Im getting disability too but I also worked a part time job allowed under the earnings limit. Does that make any difference when I turn 62? They told me I could earn up to $1,550/month without affecting SSDI but don't know if that changes at 62?

I went through this exact same situation three years ago when I turned 62! I was so stressed about potentially losing part of my SSDI payment, but everyone here is absolutely right - nothing changes at 62. Your $1,650 will continue exactly as it is. What really helped me was calling my local Social Security office (I finally got through after several attempts) and they confirmed that SSDI recipients don't face any benefit reductions at age 62. That's only for people who choose to take early retirement benefits. The transition from SSDI to retirement benefits happens automatically at your Full Retirement Age (sounds like 67 for you), and the amount stays identical. You might even get small increases each year with the Cost of Living Adjustments - mine went up about $100 over the past few years. Don't stress about it - your budget will be fine!

Question - what if I'm already receiving SS (since 2023) but never set up withholding? Can I still submit a W-4V now or is it too late?

Thank you all for the helpful advice! Based on everyone's suggestions, I'll wait until I get my award letter (hopefully within the next month) and then immediately submit my W-4V form. I'm going to use certified mail with return receipt so I have proof they received it. I'm also going to reconsider my withholding percentage - I was planning on 10% but might bump it up to 12% based on the combined income with my pension. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who's been both POA and rep payee for my grandmother for the past 3 years. The rep payee process was actually much easier than getting the POA done originally! One tip that helped me: when you call SSA, have your mom's Social Security number, your relationship to her, and a brief explanation of why she needs help managing her benefits ready. They'll ask these questions right away. Also, the annual reporting (Form SSA-623) is really not as scary as it sounds. I just keep a simple spreadsheet throughout the year tracking her SS money - rent, groceries, medical bills, etc. Takes me maybe 30 minutes to fill out the form each year. The peace of mind knowing I can actually communicate with SSA about her benefits is worth the extra paperwork. Good luck with the process!

I'm going through this exact situation with my mom right now and wanted to add a few practical tips that have helped me: First, when you call SSA to start the rep payee process, try calling right when they open at 8am - I found the wait times are much shorter then. If you do use that Claimyr service someone mentioned, it's totally worth it to avoid the phone tree nightmare. Second, bring a folder with copies of everything even if they don't specifically ask for it: her Social Security card, your ID, the POA documents (even though they won't recognize them for SS purposes), any medical records you have, and a list of her monthly expenses. Being over-prepared made my appointment go much smoother. One thing that surprised me is that they actually encouraged me to keep managing her other finances with the POA while handling just the Social Security payments as rep payee. The SSA worker said it's completely normal to wear both hats and they work together well. Also, if your mother's nursing home has a social worker familiar with rep payee processes, they can be a great resource. Ours helped me understand exactly what documentation would be helpful and even offered to provide a letter about mom's care needs if SSA requested it. The whole process took about 5 weeks for me, and having direct communication with SSA has already saved me headaches when a payment was delayed last month. Definitely worth doing sooner rather than later!

we got a letter from ssa about the taxes thing. u can choose to have federal taxes withheld from ur ss payments if u want. i think its 7%, 10%, 12% or 22% options. might be easier than messing with his work withholding

This is such a helpful thread! My husband is in a similar situation - he'll be 67 next year and we've been going back and forth on this decision. Reading everyone's experiences with the tax implications is really eye-opening. I had no idea about the automatic benefit recalculation that @StarStrider mentioned - that's actually a nice bonus! One thing I'm curious about - for those who started collecting while working, did you notice any changes in how your coworkers or management treated you? I know legally there's no requirement to disclose, but I'm wondering if there are any subtle workplace dynamics to consider. My husband is in a pretty competitive field and I worry that even the perception that he might be "one foot out the door" could affect opportunities. Also, does anyone know if there are any advantages to applying online versus in person? We're pretty tech-savvy but want to make sure we don't miss anything important in the process.

I'm new to this community and have been lurking while trying to understand these same rules for my own situation. This thread has been incredibly enlightening! I wanted to add one resource that might be helpful - the SSA Publication 05-10069 "How Work Affects Your Benefits" explains the earnings test rules pretty clearly. You can download it directly from ssa.gov and it has examples that are similar to your situation. Also, I noticed some people mentioned difficulty getting through to SSA by phone. In addition to the 7 AM calling tip, I've had success using their online "Contact Us" form for non-urgent questions. They usually respond within a week with detailed written answers you can refer back to. One last thing - make sure to keep detailed records of your monthly earnings throughout 2025. Even though your January-April total of $42,000 is well under the limit, SSA may ask for documentation when they review your case after you file your 2025 taxes. Having pay stubs organized by month can save you headaches later. Hope this helps, and thanks to everyone who shared their experiences. This community is such a valuable resource for navigating these complicated rules!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share some additional clarity on this topic since I work in retirement planning and see this confusion frequently. The earnings test has three distinct phases that people often mix up: 1. **Before the year you reach FRA**: Lower annual limit (~$23,400 for 2025) 2. **During the year you reach FRA, but before the FRA month**: Higher annual limit (~$62,160 for 2025) 3. **Starting the month you reach FRA**: NO earnings limit whatsoever For your specific situation with FRA in March 2026: - Your $42,000 from Jan-April 2025 falls under the higher limit, so you're fine - From May 2025 through February 2026, you'll still have the higher earnings limit - Starting March 2026, you can earn unlimited amounts The confusion often comes from older rules when FRA was 65-66 for everyone. Now that FRA is 67+ for most people, there's a significant gap between turning 66 and reaching actual FRA. One important note: Even if you exceed the earnings limit, it's not "lost money" - SSA recalculates your benefits upward at FRA to account for months they withheld benefits. But it's still generally better to stay under the limit for cash flow purposes. I'd strongly recommend verifying your exact FRA date on your SSA.gov account, as this determines when your earnings restrictions end completely.