Thank you all for the advice! I think I'll try to reach SSA using that service someone mentioned because I really need to understand my specific situation. It sounds like I was wrong about several things - especially about my husband needing to stop working to collect benefits. If he can file at 70 while still working, that changes our planning quite a bit. I also didn't realize that taking my benefit early would permanently reduce my spousal benefit later. Lots to think about!

I'm in a very similar situation at 63 with my husband being 67. What really helped me was creating a spreadsheet to compare different scenarios - claiming now vs waiting until FRA vs waiting until 70 (though that doesn't apply to spousal benefits). One thing that might be worth considering is your household's overall financial picture. If you don't need the income immediately and have other retirement savings or your husband's business income to cover expenses, waiting until your FRA could maximize your lifetime benefits significantly given the large gap between your benefit and potential spousal benefit. Also, I learned that if you're still working and earning above the earnings limit ($22,320 for 2024), your benefits would be reduced anyway if you claim before FRA. So factor that in if you're still employed. The file-and-suspend strategy that used to exist is no longer available for people born after 1954, so don't get confused by older advice online. The current rules are what matter for your decision. Good luck! This stuff really is unnecessarily complicated.

This thread has been an incredible resource! Reading through everyone's experiences, I'm struck by how many families face this exact nightmare - losing Medicaid during the SSI to DAC transition with little to no warning or guidance from the agencies that should be helping. What really stands out to me is how much specialized knowledge is required just to maintain basic healthcare coverage. Between 1619(b) provisions, transitional Medicaid, presumptive eligibility, SHIP programs, P&A organizations, and disability navigators - there are SO many safety nets that exist, but they're essentially hidden from the families who need them most. For anyone else facing this situation, this thread should be bookmarked! The collective wisdom here - from knowing the exact terminology to use ("emergency medical need due to federal benefit change") to understanding which offices to visit in person versus which to call - could literally save lives. I hope the original poster will update us on their outcome. Their situation has created such a valuable knowledge base that could help countless other families avoid this terrifying coverage gap. It's awful that we need these workarounds, but until the system is fixed, community support like this is absolutely essential. Sending support to everyone who's navigated or is currently navigating these impossible bureaucratic mazes!

I just want to echo what everyone else has said - this thread has become such an incredible lifeline for families facing this nightmare transition! As someone who went through this with my disabled brother two years ago, I wish we had had access to this kind of detailed, experienced guidance. One thing I wanted to add that might help with the immediate medication crisis: if you're religious or connected to any faith communities, many churches/synagogues/mosques have emergency assistance funds specifically for healthcare costs. When we were waiting for my brother's coverage to get sorted out, our local interfaith coalition covered his psychiatric medications for six weeks - no questions asked, no paperwork, just immediate help for someone in crisis. Also, some hospitals have "charity care" programs that can provide temporary coverage for outpatient mental health services and medications. It's worth calling the billing department of any hospital system your daughter has used and asking about emergency assistance programs. The fact that this community has essentially had to reverse-engineer the safety net that should be clearly explained by SSA shows how much advocacy is still needed to fix these dangerous coverage gaps. But in the meantime, the collective knowledge shared here is absolutely saving lives and preventing medication interruptions that could be devastating for people with mental health conditions. Wishing you and your daughter all the best as you navigate this - you're not alone in this fight!

Miguel, I'm in a very similar situation! Just turned 68 and went through this exact tax confusion last year. The advice you're getting here is spot-on - PA doesn't tax Social Security which is fantastic, but the federal calculation can be tricky. One thing I learned the hard way: when you're calculating that "combined income" for federal purposes, make sure you include ALL sources of income, not just the obvious ones. Things like tax-exempt interest from municipal bonds, withdrawal from Roth IRAs (the earnings portion), and even some pension income all factor in. Since you're at $33,700 combined income based on what you shared, you're definitely in the 50% taxable range, but remember - that doesn't mean you'll pay taxes on 50% of your entire benefit. The IRS uses a complex worksheet where they tax the LESSER of either 50% of your benefits OR 50% of the amount your combined income exceeds $25,000. In your case, that would be 50% of $8,700 = $4,350 of your Social Security that becomes taxable income, not 50% of your entire $23,400 benefit. Hope that helps clarify things a bit! The system is unnecessarily complicated but at least we're in a tax-friendly state for retirees.

Miguel, you've gotten some fantastic detailed advice here! I just wanted to add one practical tip that helped me when I was in a similar situation - consider having federal taxes withheld directly from your Social Security payments. You can request this by filing Form W-4V with the Social Security Administration. They can withhold 7%, 10%, 12%, or 22% of your monthly benefit for federal taxes. This might be easier than making quarterly estimated payments, and it ensures you're always current on your tax obligations. Since you're looking at having around $4,350 of your benefits become taxable (as Dylan explained so well), having some withholding might prevent any surprises come tax time. Also, don't forget that Pennsylvania has some other nice retirement perks too - like not taxing most retirement account distributions and having relatively low property taxes in many areas. You picked a good state to retire in!

Thank you everyone for the helpful replies! I think I understand better now - I get 9 months where I can earn any amount, then after that I need to stay under $1,550 to keep benefits. I've scheduled a call with SSA through that Claimyr service someone mentioned to confirm everything before I accept this job. Really appreciate all the detailed explanations!

Just wanted to add a couple of important points for anyone else reading this thread: 1. **Report earnings immediately** - Don't wait until the end of the year! SSA requires you to report any work activity within 10 days of starting work, and then report monthly earnings by the 6th of the following month. Late reporting can cause overpayments that you'll have to pay back. 2. **Keep detailed records** - Track every paycheck, work expense, and any correspondence with SSA. If there's ever a dispute about your earnings or work status, having documentation is crucial. 3. **Consider getting help** - If your work situation is complicated (like irregular hours, self-employment, or multiple income sources), consider working with a disability advocate or attorney who specializes in SSA work incentives. The initial consultation is often free. The work incentives are really designed to help people transition back to work gradually, but the key is understanding and following the rules precisely. Good luck to everyone trying to get back into the workforce!

As someone who's relatively new to navigating Social Security decisions, I wanted to thank everyone for sharing their experiences here! This thread has been incredibly educational. I'm curious about one practical aspect - for those who decided to wait until FRA, did you find it helpful to get an official statement from SSA confirming that your incomplete application wouldn't be processed? I'm thinking it might be worth getting something in writing just for peace of mind, especially given the conflicting experiences people have shared. Also, @Paolo - have you considered doing a more detailed break-even analysis? I've been using the SSA's online calculators to model different scenarios, and seeing those numbers laid out really helped solidify my own decision about when to file. The difference between $1,675 and $2,450 monthly is pretty stark when you multiply it out over 20+ years of retirement!

As someone who's still figuring out all these Social Security nuances, this thread has been a goldmine of information! I'm particularly struck by how many people seem to rush into early filing without fully understanding the long-term financial impact. @Paolo, your situation really resonates with me. I'm about 3 years away from 62 and have been going back and forth on timing. The psychological pressure to "get something while you can" is real, but seeing those actual dollar figures you shared ($1,675 vs $2,450) really puts it in perspective. That's nearly $10K more per year for life! One thing I'm wondering - has anyone here used a fee-only financial planner specifically for Social Security optimization? I keep reading about all these claiming strategies and optimal timing scenarios, and I'm starting to think professional guidance might be worth the investment. The stakes seem too high to wing it based on general advice. Also really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences with the SSA application system. Good to know that incomplete applications aren't processed, though the conflicting stories definitely make me think getting written confirmation would be smart for peace of mind.