As someone who recently retired at 63 and went through this exact same process, I can absolutely confirm what others have shared about the Monthly Earnings Test for your first year. The key thing that saved me was being extremely explicit about my retirement date and making sure SSA understood I was completely stopping work. I earned about $72,000 through August 2023 before retiring and starting benefits in September. Because I had zero earnings after my retirement date, I received full benefits with no reductions despite my high pre-retirement income. Here's what I wish I had known earlier: when you apply, don't just mention your retirement date once - emphasize it multiple times throughout the application. I specifically wrote in the remarks section: "Completely retiring from all employment on [date]. Zero earnings expected after this date." This helped ensure they applied the Monthly Earnings Test correctly. Also, I'd strongly recommend calling about a week after submitting your online application to verify they have your retirement status noted properly in their system. The representative I spoke with confirmed they had flagged my account for the Monthly Earnings Test, which gave me huge peace of mind. Your September timeline with $75K in pre-retirement earnings should work perfectly under this rule. Just make sure that retirement date is crystal clear throughout your entire application process!

I'm new to this community but have been researching Social Security timing for months, and this thread has been absolutely incredible! Reading through everyone's real experiences with the Monthly Earnings Test has cleared up so much confusion for me. I'm in a similar boat - turning 63 next year and considering retiring mid-year after earning a full salary through most of the year. Like many others here, I was terrified that ALL my annual income would count toward the earnings limit, which would have made early retirement financially impossible. The consistent experiences shared here about the first-year Monthly Earnings Test - where only post-retirement earnings matter - have completely changed my retirement planning timeline. It's amazing how this one rule makes mid-year retirement actually viable for people who've been working full-time. What strikes me most is how many people mentioned getting conflicting information from SSA directly, yet the community experiences are so consistent. It really highlights the value of peer knowledge sharing when navigating complex government programs. Thank you to everyone who shared specific dollar amounts, timelines, and application tips. This thread is going into my retirement planning folder as required reading! The practical advice about emphasizing retirement dates, following up to verify earnings test applications, and keeping documentation organized is exactly what I needed to feel confident about moving forward.

Welcome to the community! I'm so sorry for your loss, and I really admire how thoughtfully you're approaching this important financial question during such a difficult time. Based on everything you've described about your Airbnb operation, you're absolutely in the right category for passive rental income. The activities you mentioned - basic cleaning between guests, responding to messages, and having your neighbor help with maintenance - are exactly the type of minimal involvement that Social Security doesn't count toward earnings limits. What's been so valuable about this thread is seeing the consistency in responses from people with actual experience. Multiple community members have confirmed that similar Airbnb setups have been successfully treated as unearned income without affecting their Social Security benefits. I'd strongly echo the advice about getting written confirmation from SSA about your specific situation. After reading about the inconsistent phone support some people have experienced, having official documentation seems crucial. When you write to them, be sure to emphasize the minimal nature of your services and that you're not providing hotel-like amenities or daily guest services. Your tiny house investment sounds like it's been a real blessing - generating $1,200-1,500/month in additional income while staying within Social Security rules is exactly the kind of financial stability that can make all the difference during this transition. Best of luck with everything, and thank you for asking such an important question that's clearly helped many people in similar situations!

I'm new to this community and wanted to express how incredibly helpful this entire discussion has been! As someone who may face a similar situation in the future with Social Security benefits and rental income, reading through all these detailed responses has been so educational. What really stands out is the unanimous consensus from community members with actual experience - your Airbnb situation clearly falls into the passive rental income category rather than self-employment. The minimal services you provide (basic cleaning between guests, responding to messages) combined with your neighbor helping with maintenance creates a clear picture of passive rental activity that shouldn't count toward your earnings limit. The practical advice about getting written confirmation from SSA is brilliant. Given all the stories about inconsistent phone support, having official documentation seems absolutely essential. I love how specific everyone has been about what to emphasize when contacting them - the distinction between cleaning only between stays versus daily hotel-like services really helps clarify the difference. It's also really touching to see how this rental income is helping people maintain financial stability during such a challenging life transition. Your tiny house investment sounds like it's providing exactly the kind of financial cushion that can make all the difference while staying within Social Security rules. Thank you for asking such an important question - this thread is going to be an invaluable resource for anyone in similar circumstances!

One thing I wanted to add that might be helpful - if you're still working at 64, you should also consider the earnings test impact on any benefits you might claim before your full retirement age. If you earn over the annual limit ($22,320 for 2024), Social Security will reduce your benefits by $1 for every $2 you earn above that threshold. This applies to both your own retirement benefits AND survivor benefits if claimed before FRA. So if you're planning to keep working, it might make sense to delay claiming until you either reduce your earnings or reach full retirement age, depending on your specific financial situation. Also, don't forget that as a divorced spouse, you have the advantage of being able to claim survivor benefits without your ex-spouse having to file first (unlike spousal benefits while he's alive). This gives you more flexibility in timing your claim.

As someone who recently went through a similar situation with my ex-spouse's survivor benefits, I wanted to share a few practical tips that might help you navigate this process: 1. Document everything - Keep records of your marriage dates, divorce decree, and any correspondence with SSA. You'll need proof of the 10+ year marriage when you apply. 2. Consider getting a Social Security statement estimate for yourself now so you can compare your projected benefits at different claiming ages. This will help you evaluate the switching strategies others mentioned. 3. When you do speak with SSA, ask specifically about "deemed filing" rules if you're considering claiming before your FRA. Sometimes claiming one benefit automatically triggers an application for another, which could affect your strategy. 4. If your ex-husband has other ex-spouses from marriages of 10+ years, don't worry - survivor benefits aren't reduced when multiple people claim on the same record (unlike some other benefit types). The earnings test point that Amina raised is crucial if you're still working. At $65K salary, you'd definitely want to factor that into your timing decision. Good luck with your SSA appointment - having all these questions prepared will make it much more productive!

Sean, as someone who just found this community while researching my own Social Security filing, I want to add my voice to everyone else's reassuring messages! I'm 64 and have been putting off filing because I was worried about similar issues with my investments. After reading through this entire discussion, I'm amazed at how consistent everyone's experience has been - your CDs and mutual funds absolutely will NOT affect your Social Security retirement benefits. What really struck me was how many people mentioned they had even larger investment amounts than yours and faced zero issues. The key insight that helped me understand this was realizing that Social Security retirement is an EARNED benefit based on our decades of payroll tax contributions - not a means-tested program that examines our current financial situation. The SSA already calculated what we're entitled to based on our work history, and our current assets are completely irrelevant to that calculation. I love how multiple people explained that only EARNED income from working (wages/self-employment) above $22,320 can reduce early retirement benefits - investment income like interest and dividends doesn't count at all toward the earnings test. Thank you for asking this question! It's given me the confidence to finally move forward with my own application. This community is incredibly helpful, and it's clear that your neighbor was confusing regular Social Security with SSI (which does have asset limits but is a completely different program). You can absolutely file with peace of mind knowing your $75k in investments won't cause any problems whatsoever!

Sean, I just want to echo what everyone else has shared here - your investments absolutely will NOT affect your Social Security retirement benefits! I'm new to this community but have been researching this exact question for months as I approach my own filing decision. What really helped me understand this was learning that Social Security retirement benefits are based entirely on your work history and the payroll taxes you paid over your career. The SSA doesn't even ask about your current assets during the application process because they're completely irrelevant to the benefit you've already earned. The confusion often comes from people mixing up different programs. Your neighbor was probably thinking of SSI (Supplemental Security Income), which does have strict asset limits, but that's a welfare program for people with very low income and resources. Regular Social Security retirement is completely different - it's an insurance benefit you've paid into for decades. Your CDs and mutual funds generating interest and dividends won't count toward the earnings test either. Only wages from actual employment or self-employment income above $22,320 in 2025 can reduce your benefits when filing early. It's such a relief to see so many people in this thread who've successfully gone through this process with similar or even larger investment amounts. The consistent message gives me confidence to move forward with my own application too. Thanks for starting this discussion - you've helped more people than just yourself!

I'm about 3 months into receiving my SS retirement benefits and can absolutely confirm what everyone else is saying about the early deposits! Mine consistently arrives 2-3 days ahead of the official date through my credit union. When I first started getting them, I was so excited thinking I could rely on this pattern to schedule my bills earlier and get better cash flow. But thankfully I found this community before making that mistake! The stories about holiday disruptions and occasional exact-date arrivals really opened my eyes. Now I budget everything around the official payment date and just treat the early deposits as a nice little bonus - sometimes I'll grab lunch out or pick up something I've been wanting when the money hits early, but never anything critical. It's such a relief to know this early pattern is normal and common, but even more valuable to learn from everyone's experiences about not getting too comfortable with it. This thread should be required reading for all new SS recipients!

I'm completely new to this - just approved for SS benefits and still waiting for my first payment to arrive next month. This whole discussion has been incredibly enlightening! I had no idea that early deposits were even a possibility, so I was planning to just expect my payment exactly on the official date. Now I know I might get a pleasant surprise with an early arrival, but more importantly, I understand why I shouldn't count on it for any financial planning. The stories about holiday disruptions and overdraft fees from people who got too comfortable with early deposits really drive home the importance of staying conservative with bill scheduling. I'm definitely going to stick with budgeting around the guaranteed payment date and treat any early deposits as a nice bonus. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread is like a masterclass in SS payment management for newcomers!