Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! This is much clearer now. I'll make sure to stay under the $1,950 monthly limit after I start collecting in June, and I won't worry about what I earned earlier in the year. I really appreciate all the advice!

Just wanted to add that it's a good idea to keep detailed records of your monthly earnings after you start benefits. I recommend creating a simple spreadsheet or using a notebook to track your gross wages each month - this will help you stay under the $1,950 limit and give you documentation if SSA ever questions your earnings. Also, if you have any months where you might go over (like if you get overtime or a bonus), you can always reduce your hours that month to stay under the limit. The key is being proactive about monitoring it!

I just joined this community after getting one of these phantom notification emails this afternoon! I was so relieved to find this thread because I was starting to panic when I logged in and found absolutely nothing in my message center. As someone who's relatively new to dealing with SSA systems, I was convinced I had somehow missed something critical about my benefits or that my account had been compromised. The official explanation from the IT specialist has been incredibly reassuring - it's such a relief to know this is just a widespread technical glitch and not a security issue. I was actually about to spend my evening trying to get through to SSA on the phone, but now I know I can just ignore these emails until they deploy the fix at the end of the month. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - this community is amazing for helping newcomers understand what's actually worth worrying about versus what's just government system malfunctions!

I just experienced this exact same thing this morning! Got the notification email around 7 AM saying I had new messages, but when I logged into my ssa.gov account there was absolutely nothing there. I was really starting to worry that maybe I was missing something important about my benefits or that there was some kind of technical issue with my account. Reading through all these comments has been such a huge relief - especially seeing the official explanation from the IT specialist that this is just a known system bug affecting lots of people. It's so reassuring to know this isn't a security concern and that we don't need to report it. I was actually considering calling the SSA office today, but now I know I can just ignore these phantom emails until they get the notification system fixed at the end of the month. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this community has been incredibly helpful for understanding what's actually worth worrying about versus what's just technical glitches with government systems!

As someone who recently went through this exact transition at 62, I want to share what worked for me and address some concerns I see in this discussion. First, regarding the monthly earnings test that @AaliyahAli mentioned - this is crucial information that many people miss. During your first year of collecting Social Security, you can lose benefits for any month where your NET self-employment earnings exceed $1,860 (for 2025). This is separate from the annual limit and applies regardless of your total yearly earnings. For self-employment, SSA typically uses when income is EARNED rather than when it's received, but with therapy practice billing delays, this can get complicated. I learned to track both service dates and payment dates meticulously. When in doubt, I used the more conservative approach (counting income when earned) to avoid surprises. Here's what saved me: I set up what I called "monthly profit caps" where I aimed to keep my net monthly earnings under $1,500 to stay safely below that $1,860 threshold during my first year. This meant sometimes spacing out sessions or deferring certain types of work to the following month. The tracking spreadsheet suggestions from @StarGazer101 are spot-on. I used a very similar system and it made my year-end reconciliation with SSA completely painless. The 75% alert system is genius - I wish I'd thought of that! One additional tip: consider timing your retirement application strategically. If you apply mid-year, the monthly test only applies to months after you start collecting benefits. This could give you more flexibility if you have seasonal variations in your practice income. Don't let the complexity scare you off - with proper planning and tracking, it's absolutely manageable!

I'm approaching 63 and went through this exact situation last year when I started collecting Social Security while maintaining a small private therapy practice. The amount of detailed, practical advice in this thread is incredible - I wish I'd had access to this level of guidance when I was planning my transition! One thing I wanted to add that helped me tremendously: I found it useful to create what I called "scenario planning" worksheets. I'd map out different monthly income patterns (conservative, moderate, and optimistic) and see how each would affect my annual totals and monthly limits. This helped me make real-time decisions about taking on new clients or scheduling extra sessions. Also, regarding the business expense tracking that several people mentioned - don't overlook smaller but legitimate expenses that can add up over the year. Things like professional journals, online training courses, client materials, even the portion of your home internet and phone used for work if you do telehealth. These might seem small individually, but they can provide meaningful cushion against the earnings limits. For those worried about the complexity of all this - yes, it requires more planning than I initially expected, but the peace of mind that comes from having a clear tracking system and staying well under the limits is absolutely worth it. Plus, once you get through that first year with the monthly earnings test, it becomes much more straightforward. @Margot Quinn, your thoughtful approach to this transition and willingness to plan ahead puts you in a great position to manage this successfully. The foundation of knowledge you're building from this discussion will serve you well!

Before you file, you might want to gather these documents to make the process smoother: - Your birth certificate or passport - Your Social Security card (if available) - Your most recent W-2 or tax return - Direct deposit information (routing and account numbers) - Marriage certificate if you've been married Having these ready will help whether you complete the application in one sitting or save it to finish later.

Just wanted to add one more consideration - if you're still working and earning income, make sure to factor in the earnings test. Even though you're past 70 and the earnings test no longer applies to you going forward, it could affect your retroactive benefits if you had significant earnings in the months you're claiming retroactively (August onward). The earnings test for 2024 is $59,520 annually ($4,960 monthly) for those who reached FRA. Since you're claiming retroactive benefits for months when you were working, SSA will need to verify your earnings for those months. Just something to keep in mind when you apply!

I'm in a similar boat with the GPO mess! Worked for the state for 30 years and couldn't get my late husband's benefits even though I paid into SS for 15 years before switching to government work. One thing I learned from my local SSA office visit last week - they said to NOT file any new applications right now because it could mess up your existing file. Since you already have an approved application from 2019, you're in good shape. They'll just need to recalculate your benefit amount without the GPO offset. The agent told me they're expecting to start processing GPO adjustments in batches starting around May, with payments potentially beginning in June. She said people with existing approved applications (like you) will likely be processed first before new applicants. Also heard from someone at my retirement group that the retroactive payments might go back to January 2025 when the law took effect, but that's not confirmed yet. Cross your fingers! Hang in there - we've waited this long, we can wait a few more months to finally get what we deserve!

As someone who's been through the GPO nightmare myself, I can tell you that your situation is actually pretty straightforward once the new law gets implemented! You're absolutely right to focus on your first husband's survivor benefits - at roughly $1,350 plus all the COLAs since 2019, that's going to be significantly better than the 50% spousal benefit from your current husband's SSDI (which would only be around $875). Since you were already approved in 2019 but received $0 due to GPO, you're in the best possible position. SSA won't need to redetermine your eligibility - they'll just need to remove the GPO offset and start paying you the full amount with all the cost-of-living increases. I've heard similar timelines from multiple sources about implementation starting in May/June, so the March guidance should give you a clearer picture. The key thing is DON'T file any new applications right now - you don't want to complicate your existing approved claim. After decades of this unfair treatment, we're finally getting justice. Just a little more patience and you should start seeing those payments!