Great discussion here! As someone who went through this exact process last year, I can confirm that requesting a voluntary suspension is definitely the way to go. A few additional tips from my experience: 1. When you call SSA, be very clear that you want to "voluntarily suspend" your retirement benefits - not "withdraw" or "terminate" them. The terminology matters. 2. They'll ask for the effective date of suspension. I recommend making it the month before you start your new job to be safe. 3. If you're enrolled in Medicare Part B and having premiums deducted from your SS check, you'll need to set up direct billing with Medicare. SSA should help coordinate this, but follow up to make sure it happens. 4. Consider keeping a log of all your interactions with SSA - dates, times, representative names, confirmation numbers. This saved me when there was a processing delay. The math really works in your favor here. I suspended at 63 and restarted at my FRA - my monthly benefit went from $1,620 to $2,340. Plus no stress about earnings limits or overpayments. Congratulations on the job opportunity!

Another option worth considering is visiting your local SSA field office in person if you're having trouble getting through by phone. I know it's not always convenient, but sometimes face-to-face interactions can be more effective, especially for important requests like benefit suspension. You'll need to bring photo ID and your Social Security card. The staff there can process your suspension request on the spot and give you written confirmation right away. Plus, they can help set up the Medicare premium billing transition at the same time. I've found that local offices often have shorter wait times than the national phone line, and you won't have to worry about getting disconnected mid-call. Just call ahead to check their hours and see if appointments are available - some offices do walk-ins but scheduling ahead can save you time.

I'm a newcomer here but went through this exact situation with my late spouse's benefits about 3 years ago. The advice about NOSSCR is spot-on - I ended up working with a Social Security disability attorney who also handled survivor benefits, and it made all the difference. One thing I learned that might help: you can actually request what's called a "hypothetical benefit calculation" from SSA if you frame it as needing the information for financial planning purposes. It's not guaranteed they'll provide it, but I had better luck when I explained I was trying to coordinate with my financial advisor for retirement planning. Also, regarding the family maximum - this was crucial in my case. When I started receiving survivor benefits, it didn't reduce my stepson's DAC benefits because we weren't hitting the maximum, but every situation is different. The attorney was able to help me understand exactly how the family maximum would apply before I filed. The windexing calculation really can result in significantly higher benefits than you might expect, especially for deaths that occurred 10+ years ago. In my case, my husband's indexed earnings were about 40% higher than his actual final year earnings due to wage growth indexing. Don't feel bad about needing professional help with this - the system is intentionally complex, and even some SSA employees don't fully understand all the nuances of survivor benefits with windexing.

I'm in a very similar boat as a widow trying to navigate these decisions! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly enlightening - I had no idea about some of these strategies and resources. The suggestion about requesting a "hypothetical benefit calculation" for financial planning purposes is something I'm definitely going to try. I've been frustrated by the same runaround from SSA offices where they say they can't help until you actually apply. One thing I wanted to add from my research: I've found that some SSA offices have "claims specialists" who are specifically trained in complex survivor benefit cases. When you call or visit, you might want to ask specifically to speak with someone who handles windexing calculations for survivor benefits from deaths that occurred many years ago. Regular customer service reps often don't have access to the more sophisticated calculation tools. Also, for those mentioning NOSSCR attorneys - I reached out to one last month and learned that many of them will do a preliminary consultation at no charge specifically for survivor benefit timing questions, since these cases don't typically involve appeals (unlike disability cases). They only charge if you need ongoing representation for disputes or appeals. The complexity of coordinating the earnings test, family maximums, windexing, and optimal claiming strategies really does seem to require professional guidance. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this thread has been more helpful than three trips to my local SSA office!

As someone who went through this exact transition with my autistic daughter two years ago, I want to emphasize something that really helped us - start keeping a detailed "Activities of Daily Living" journal RIGHT NOW. Document every single thing your son needs help with over the course of a week: Does he need reminders to shower? Help managing his schedule? Assistance with grocery shopping or meal planning? Problems with social interactions at work or school? The SSA disability examiners really focus on functional capacity, and having concrete examples of daily limitations is incredibly powerful. We kept a simple notebook for about a month before the application, writing down things like "needed help understanding bus schedule," "required step-by-step guidance to prepare a sandwich," "became overwhelmed and had meltdown when routine changed." This documentation was crucial during the interview process because it showed the real-world impact of his autism beyond just the medical diagnosis. The examiner specifically asked for examples of daily challenges, and we had pages of specific incidents to reference. Also, if your son has any repetitive behaviors, sensory issues, or communication difficulties that would interfere with work, make sure those are thoroughly documented by his doctors. Good luck - you're already ahead of the game by starting this process early!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now with my 17-year-old son who has autism! Reading through all these responses has been so incredibly helpful - I had no idea about so many of these resources and requirements. I especially appreciate the advice about starting the Activities of Daily Living journal and contacting the developmental disabilities services office. My son needs help with so many things that I just do automatically now - like helping him understand social cues at his part-time job, reminding him to take breaks when he gets overstimulated, and walking him through any changes to his routine. One thing I wanted to add that our family support coordinator mentioned - if your son is currently receiving services through your state's autism waiver or similar program, those service coordinators are often really knowledgeable about the SSI transition process too. Ours has been helping us understand how his current support services might change or continue once he transitions to adult benefits. The timeline everyone mentioned (starting 3-4 months early) seems so important. I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service to get through to SSA since our local office has been impossible to reach. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it's making this scary transition feel much more manageable!

As someone who just went through this process at 62, I want to emphasize how important it is to get that confirmation call in! I thought my online application went through perfectly, but when I called a few days later to verify, they had somehow recorded my MOE as two months later than I requested. The agent was able to fix it immediately over the phone, but if I hadn't called to check, I would have lost two months of benefits. She told me this happens more often than you'd think - sometimes it's a system glitch, sometimes it's user error during the online application. My advice: apply online for convenience, but ALWAYS follow up with a phone call within a week to confirm your Month of Entitlement is exactly what you wanted. Don't assume anything is automatic or correct just because you submitted it online. Better safe than sorry when it comes to your retirement income!

As someone new to this community and approaching my Social Security filing decision, I want to thank everyone for this incredibly detailed discussion! The information about Month of Entitlement and the verification process is invaluable. I'm particularly grateful for the real-world experiences shared here - especially the warnings about system glitches and the importance of that follow-up call. It's clear that while the online application is convenient, human verification is still essential to ensure everything is recorded correctly. One additional question for the group: For those who had to make corrections to their MOE after the initial application, did this cause any delays in your overall processing time? I'm wondering if catching and fixing these issues early actually saves time in the long run, or if it can potentially slow things down while they make the corrections. Also, has anyone had experience with getting a written confirmation of their MOE after that verification call, or is the phone confirmation typically sufficient? I tend to be cautious with important financial matters and would love to have documentation beyond just the eventual award letter. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread is going to be incredibly helpful for my planning!

I've been following this discussion closely as someone who made the decision to take SS at 62 while working part-time about 18 months ago. Here's what I wish I had known beforehand: **The Good:** - Monthly SS income provides real peace of mind, even at the reduced amount - Part-time work keeps me engaged and provides extra income without the stress of full-time employment - I've been able to delay touching my 401k, which has continued growing **The Challenging:** - Tracking earnings is more stressful than I expected - I literally have a spreadsheet that I update after every paycheck - Found out the hard way that bonuses and holiday pay count toward the earnings limit (went $300 over one year and had to repay benefits) - Tax season became more complicated with the combination of SS benefits and work income **My Advice:** 1. Build in a buffer - if the limit is $22,320, aim for $20,000 max to account for unexpected income 2. Get everything in writing with your employer about your hour limitations 3. Consider jobs with predictable, steady hours rather than variable schedules 4. Factor in ALL income sources - even small 1099 work adds up The strategy has worked for my situation, but it requires much more active management than I initially anticipated. The financial security has been worth the extra administrative hassle, but everyone's situation is different. Make sure you're prepared for the ongoing tracking and potential complications!

I'm 63 and have been doing exactly this for the past year - taking SS early while working part-time at a local library. Here's my honest take: it's definitely more work to manage than I expected, but it's been worth it for my situation. The biggest surprise was how the earnings limit works in practice. They don't just look at your annual total - if you go over the limit, they withhold entire monthly payments until the overpayment is recouped. So if you earn $25,000 instead of staying under $22,320, you don't just lose the difference - you might lose several months of benefits entirely while they balance things out. I've found success by: - Taking a job with absolutely fixed hours (20 hrs/week, no exceptions) - Turning down all overtime, even during busy periods - Tracking my YTD earnings on a simple calendar every payday One unexpected benefit: having that guaranteed monthly SS income has actually made me a better employee. I'm not desperate for hours or worried about job security, so I can focus on doing quality work without the financial stress. My supervisor has commented that part-time older workers often bring a different perspective and reliability. The key is finding an employer who truly understands and respects your limitations. I was upfront during the interview process and it weeded out places that wouldn't be a good fit. The library has been perfect - they needed consistent coverage for specific shifts and weren't looking for someone to work extra hours. Bottom line: if you need the income now and can commit to careful tracking, it can work well. Just don't underestimate the administrative side of managing it all!