Just to clarify, you can report non-covered employment in the detailed calculators on SSA.gov, but it's not included in the quick calculators or MySocialSecurity estimates unless you specifically add that information. If you have around 27 years of substantial earnings under Social Security, your WEP reduction should be about 45% of the maximum possible reduction. As you work more years with substantial earnings under Social Security, the WEP reduction decreases. Also worth noting: if your combined benefits from both Social Security and your non-covered pension are low enough, the WEP guarantee provision might limit how much can be taken away.

Yes! Each additional year of substantial earnings (about $30,800 in 2025) will reduce your WEP penalty. At 27 years now, if you add 3 more years to reach 30 total years of substantial earnings, the WEP would no longer apply at all. Even one more year would reduce the penalty. SSA automatically recalculates your benefit each year if you continue working, so you don't need to request it. Just make sure those part-time earnings reach the substantial earnings threshold each year.

UPDATE: I just checked with a relative who works for SSA (not giving advice in official capacity). They said the most effective approach is to: 1. Request an appointment specifically with a Technical Expert or Claims Specialist 2. Use the specific terms "ARF recalculation due to work deductions" and "earnings recomputation for post-entitlement work" 3. Bring your W-2s and proof of benefit repayments They also mentioned that for the ARF adjustment, you don't have to wait until FRA - it can be processed earlier, but the increase won't be applied until you reach FRA. For the earnings recomputation, that can be processed and applied immediately if those earnings years would increase your benefit.

u should just go to ur local office instead of callin.. my dad always says u get better service in person than on the phone with gov stuff

One more thing I forgot to mention - if you initiated the application (which you did), it's much more likely that any follow-up is legitimate. Scammers typically make unsolicited contact. But still use the verification methods everyone's suggested. Also, if they do call, write down the date, time, and what was discussed. This documentation can be helpful if there are any issues later with your application.

@Concerned_Applicant To answer your question about delays - calling back did NOT delay my application at all. The SSA rep told me they actually appreciate when people are careful because it means fewer fraud victims they have to deal with later! Just make sure you return the call within 48 hours and you should be fine.

i got a similar letter once but it actually WAS a payment delay for me lol. turned out i had forgotten to respond to some review form they sent. make sure you always open all mail from ssa even if it looks like junk

glad u got it sorted out. my mom gets confused by these notices too. she's on survivors benefits and gets so worried whenever she gets anything in the mail from social security.

While there's no earnings limit after FRA, there are still some important considerations when working while collecting Social Security: 1. Taxation - up to 85% of your Social Security benefits may be taxable depending on your combined income 2. Medicare premiums - higher income can trigger IRMAA surcharges on your Part B and D premiums 3. If you're receiving any means-tested benefits, additional income could affect eligibility So while the earnings test goes away, your overall financial picture might still be impacted by working while collecting benefits after FRA.

Thank you everyone for the helpful responses! I think I've got a clearer picture now. Since I'm currently 64, I'm going to hold off on collecting until I reach my FRA at 67. This way I can avoid the earnings limit altogether, plus I won't take that permanent reduction in my monthly benefit. The information about potential tax implications and Medicare premiums was also really helpful to know about. I appreciate all the advice!

You should really consider if you want to take benefits at 62. My sister did that and now she regrets it because she's getting $340 less EVERY MONTH than if she'd waited till 67. That adds up to a lot over time. Do you need the money right now? If not, waiting is usually better unless you have health issues.

To answer your follow-up question about estimates: Yes, you can get estimates before applying. Create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov if you haven't already. It will show your own benefit estimates at different ages, though not spousal benefits. For ex-spouse benefits, if you know your ex's date of birth and approximate earnings history, you can use one of the online calculators like Open Social Security or AARP's calculator to get rough estimates. The most accurate way is to speak with an SSA representative who can run calculations based on both records. Also, a key point many miss: If you're eligible for both your own retirement and an ex-spousal benefit, filing at 62 means you take a reduction on BOTH potential benefits. The claiming strategy can get quite complex depending on your specific situation.

my couisn works at the SS office and she says they're totally swamped right now with baby boomers retiring. she said definitely apply at least 4 months early and maybe even 5 if u can

Based on all the advice here, I'd suggest applying in August 2024 for your January 2025 start date. That gives you 5 months, which should be plenty of buffer for any processing delays. And don't forget to create your my Social Security account online before you apply if you haven't already - it makes the whole process much smoother.

Just a quick update - I checked the SSA's Twitter account and they finally acknowledged the website issues. They posted about an hour ago that they're

Thank you for this update! I don't use Twitter so I would have missed this. At least there's an official timeline now. I appreciate everyone's help and suggestions!

One important thing to note: improper use of dedicated account funds can result in serious consequences. SSA can remove you as representative payee, require repayment, and in some extreme cases, pursue misuse penalties. Always get written approval before using any funds from the dedicated account. That said, there are some additional exclusions that might help in your situation. If your daughter receives SSI (not SSDI), certain expenses that prevent her from living in an institution might qualify for dedicated account use. This could potentially include housing expenses if you can document how they prevent institutionalization. I recommend keeping detailed records of every conversation with SSA, including representative names and direct quotes about what is and isn't allowed in your specific case.

just wondering but did u apply for snap benefits and housing assistance? when my kids got on ssi we qualified for both + energy assistance. might help with the bills while u figure out the retroactive stuff

When my husband got approved for SSDI, we were told the kids qualified but we had to apply separately. Noone told me I could get benefits too! Now its been 8 months and I'm worried I missed out on thousands of dollars. Can I still apply and get backpay?

I just wanted to update everyone - I was able to use Claimyr to get through to SSA yesterday and the agent was incredibly helpful! She confirmed both my children qualify for about $900 each per month, and I qualify for about $900 as their caregiver. However, due to the family maximum, we'll get a total of about $3,550 for all three of us combined (instead of $2,700). She also helped me schedule an appointment at our local office next week to complete the application since some documents need to be verified in person. Thank you all for your advice and support - this additional income will make a huge difference for us while I figure out our new normal.