-4V form and will send it in tomorrow. I'm thinking I'll start with 10% withholding and adjust next year if needed. I'll also check with my tax preparer to see if I should make any quarterly estimated tax payments for this year since I've already received a few months of benefits without withholding. It's frustrating that the SSA representative didn't explain any of this when I applied for benefits. When they say "before deductions" they should really clarify what that means! I suspect I'm not the only newly retired person confused by this.

why dont u just get a part time job for like a year or so? thats what my aunt did, she worked at walmart like 2 days a week for a year and got her quarters. way easier than waiting for congress to do something lol

Just wanted to add something important about your husband's situation - even without the Fairness Act passing, if he has 30 quarters of covered employment, he might not be fully subject to the WEP reduction on his own record. There's a WEP guarantee that if you have 30+ years of substantial earnings under Social Security, the WEP doesn't apply. For fewer years, there's a partial exemption starting at 21 years. However, the GPO (affecting spousal/survivor benefits) doesn't have a similar exemption based on years of work, which is why the Fairness Act is so important for people like your husband who might be looking at spousal benefits.

my brother in law said the limit is goin up to like $175k next year does anyone know if thats true?

Just curious - isn't it kind of unfair that we pay into the system but once you reach a certain income they stop counting it? I mean if I pay more shouldn't I get more out?

the whole system is rigged against disabled people trying to work!!!! i spent 5 HOURS on hold last month trying to report my daughter's income and then got disconnected! the SSA website is impossible to navigate and nobody gives the same answer twice. its like they WANT us to make mistakes so they can punish us later.

Just a final recommendation - since your daughter has used all her Trial Work Period months and is in the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE), the quarterly reporting approach using Form SSA-821 should work well. The key information SSA needs during the EPE is: 1. Monthly earnings amounts 2. Hours worked each month 3. Job duties/type of work This helps them determine if she's performing Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). Since her earnings are consistently well below the SGA threshold ($1,550/month in 2025), her benefits should continue without interruption. Keep detailed records of all communications with SSA, including certified mail receipts. If your daughter's earnings pattern changes significantly, report it promptly. Quarterly reporting for consistent below-SGA earnings is a reasonable approach that balances compliance with practicality.

Just wanted to add one thing - if your husband is still working, make sure to factor in how his last few years of earnings might increase his benefit calculation. My husband's final years of work at higher income actually bumped up his PIA since they replaced some lower-earning years from when he was young. The SSA uses the highest 35 years of earnings, so those last high-earning years can make a meaningful difference!

im confused about one thing. if ur only married 8 yrs does that affect spousal benefits? i thought u had to be married 10 yrs for that?

My sister just went thru this exact same thing!!! She turned 70 in December and switched from survivor to her own. The amount she got was actually $200 MORE than what they told her on the phone! So maybe you'll get lucky too! She said it was a huge relief after worrying about it for months.

To answer your most recent question: Yes, you will receive an award letter in the mail after you apply that will show your exact benefit amount and how it was calculated. This typically arrives 2-4 weeks after your application is processed. The letter will show your PIA (Primary Insurance Amount), any delayed retirement credits, and your final monthly benefit amount. If you see any discrepancies or have questions about the calculation, you can call SSA for clarification after receiving this letter. I would recommend keeping this letter in a safe place for future reference since it contains the official record of your benefit calculation.

my friend did the online thing last year and got his first check in like 3 weeks! crazy fast! but he had everything perfect and is some kinda computer genius lol

Thank you everyone for all the helpful responses! Based on your advice, I think I'll try applying online first since my work history is straightforward and I have all my documents ready. I'll do it exactly 3 months before my birthday in August. If anything gets stuck, I'll either try to get an appointment or use that phone service to talk to someone. Really appreciate all the insights!

One more important thing: if your ex-spouse remarried but you haven't, you can still claim on their record. Your benefit claim has no effect on what your ex-spouse or their current spouse receives. Many people don't realize this and avoid claiming divorced spouse benefits unnecessarily.

WAIT does anyone know if this applies the same way for survivor benefits?? My mom's ex-husband died last year and they were married 30 years before divorcing in 2011. Can she get HER social security AND survivor benefits from him??? Now im confused if the rules are different for survivors vs regular retirement!!!

MY SON WENT THRU SAME THING. social security is THE WORST!!! we gave them his work info 3 TIMES and they still kept sending letters saying we didnt report!! make sure you get RECEIPTS for EVERYTHING!

Just to add some clarification since there's been some confusion in the responses - the SSA wage reporting system specifically needs the Federal EIN, not a state tax ID or other business identifier. Also, once you have the online reporting set up, you'll need to be aware of your son's Trial Work Period (TWP) months and Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) threshold if he's receiving SSDI-based benefits. The 2025 SGA amount is $1,550 for non-blind disabled individuals, and staying below that is crucial for maintaining benefits.

I JUST REMEMBERED SOMETHING!!! Since you already filed for your retirement, you need to WITHDRAW that application before your benefits start in February!!! There's a specific form called SSA-521 \

Good catch! I didn't even think about that part. Once benefits start it's much harder to change course.