I'm glad to see this got sorted out for you! Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful for others reading this thread - there's also something called a "restricted application" strategy that used to be available, but it was phased out for people born after January 1, 1954. Since you mentioned you're turning 63, you likely don't qualify for this option, but it's worth mentioning that Social Security rules have changed over the years. Also, if you haven't already, consider creating a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov. You can see your benefit estimates there and even get personalized projections for different claiming ages. It's really helpful for planning purposes and much easier than trying to get through on the phone! Best of luck with your retirement decision - sounds like you've got a good handle on things now.

I'm new to this community but have been lurking and reading through posts like this because I'm in a similar situation (turning 62 next year). This thread has been incredibly helpful! One thing I wanted to add that I learned from my financial advisor - it's also worth considering your overall health and family longevity when making these decisions. If you have reason to believe you might not live as long (health issues, family history), taking benefits earlier might make more sense even with the reduction. But if you expect to live well into your 80s or 90s, the math often favors waiting for larger monthly payments. Also, don't forget about Medicare enrollment! You'll need to sign up for Medicare at 65 even if you're not taking Social Security yet. That's a separate decision but important to keep in mind for your overall retirement planning. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this discussion - I've learned so much from reading all your experiences and advice!

I'm 59 and also navigating survivor benefits while facing the overwhelming task of downsizing after losing my husband 6 months ago. This entire discussion has been incredibly reassuring and educational for me as someone new to this community! What strikes me most is how consistent everyone's experience has been - that selling personal belongings you've owned clearly doesn't count toward the SSA earnings test. The distinction between "disposing of personal property" versus "running a business" makes perfect sense when explained this way, and hearing from so many people who have actually done this successfully gives me tremendous confidence. I'm planning to implement the practical strategies shared here: keeping a simple spreadsheet with item descriptions and "personal property" notations, spacing out my listings over time, and taking photos of items in our home before listing them. The fact that most items will likely sell for much less than we originally paid actually reinforces that this is asset disposal rather than income generation. The emotional support in this thread has been just as valuable as the practical guidance. Knowing that others found parts of the downsizing process therapeutic and freeing gives me hope that this can be part of my healing journey rather than just another overwhelming burden to manage while grieving. Thank you all for sharing your experiences so openly and creating such a supportive space. This discussion has transformed my anxiety about potentially affecting my benefits into actual confidence that I can handle this process responsibly. Time to start that spreadsheet and begin this necessary but difficult journey!

I'm 57 and have been on survivor benefits for about 14 months now after losing my wife. I went through this exact same worry when I started downsizing last year! What really helped me was calling SSA directly (yes, the wait was brutal - over 2 hours!) but the representative was crystal clear: selling your personal belongings that you've owned for years is NOT considered earnings for the annual earnings test. She specifically used the phrase "disposal of personal property" and said they see this situation all the time with survivor benefit recipients who need to downsize. I ended up selling quite a bit - furniture, my wife's craft supplies, books, kitchen gadgets we had duplicates of, even some jewelry. Not a single issue with my benefits. The key is keeping it obviously personal rather than business-like. I spaced things out over about 6 months, kept a simple notebook with what I sold and for how much, and most everything sold for way less than we originally paid anyway. The emotional side is tough - going through decades of shared memories packaged as "stuff" - but it was also oddly freeing to see things go to people who would actually use them rather than just sitting in storage. Take your time with the process and don't let benefit worries stop you from doing what you need to do for your living situation. You're absolutely in the clear here!

I'm experiencing the exact same issue! My estimate dropped by $156/month about 6 weeks ago with no changes on my end. I'm 62 and planning to retire at 66, so this is really concerning for my financial planning. After reading all these responses, I'm realizing this might be more of a systemic issue with their estimation system than something specific to individual accounts. I'm definitely going to try the detailed Retirement Estimator that StarStrider mentioned and start documenting my estimates monthly like PaulineW suggested. It's frustrating that we can't rely on these tools for accurate retirement planning, but I'm glad to see I'm not the only one dealing with this. Has anyone had success getting a clear explanation from SSA about why these fluctuations happen so frequently?

I'm also new to this community and dealing with a very similar situation! My estimate just dropped by $98/month last week with no changes to my work history or retirement plans. I'm 61 and planning to retire at 65. Reading through all these experiences is both reassuring (that I'm not alone) and alarming (that this seems to be such a widespread problem). I'm definitely going to start tracking my estimates monthly and try the detailed Retirement Estimator that several people have mentioned. It's really concerning that something so critical for retirement planning can fluctuate this much without explanation. Has anyone tried contacting their local SSA office in person rather than calling? I'm wondering if face-to-face might yield better results than the phone system that seems to be so problematic. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it's helping me understand this isn't necessarily a mistake on my account specifically.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Serene. This is such a challenging situation that many working widows face. The SSA representative was correct about the earnings test - at $85,000 annually, you're significantly above the 2025 limit of $22,320, which would completely offset your widow's benefits through the reduction formula. However, I'd strongly encourage you to get specific written calculations for your situation. Given that your husband was receiving $2,800/month, your potential widow's benefit could be substantial (likely close to that amount). It might be worth exploring whether strategically reducing your work hours could result in a net financial gain when you factor in the widow's benefits you'd receive. For example, if you could reduce to part-time and earn around $50,000, you might receive partial widow's benefits that, combined with your reduced wages, could exceed your current $85,000 salary. The key is getting SSA to run the exact numbers for different scenarios. Also remember that any benefits withheld due to earnings aren't lost forever - they're recalculated and restored when you reach your full retirement age. And once you hit your FRA at 66 and 10 months, you can earn unlimited income without any benefit reductions. Definitely worth getting a comprehensive analysis of your options!

I'm really sorry for your loss, Serene. This is such a difficult situation to navigate while dealing with grief. The SSA rep was correct about the earnings test, but I'd definitely encourage you to get more detailed information about your specific case. One thing that might be worth exploring is whether you could benefit from reducing your work schedule strategically. With your husband receiving $2,800/month, your potential widow's benefit could be quite substantial. If you could reduce your income to, say, $45,000-50,000 by going part-time, you might actually come out ahead financially when you add in the partial widow's benefits. I'd recommend visiting your local SSA office and asking for written calculations showing your potential widow's benefit amount and exactly how the earnings test would apply at different income levels. Sometimes seeing the actual numbers can reveal opportunities that aren't obvious from a basic phone consultation. Also, don't forget to ask about your filing strategy for when you reach your full retirement age. Depending on your own work history, you might be able to claim widow's benefits at your FRA while letting your own retirement benefit grow until age 70 - but that only makes sense if your own benefit would eventually be higher. The system is frustratingly complex, but getting those detailed calculations will help you make the best decision for your situation!

One thing to add that might help with your planning - you can actually see how your benefit estimate changes by using the retirement estimator on ssa.gov and plugging in different retirement ages. It will show you the projected benefit at 62, full retirement age (67), and 70. While it won't show you exactly which years are being used in the calculation, it does factor in the assumption that you'll keep earning at your current level until the retirement age you select. This can give you a clearer picture of how much those extra working years might benefit you financially.

Just wanted to add something important that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you had any years where you earned above the Social Security wage base (the maximum amount subject to SS taxes), those years might be more valuable than you think. For example, in 2023 the wage base was $160,200. If you earned more than that in any year, only the wage base amount counts for SS purposes, but it still gets the full inflation indexing when they calculate your benefit. So a year where you earned $160,200 in 2023 might actually be worth more in the calculation than a year where you earned $180,000 but the excess didn't count for SS. Just something to keep in mind when estimating which of your years will make the top 35!