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.

I'm currently going through this exact situation right now! Filed in late November for January benefits, been paying Medicare Part B quarterly since turning 65, and I'm at about 11 weeks in Stage 2 processing. This entire thread has been an absolute godsend - I was starting to panic thinking my application was stuck or lost in the system. Reading everyone's experiences has been incredibly reassuring, especially learning that 8-12 weeks is actually normal processing time right now. The Medicare premium overlap situation was my biggest concern, but now I have a clear game plan thanks to everyone's advice: 1. Expect SSA to deduct Medicare premium from first payment regardless 2. Call Medicare Premium Collection Center (1-800-633-4227) proactively about 2 weeks after first SS payment 3. Request the CREDIT option instead of waiting for a refund check 4. Stop making direct Medicare payments once SS benefits start I've also set up those text alerts through MySocialSecurity that Lena mentioned - such a great tip! No more obsessive daily checking of my account status. The tip about calling SSA right at 8 AM is something I'm definitely going to try if I need to contact them. It's encouraging to hear that November/December applications are starting to move to Stage 3 - hopefully I'll see some progress soon! Thank you to everyone who shared their timelines and practical advice. This community has made what felt like an overwhelming and confusing process so much more manageable. I'll definitely post an update when my application finally moves forward!

I'm also going through this exact situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Filed in early December for February benefits, been paying Medicare Part B quarterly since turning 65, and I'm currently at about 8 weeks in Stage 2. Reading everyone's experiences has really put my mind at ease - I had no idea that 8-12 week processing times were normal right now. I was starting to think my application was lost or something was wrong with it! The Medicare premium situation was my biggest worry, but now I have a clear plan thanks to everyone's advice: - Expect the double charge initially - Call Medicare Premium Collection Center (1-800-633-4227) about 2 weeks after first SS payment - Request the CREDIT option rather than waiting for a refund - Set up text alerts so I stop obsessively checking my account The tip about calling SSA right at 8 AM is genius - I'm definitely going to try that if I need to contact them. It's also encouraging to hear that November/December applications are starting to move to Stage 3. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences and timelines. This community has made what felt like a really overwhelming process so much more manageable. I'll post an update when my application finally progresses!

Just wanted to add one more perspective as someone who went through this decision recently. I was in a very similar situation - laid off at 61, husband still working with good income. After reading through all the great advice here, I ended up taking a different approach that might work for you too. Instead of claiming SS early OR completely depleting our emergency fund, I found a part-time job doing bookkeeping from home (leveraged my retail management experience with numbers/budgets). It's only about $18,000/year, but it bridges most of our income gap while letting me delay SS until my FRA. The key was looking at remote work and being willing to take something below my previous salary level. Sites like FlexJobs and Indeed have tons of part-time remote opportunities for people with management experience. Customer service, virtual assistant work, bookkeeping, even retail consulting. This way we keep our emergency fund mostly intact AND I get the higher SS benefit later. Sometimes the middle path between "claim early" and "use all savings" is the right answer. Just another option to consider!

This has been such an informative thread! As someone who's been lurking here trying to figure out my own SS strategy, I wanted to thank everyone for sharing their real experiences - both the successes and the mistakes. Emma, it sounds like you're making a really smart decision to wait and explore other options. The math that Lucas and Grace laid out really drives home how much the early claiming penalty can cost over a lifetime. And Ezra's suggestion about remote work is brilliant - I hadn't thought about how retail management skills would translate to bookkeeping or virtual assistant roles. For anyone else reading this thread in a similar situation, one thing I'd add: don't forget to factor in cost-of-living increases when you're doing your breakeven calculations. SS benefits get annual COLA adjustments, so that higher base amount you get by waiting will compound over time with those increases. Also, if you're considering part-time work to bridge the gap, remember that earning some income (even part-time) can actually boost your SS calculation if it's higher than one of your lower-earning years in their 35-year average. Every little bit helps when you're trying to optimize your retirement income!

One additional thing to keep in mind - the SSA does recalculate your benefit amount when you reach Full Retirement Age to give you credit for the months they withheld benefits due to the earnings test. So while your wife may see reduced benefits now if she exceeds the earnings limit, her benefit amount will increase at FRA to account for those reductions. Many people don't realize this adjustment happens automatically.

Just wanted to add some practical advice based on what I've learned helping my mom navigate this same situation. Since your wife is 65 and her FRA is 67, she has two years where this earnings limit will apply. The key thing is to track her earnings monthly - don't wait until the end of the year! I created a simple spreadsheet for my mom that tracks her gross pay each month against the annual limit ($23,400 for 2025). Also, if she does go over, the SSA typically doesn't catch it until they get her W-2 the following year, so you might not know about any overpayment until 2026. One strategy that worked for us was having her employer reduce her hours in November/December if she was getting close to the limit. School districts are usually pretty flexible about this since they understand the SS earnings test issue with older employees.