I just wanted to say how helpful this entire thread has been! I'm in a similar situation - divorced after a long marriage and trying to figure out the best Social Security strategy. Reading everyone's experiences and advice has given me so much confidence about calling SSA. A few key takeaways I'm noting for my own call: - Call right at 8 AM for shorter wait times - Have all documents ready (marriage certificate, divorce decree, ex's info) - Ask specifically for a "benefit estimate comparison" - Write down specific questions beforehand - Don't be afraid to ask for clarification or take detailed notes It's so reassuring to hear from people who've successfully navigated this process. The fact that SSA can give you all the information you need without having to contact your ex is such a relief! Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice that makes all the difference.

I just wanted to echo what everyone else has said - you absolutely do not need to contact your ex-husband to get this information! I went through this exact process about 2 years ago and SSA was very helpful once I got through to them. One thing I'd add that I don't think anyone mentioned - if you're having trouble finding your ex's Social Security number in your old documents, check any old tax returns you might have from when you were married. His SSN would be listed there if you filed jointly. I found mine on a 2010 tax return that I had stored away. Also, when you do get through to SSA, make sure to ask them about the "deemed filing" rules. At 62, if you apply for one benefit, you're automatically considered to be applying for any other benefits you're eligible for, and they'll give you the higher amount. This means you don't have to worry about choosing the "wrong" one - they'll calculate both and give you whichever is better. The whole process was much less stressful than I anticipated. Good luck!

I went through something very similar when I was approved for SSDI about 8 months ago. My lawyer had all the information but seemed focused mainly on discussing the backpay (which makes sense since that's how they get paid). When I pressed for specifics about my monthly amount, they were able to pull up my Notice of Award immediately and give me the exact figures. One thing I wish someone had told me - ask not just for your monthly benefit amount, but also ask when your first payment will actually hit your account. There can sometimes be a delay of 1-2 months from approval to first payment depending on various factors. Also, if you have any other government benefits like food stamps or Medicaid, your SSDI approval might affect those, so you'll want to report the income change to those agencies. The good news is that once everything is set up, SSDI payments are very reliable - same date every month. Hang in there, you've made it through the hardest part!

I work at a local SSA field office and can confirm what others have said - your attorney definitely has access to your Notice of Award through ERE and should be able to provide your monthly benefit amount. The reason some attorneys are vague is because they're mainly focused on the backpay portion (their fee source), but they absolutely have all the details. When you call tomorrow, ask specifically for: 1) Your monthly benefit amount (PIA), 2) Your disability onset date, 3) When your first payment will be issued, and 4) If there are any immediate deductions. Also, regarding the online account issues - we've been having system problems for months and many people can't access their accounts even after approval. Don't worry, this is very common right now. Your paper Notice of Award should arrive within 10-15 business days and will have everything clearly laid out. One more tip: if you need immediate verification of your benefit amount for housing applications, utility assistance programs, etc., your attorney can provide you with a copy of the Notice of Award or write a letter confirming your approval and monthly amount.

Wow, this thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm 59 and starting to think seriously about my retirement timeline, and the HSA/Social Security question has been keeping me up at night. Reading through all these real experiences and expert advice has given me so much clarity. What really stands out to me is how many professional tips have been shared here that you just can't find in official government resources - like the payroll processing delays, getting SSA documentation confirming no Medicare enrollment, and the December 1st "last month rule" for HSA contributions. These are the kinds of details that could make or break your tax situation. I'm definitely going to start preparing now by: - Creating a file with all the key dates and documentation requirements - Checking with my HR department about payroll change processing times - Finding a tax preparer who really understands these HSA/Medicare coordination rules - Looking into those local AARP counseling sessions mentioned This community is amazing - thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences so generously. I feel so much more confident about navigating this process when my time comes!

This has been such a comprehensive and helpful discussion! As someone who's new to this community and just starting to research early retirement options, I had this exact same confusion about HSA contributions and Social Security benefits. What I'm taking away from all the excellent advice shared here is that the key is understanding the difference between Social Security benefits (which don't affect HSA eligibility) and Medicare enrollment (which does). The practical tips everyone has shared are incredibly valuable - especially the timing strategies like stopping HSA contributions 6-7 months before turning 65 to account for Medicare's potential retroactive coverage, and checking payroll processing delays with HR. I'm particularly grateful for the professional insights about getting documentation from SSA confirming no Medicare enrollment, and learning about resources like IRS Publication 969 and local AARP counseling sessions. These are exactly the kinds of details you can't find on government websites but could make all the difference in avoiding costly mistakes. This thread should really be pinned as a reference - it covers every angle of HSA/Social Security coordination that someone approaching retirement might encounter. Thank you to everyone who shared their real-world experiences and expertise!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to echo what others have said - this has been an absolutely fantastic thread to learn from! I'm currently transitioning out of the Army after 12 years of service (2012-2024), so I fall into that post-2001 category where there aren't special earnings credits. But reading through everyone's experiences and expertise has still been incredibly valuable. What really strikes me is how Nina explained that post-2001 military pay still counts toward Social Security just like any civilian job - that's reassuring to know my service years will contribute to my lifetime earnings average. I hadn't really thought about how steady military pay during what might be some of my higher-earning years could actually help my Social Security calculation down the road. I'm definitely going to follow the advice here and create my SSA account to start monitoring my earnings record now, rather than waiting until I'm closer to retirement age. The tip about checking annually while still having easy access to military pay records makes a lot of sense. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge - from the former SSA employee insights to the real-world application experiences. This is exactly the kind of practical, myth-busting information that makes online communities so valuable for service members and veterans!

As a newcomer to this community, I've been following this discussion with great interest! I'm a Navy veteran who served from 1998-2006, so I straddle that 2001 cutoff date that's been mentioned. Reading through everyone's explanations, it sounds like I should have those special military earnings credits for my 1998-2001 service years, but my post-2001 service would just count as regular earnings. This thread has been incredibly educational - I had no idea about the military earnings credits system at all! Like many others here, I'd also heard the DD214 myth from fellow veterans and was planning to bring it when I eventually apply, thinking it would somehow boost my benefits. Now I understand it's really just for verification and documentation purposes if there are discrepancies in my earnings record. I really appreciate how this community combines institutional knowledge from folks like Jessica who worked at SSA, with real-world experiences from people who've actually been through the application process. The practical tips about creating an SSA account to monitor earnings annually, and resources for getting through to representatives when needed, are exactly what I was looking for. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their expertise - you've probably saved a lot of veterans from unnecessary confusion down the road!

Thanks for sharing your experience, Dylan! This is such a helpful thread for anyone dealing with the earnings limit. I'm 64 and considering early retirement benefits while continuing to work part-time, but stories like yours make me realize I need to be much more careful about tracking ALL income sources. One thing I'm curious about - you mentioned the SSA agent said your benefits would increase once you reach full retirement age to account for the months they withheld payments. Do they give you any estimate of what that increase might be? I'm trying to figure out if it's better to wait until FRA to avoid this whole earnings limit mess, or if the eventual benefit increase makes it worth dealing with the complexity now. Also, for anyone else reading this - it might be worth asking your employer about the timing of any bonuses if you're close to the earnings limit. Sometimes they have flexibility on when to pay them out, which could help with year-end planning.

This is exactly why I tell everyone to be super careful about the earnings limit! I learned this the hard way when I first started collecting benefits at 62. The thing that really caught me off guard was that vacation payouts and even unused sick leave payments count toward the limit too - not just regular wages and bonuses. One tip that helped me: I started keeping a running total of my earnings throughout the year in a simple spreadsheet. I include every paycheck, bonus, overtime, etc. That way I can see where I stand at any point and avoid surprises. Some employers will also let you defer bonuses to the next year if you ask early enough, which can be helpful for managing the limit. The good news is that once you get the hang of tracking everything and planning ahead, it becomes much more manageable. And like others mentioned, you're not permanently losing that money - it's just being redistributed to increase your future monthly payments after FRA.