I'm so sorry for your loss and can really empathize with how overwhelming this whole process is. I lost my spouse a few years ago and navigating SSA with two kids was one of the most stressful parts of an already difficult time. A couple of things that helped me that others haven't mentioned: **Local SSA office appointments**: You can actually schedule appointments online at ssa.gov rather than just showing up. This saved me from waiting in long lines and gave me dedicated time with someone who could look at my specific case. **Appeal rights**: If SSA makes any decisions you disagree with (like benefit amounts or eligibility dates), you have 60 days to request reconsideration. I learned this the hard way when they initially calculated my family maximum incorrectly. **State benefits**: Don't forget to check if your state has any additional survivor benefits programs. Some states have small programs that can help with things like college expenses that federal SSA doesn't cover. **Tax planning**: Since you're entering a phase where you'll have benefit income subject to earnings limits, consider meeting with a tax professional who understands SSA benefits. The interplay between benefit reductions and tax implications can be tricky, especially in years where your income fluctuates. You're asking all the right questions and being proactive. That's exactly what your kids need right now. The bureaucracy is frustrating, but you've got this - and this community is here to help when you need it.

I'm so sorry for your loss, and I want to commend you for being such a diligent advocate for your children during this difficult time. Navigating survivor benefits is complicated even under the best circumstances. A few additional points that might help: **Retroactive benefits**: When you apply for mother's benefits, SSA can pay up to 6 months of retroactive benefits if you're eligible. So if there's any delay in processing, you won't necessarily lose those months completely. **Direct deposit setup**: Make sure to set up direct deposit for your mother's benefits when you apply. Paper checks can get delayed, and with your work schedule, having reliable electronic payments will be one less thing to worry about. **Annual review process**: Once you're receiving benefits, SSA will send you an annual earnings report form to complete. Keep all your pay stubs and tax documents organized throughout the year - it makes this process much smoother. **College transition planning**: While survivor benefits don't continue for college, there are other financial aid opportunities specifically for children who have lost a parent. Organizations like the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation and local community foundations sometimes have scholarships available. The system is definitely not intuitive, but you're asking all the right questions and getting good advice from this community. Your persistence in working through these details will pay off for your family in the long run. Don't hesitate to come back here if you run into any issues during the application process!

Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses! What a relief to know I have complete flexibility between FRA and 70. I think I'll probably wait at least a year past my FRA since I'm still working, but it's great to know I can claim anytime if circumstances change. Really appreciate all the insights about delayed retirement credits being calculated monthly too - that wasn't clear from what I was reading online.

Just want to add another perspective as someone who claimed at 67 and 8 months. I originally planned to wait until 70, but my employer offered an early retirement package that was too good to pass up. The flexibility to claim Social Security at exactly the right time for my situation was invaluable. One tip I'd share - when you do decide to claim, apply about 3 months before you want your first payment. There can be processing delays, and you want to make sure everything goes smoothly. Also keep detailed records of when you apply because that date determines your exact benefit calculation with the delayed retirement credits. The monthly calculation really does make a difference. In my case, those extra 20 months of delayed credits added about $280 to my monthly benefit compared to claiming at FRA. Over a lifetime, that's a substantial amount!

One more thing to consider: if you return to work, especially at a good salary like $55,000, you'll be adding to your lifetime earnings record. Social Security calculates your benefit amount based on your highest 35 years of earnings. If this new job would replace a lower-earning year or a zero in your calculation, you could actually increase your benefit amount going forward, beyond just the adjustment for withheld benefits.

Just want to add one practical tip that helped me when I was in a similar situation: consider asking your potential employer if there's any flexibility in when you start or how your compensation is structured. Some employers are willing to delay a start date by a few months if it helps with your Social Security situation, or they might be able to structure part of your compensation as benefits rather than salary (which wouldn't count toward the earnings test). It's worth having that conversation since many employers these days are more understanding about Social Security considerations for older workers. Good luck with whatever you decide!

This is such valuable information, thank you for sharing! As someone who recently started receiving Social Security disability benefits, I can absolutely relate to the frustration of getting conflicting information from different representatives. What really helped me was keeping a detailed log of every conversation - date, time, representative's name (when they'd give it), and exactly what was discussed. I also started asking representatives to email me a summary of what we discussed, which many were willing to do through the secure messaging system. One thing I learned is that you can also request to speak with a "Technical Expert" if you're dealing with complex eligibility questions. These are typically more experienced staff who specialize in specific benefit programs. It might save others from having to go through multiple representatives like you did. I'm so glad you trusted your instincts and got the correct information! That $14,500 difference really shows how crucial it is to advocate for ourselves, especially during already difficult times. Your experience will definitely help others who read this know they have the right to question information and ask for supervisors when something doesn't sound right.

This is absolutely infuriating but so important to share! I'm going through something similar right now with my late husband's benefits. The first representative told me I had to choose between my own retirement benefits OR widow's benefits, but couldn't receive both. That didn't sound right to me based on what I'd researched online. When I called back and got a different rep, they explained that I can actually receive widow's benefits now and then switch to my own higher retirement benefits later if they're larger. The difference in my monthly income would be significant! It's scary how confident these representatives sound even when they're completely wrong. I'm learning to always ask "Can you point me to the specific regulation or publication that covers this?" and to request they document their answer in my file. Thank you for encouraging others to push back - it really can make a life-changing financial difference.

As someone who works in Social Security disability advocacy, I want to emphasize that the automatic recalculation process at FRA is one of the most misunderstood aspects of the system. I've seen countless clients panic when they receive notices about benefit withholdings, thinking they're losing money permanently. The key thing to understand is that this isn't a penalty - it's essentially an involuntary delay of benefits that gets corrected later. The system tracks every dollar withheld and converts it into additional monthly income starting at your FRA. In most cases, if you live to average life expectancy, you'll actually come out slightly ahead due to the compounding effect of the higher monthly payments. One tip I always give clients: keep copies of all your SSA correspondence regarding earnings-related withholdings. While the process is supposed to be automatic, having documentation can be helpful if there are any discrepancies when the recalculation happens. Also, don't hesitate to contact SSA directly if you have questions - they're usually quite helpful in explaining how your specific situation will be handled.

I'm in almost the exact same situation as the original poster! Started collecting at 62 this past year and just realized I'm going to exceed the earnings limit by quite a bit. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - especially learning that the recalculation is automatic and that it's not really a "penalty" but more like a delayed benefit. One thing I'm still trying to wrap my head around though is the timing. If I exceed the earnings limit this year (2025) and have benefits withheld, but don't reach my FRA until 2030, will I have to wait all the way until 2030 to see any adjustment? Or does SSA make any interim adjustments along the way? Also, I keep seeing references to keeping documentation, but what exactly should I be saving? Just the SSA letters about withheld benefits, or do I need to track my pay stubs and earnings reports too? I want to make sure I have everything I need in case there are any issues down the road. Thanks to everyone who has shared their experiences - it's made this whole process much less scary!