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.

As someone new to understanding these Social Security rules, this thread has been incredibly helpful! My grandmother is in a similar situation - she's a retired teacher receiving a pension and has been affected by WEP reductions on her own Social Security benefits. I had no idea there were two different provisions (WEP and GPO) that could affect people differently. It sounds like for widows like Luca's mom, the GPO is the main concern, while for people like my grandmother who worked in jobs that didn't pay into Social Security, it's the WEP that reduces their own benefits. Does anyone know if there are other resources besides calling Social Security directly to get personalized estimates of how the proposed changes might affect someone's specific situation? My grandmother is 78 and really struggles with phone calls, so I'd love to help her figure out what these potential changes could mean for her monthly income.

Thank you all for this detailed discussion! I'm new to understanding these Social Security provisions and this has been so educational. I work with seniors through a local community organization and I'm constantly hearing confusion about WEP vs GPO - this thread really clarifies the differences. One thing I wanted to add for anyone in similar situations: if you're helping an elderly parent or relative navigate this, consider reaching out to your local Area Agency on Aging. Many of them have benefits counselors who specialize in Social Security issues and can provide free one-on-one assistance. They're often more patient than busy SSA offices and can help walk through all the "what if" scenarios if the legislation passes. Also, for those whose family members are struggling financially while waiting for potential changes, don't forget about programs like SNAP (food assistance), LIHEAP (utility assistance), and state pharmaceutical assistance programs. Many seniors who qualify don't realize these programs exist or think their income is "too high" when it actually isn't. Keeping my fingers crossed that this legislation finally makes it through - these provisions really do create unfair hardships for people who dedicated their careers to public service.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Khalid. Going through this process while grieving is incredibly difficult. Based on my experience helping a family member navigate this same situation, I can confirm what others have said - you should receive the November 23rd payment since it's actually for October when your mother was alive the entire month. Social Security benefits are paid a month behind, so that payment is rightfully hers. However, I'd recommend acting quickly to report her death. When I dealt with this, I found that calling the SSA number (1-800-772-1213) very early in the morning (around 8 AM) gave me the best chance of getting through. If that doesn't work, definitely try going to your local office as a walk-in - many offices will prioritize death reports even without appointments since they're time-sensitive. Also, make sure to inform your bank about the situation so they're aware that Social Security payments will be stopping after this final October benefit. This can help prevent any confusion if SSA accidentally deposits funds that need to be returned later. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Khalid. Losing a parent is heartbreaking, and having to navigate government bureaucracy during grief makes it even harder. Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like you should receive the November 23rd payment since Social Security pays a month behind - so that deposit would actually be for October when your mother was alive the entire month. One thing I'd suggest is trying to call SSA at different times of day if the morning doesn't work. I've heard that sometimes calling right after lunch (around 1-2 PM) when call volume might be lower can help. Also, if you do go to the SSA office in person, bring a copy of the death certificate if you have it, or at least the funeral home information - it can speed up the process. Please take care of yourself during this difficult time. This community has given you great guidance, and it's clear people here understand how overwhelming this process can be.

I'm a new member here and just stumbled across this thread while searching for help with the exact same issue! I've been trying to log into my SSA account since yesterday and no verification texts are coming through on my phone (also Verizon). I was starting to think there was something wrong with my account or my phone settings. Reading through everyone's experiences has been such a huge relief - it's clearly a widespread problem with SSA's text verification system right now. I'm definitely going to try the email verification method that everyone is recommending. I need to access my account to check my earnings history for retirement planning. Thank you all for sharing your solutions and experiences! This community seems incredibly helpful for navigating these government service issues. It's so reassuring to know there's a reliable workaround while SSA fixes their text system.

I'm experiencing the exact same issue! Been trying to log into my SSA account for the past few days and no verification texts are coming through on my Sprint phone. I was getting really worried that something was wrong with my account or that I'd been locked out somehow. After reading through all these helpful comments, I'm definitely going to try the email verification method right away. I need to access my account to download my tax documents before the filing deadline. It's such a relief to know this is a widespread system problem with SSA's text verification and not just me! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and the email workaround - this community is incredibly helpful for navigating these government service issues. Hopefully SSA gets their text system fixed soon, but at least we have a reliable solution in the meantime.

This thread has been absolutely incredible - thank you all for creating such a comprehensive resource! As someone who's been hesitant to apply for benefits due to scam concerns, I now feel equipped with a solid action plan. The multi-layered verification approach everyone has outlined gives me confidence that I can stay safe while still accessing legitimate SSA communications. One additional tip I'd like to share: I recently learned that you can also report suspected SSA scam calls to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov. While this doesn't help with immediate verification, reporting these attempts helps authorities track scam patterns and potentially shut down operations that are targeting our community. What strikes me most about this discussion is how it demonstrates that staying safe doesn't mean being paralyzed by fear - it means being prepared with the right knowledge and verification tools. The combination of online account management, local office resources, and these verification protocols creates multiple safety nets that let us engage confidently with the legitimate SSA process while filtering out the scammers. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences. This community knowledge-sharing is exactly what we need to protect ourselves and help each other navigate these important life processes safely!

This has been such an incredibly thorough and helpful discussion! As someone who's currently in the middle of my SSA disability application process, I was really struggling with the anxiety of potentially missing important calls while also being terrified of falling for scams. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me exactly the roadmap I needed. What I find most valuable is how this thread has evolved from a simple question about identifying legitimate calls into a comprehensive security strategy guide. The layered approach everyone has described - using online account preferences, local office verification cards, official callback numbers, and specific verification questions - creates multiple safety checkpoints that make the whole process feel much more secure. I'm particularly impressed by how the community has filled in details that official SSA resources don't really address clearly. Things like the inconsistent calling practices (blocked numbers vs local numbers, different times of day) and the specific language legitimate representatives use versus red flags from scammers - these real-world insights are incredibly practical. The point about legitimate SSA staff actually appreciating cautious behavior rather than pressuring people has been especially reassuring. It helps distinguish between professional patience and scammer frustration when someone wants to verify information. I'm definitely implementing several strategies from this discussion, and I love that there's now also the FTC reporting option to help protect the broader community. Thank you all for creating such a valuable resource - this thread should honestly be pinned somewhere as essential reading for anyone navigating SSA processes!