doesn't SS also look at your highest 35 years of earnings? so if your making good money now wouldn't that also increase your benefit amount?

After reading all the advice here, I'd suggest considering these options based on your $86,000 salary: 1. Claim at FRA (67) while continuing to work: You'll get your full SS benefit plus your salary, but will pay taxes on up to 85% of your SS benefits. 2. Delay claiming until 70 while working: Your SS benefit increases 8% annually until age 70 (24% total increase). If you don't need the money immediately, this provides a higher lifetime benefit, especially valuable if you expect longevity. 3. Hybrid approach: If you need some income but not all, you could consider reducing work hours and starting SS at FRA, or working full-time but delaying SS. Your current high salary will continue replacing lower-earning years in your SS calculation, potentially increasing your benefit regardless of when you claim.

@retiring_in_2025 - Yes, you can get a rough estimate. Log into your MySocialSecurity account and download your earnings record. The SSA has a calculator called

Thanks! Just checked my record and my lowest earning years in the 90s were between $20-30K, so replacing one of those with $125K should make a meaningful difference. I'll download that calculator and play around with it this weekend.

Also worth noting that different states treat Social Security benefits differently for state income tax purposes. Some states don't tax Social Security at all, while others follow the federal rules or have their own formulas. What state are you in? That could affect your overall tax situation.

After reviewing the numbers again, you should be fine for federal taxes on your SS benefits as long as you don't have other significant income sources this year. To avoid surprises, consider having 10-15% withheld from your IRA distribution for federal taxes. The financial institution will have a form for this. This way you won't face an unexpected tax bill next April. And Pennsylvania, where you mentioned you live, does NOT tax Social Security benefits or retirement account distributions if you're over 59½, so you're set on the state tax front as well.

my dad just went through this whole thing and was so confused by all this FRA and earnings test stuff. he ended up waiting until his FRA to claim just to avoid the headache lol

Based on everything you've shared, you're approaching this correctly. Let me summarize to make sure everything is clear: 1. You're subject to the ANNUAL earnings test of $62,160 for 2025 (not the monthly test) 2. Only your earnings from January through November 2025 count toward this limit 3. As long as you stay under $62,160 through November, no benefits will be withheld 4. In December 2025 when you reach FRA, a separate higher limit applies ($16,560) 5. After you reach FRA in December, no earnings limits apply at all Keep track of your earnings, report your estimates to SSA, and you should be all set!

This is all so CONFUSING!! I've been trying to figure this stuff out for my mom who's 61 and the rules make NO sense! So if the OP waits till her FRA doesnt the tax thing go away completely? I thought once you hit full retirement age they stop caring about the earnings limit??? Thats what the SS lady told us but maybe I misunderstood...

Thank you ALL for the helpful information! I'm definitely leaning toward waiting until at least 65 or maybe my full retirement age of 67 before claiming. Since my husband will still be working and we'd hit that 85% taxable threshold, it makes more sense to wait and get the higher monthly amount. I think I'll try to schedule an appointment with SSA to go over my specific numbers and options. I'll check out that phone service someone mentioned if I can't get through on the regular line. One last question - if I wait until my husband retires at 67 and then we both claim at the same time, would that be the most advantageous approach? Or should one of us claim before the other?

Everyone here is overthinking this... just have ur son pay "rent" by writing a check each month and depositing it back in his account later if u don't actually need the $. That's what my cousin does with her disabled daughter. SSA doesn't track where the money goes after he pays u.

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I'm going to create a spreadsheet tracking ALL household expenses and calculate his 1/3 share. I'll make sure to include property taxes, home insurance, and internet that I wasn't counting before. I'll also set up bank transfers instead of the cash payments we've been doing. I think I need to contact our local office to request that PMV determination so we can get an official calculation. If I have trouble getting through to them, I might try that Claimyr service since it sounds like it could save a lot of time. It's frustrating that SSA makes this so complicated, but I'm determined to make sure my son gets his full benefit. He deserves it, and every dollar makes a difference in his quality of life.

To directly answer your question: The earnings you're generating now will only increase your benefit if: 1. They're higher than your lowest indexed earnings year currently being used in your calculation (likely yes if replacing a zero) 2. The recalculation results in a benefit increase of at least $1 (they round down to the nearest dollar) It's important to understand that the actual increase might be small. For example, if you're earning $15,000 this year and it replaces a zero in your calculation, your benefit might increase by just $10-20 per month. This is because the earnings are averaged over 35 years, and the benefit formula is weighted. However, keep working as long as it's not a hardship for you. Those small increases can add up over time, especially if you live a long life. Plus, there's always the chance that Congress could modify or eliminate WEP in the future, which would make those earnings even more valuable.

Social Security automatically recalculates your benefit each year after your employer reports your earnings (typically after you file taxes). If your earnings increase your benefit, they'll make the adjustment and send you a notice. The increase would be effective January of the year following the work. However, there can sometimes be delays in this process. If you believe you should have received an increase based on recent earnings and haven't seen it after filing taxes for that year, it might be worth contacting SSA. Also, regarding your earlier question about trying to reach the substantial earnings threshold to reduce WEP: If you're able to work more without affecting your quality of life, it could be worthwhile. Each year of substantial earnings above 20 reduces your WEP penalty by 5%. So if you're currently at, say, 22 years of substantial earnings, getting to 25 would reduce your WEP penalty by an additional 15%.

i always thought disability paid more than regular retirement benefits is that true? will i lose money when i turn 67 next year?

Thank you all for the helpful responses! It sounds like I don't need to worry about any changes to my payment amount, which is a huge relief. And it's great to know about the earnings limits being removed - that actually opens up some possibilities I hadn't considered before. This forum has been way more helpful than the hours I spent searching the SSA website!

my neighbor got survivors benefits and worked part time and it reduced her check because she was under FRA. theres an earnings limit around $19000 i think? just something to know if you're still working

Just a tip - when you apply for survivor benefits, they'll ask about your marriage date since it had to be at least 9 months to qualify (with some exceptions). You said you're just short of 32 years, so that's WAY more than enough, but be prepared with the exact date. They're STICKLERS for documentation so bring extra copies of everything!

I swear the whole social security system is DESIGNED to be confusing! My sister lost out on thousands because an SSA rep told her wrong information about survivor benefits. She couldn't even file a complaint that went anywhere. The whole system needs an overhaul!

Based on what you've shared, your best strategy would likely be to compare these two approaches: 1) Take your survivor benefit at FRA (when it's not reduced) and switch to your own retirement at 70 (after it's grown by 32%) 2) Take your reduced retirement benefit now and switch to the full survivor benefit at your FRA The right choice depends on your specific benefit amounts and your life expectancy. Generally, if you're in good health and expect to live past your early 80s, maximizing the higher benefit by delaying it can pay off significantly over time. I'd recommend contacting SSA directly to get detailed benefit estimates, and consider consulting with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security claiming strategies.