I'm glad I found this thread! I'm in a similar situation but with a twist - my husband is also considering filing for his own retirement benefits early while staying on SSDI. Does anyone know if him switching from SSDI to regular retirement benefits would affect my potential widow benefits? I assume my widow benefit would be based on whatever he's receiving at the time he passes away, whether that's SSDI or retirement benefits. But I want to make sure before we make any decisions about his filing strategy.

This is such a great discussion! I work as a benefits counselor at a local senior center and see so much confusion about this exact issue. The key thing that many people don't realize is that Social Security treats your own retirement benefits and survivor benefits as completely separate calculations. One additional tip I'd add: if you're planning to take your own benefits at 65 but think you might be eligible for higher widow benefits later, you can actually apply for both types of benefits when the time comes and SSA will automatically pay you whichever is higher. This is called "deemed filing" - you don't have to choose one or the other permanently. Also, for anyone reading this thread, I always recommend getting a written estimate from SSA showing your projected widow benefits at different ages. They can provide this even while your spouse is still alive. Having it in writing helps avoid the confusion that comes from verbal explanations that might vary between representatives. The documentation advice from Dylan is spot on - I always tell clients to request written confirmation of any benefit calculations or policy explanations they receive.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation and your post really resonates with me! I'm 64 and have been on early retirement benefits for about two years. Like you, I work part-time (at a local bookstore) and got caught off guard this year when some unexpected overtime during our holiday rush pushed me over the earnings limit. What I've learned from my research and talking to others here is that your FRA year (2026) will definitely be more manageable. You'll get that higher earnings limit (likely around $59,000-60,000) that only applies to your January-July earnings, and the penalty rate drops from $1-for-$2 to $1-for-$3 if you do go over. Plus once you hit FRA in July, you're completely free from earnings limits forever! For your current $1,240 overage, they'll probably withhold around $620 from your early 2026 benefits, but you should get advance notice. One thing I'm planning to do differently next year is have a conversation with my manager about getting advance notice of busy periods so I can make informed decisions about extra shifts. The tracking spreadsheet idea that others mentioned sounds really smart too. I'm going to start monitoring my earnings monthly instead of just hoping I stay under the annual limit. It's frustrating to navigate these rules, but we're both so close to FRA when all this stress goes away permanently. Hang in there!

I'm also approaching my FRA next year (turning 67 in August 2026) and have been dealing with similar earnings limit stress! What really helped me prepare was calling SSA in October to get specific information about my situation. They confirmed that for 2026, the earnings limit for the months before FRA will be around $59,520, and crucially, they only count earnings from January through July (the month before I reach FRA). One thing I learned that might help you: if you're concerned about going over the limit again next year during your busy spring season, you can actually request that SSA temporarily suspend your benefits for specific months when you know you'll be earning more. This gives you more control than having them surprise you with withholdings later. Also, make sure you understand both the annual AND monthly tests for your FRA year. Even if your total January-July earnings are under $59,520, if you earn more than about $4,960 in any single month before FRA, they might still withhold benefits for that specific month. The good news is that July 2026 will be here before you know it, and then you can work unlimited hours without any penalties! I'm counting down the days myself. All these calculations and stress will finally be behind us.

I'm also turning 70 this year (in August) and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Just wanted to add one more consideration that I learned from my experience helping my parents with their Social Security applications - make sure you have all your documentation organized well before you apply in May/June. Besides the obvious documents like birth certificate and bank info for direct deposit, you might also need your most recent tax return, especially if you had any self-employment income in recent years. I also recommend having your spouse's Social Security number handy if you're married, as the application asks about household information. One thing that really helped my dad was creating a simple checklist of all the information needed before starting the online application. That way he didn't have to stop halfway through to hunt for documents. The application does let you save your progress, but having everything ready makes the process much smoother. Also, if you've moved recently or changed your name for any reason, make sure SSA has your current information on file before applying. You can update this through your my Social Security account online. The wait until September will definitely be worth it for that maximum benefit amount - you've come this far, so don't leave any money on the table by starting early!

Just to add another perspective as someone who recently went through this process - I turned 70 in December 2022 and can confirm everything others have said about waiting until your actual birth month. The delayed retirement credits really do make a huge difference! One thing I found helpful was setting up automatic transfers from my savings account to cover monthly expenses during the months leading up to my 70th birthday. Since I knew exactly when Social Security would start (December), I could plan those bridge payments in advance rather than having to think about it each month. Also, when you do apply online, pay attention to the direct deposit setup section. They'll ask for your bank's routing number and your account number - have a voided check handy or your bank statement, because you want to get this right the first time. There's nothing worse than having your first payment delayed because of incorrect banking information! The online application took me about 45 minutes to complete, and I received a confirmation number immediately. About 2 weeks later, I got a letter confirming my application was received and processing. My first payment arrived right on schedule the month after I turned 70. Hang in there - you've made it this far, and September will be here before you know it!

I'm so deeply sorry for the loss of your son. What you're going through - grieving while simultaneously fighting to secure your granddaughter's future - requires incredible strength and courage. I've been following your journey throughout this thread, and I'm truly amazed by how thoroughly you've prepared for your SSA appointment. The combination of tax records, hospital documentation, family statements, timeline organization, and your legal guardianship papers creates an exceptionally compelling case for establishing paternity. What really stands out to me is how this community has rallied around you with both practical advice and emotional support. From Claimyr recommendations to suggestions about treatment facility records, social media evidence, and even Father's Day cards - everyone has contributed to building what sounds like an unshakeable foundation for your granddaughter's claim. Your dedication to honoring your son's memory through this process is beautiful. Despite his struggles with addiction, his work history represents years of contribution to the system, and ensuring his daughter receives those benefits is a meaningful way to let his efforts continue providing for her future - especially as she approaches college age. The 75% benefit rate for survivor benefits can make a real difference in her life trajectory. You're not just navigating bureaucracy; you're securing her educational opportunities and financial stability during some of the most important years of her development. Going into next week's appointment, remember that you've done everything possible to advocate for her rights. SSA has extensive experience with these complex family situations, and your thorough documentation should give them everything they need for approval. Wishing you both strength and success. Your granddaughter is incredibly fortunate to have such a devoted advocate during this heartbreaking time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, and I want to echo what everyone else has said about how incredibly well you've prepared for this process. Reading through this entire thread has been both heartbreaking and inspiring - the way this community has come together to help you build such a comprehensive case is really something special. As someone who works in social services, I can tell you that you've gathered exactly the kind of multi-faceted evidence that SSA looks for in paternity cases. The tax returns are particularly strong because they show official acknowledgment over multiple years, and combined with the hospital records and family statements, you've created what we call a "preponderance of evidence" that should clearly establish the parent-child relationship. One small administrative tip for your appointment - bring everything in a organized folder with copies and originals separated. SSA appreciates when families come prepared, and it helps move the process along more efficiently. Also, don't be surprised if they schedule a follow-up appointment or request additional documentation - that's completely normal and doesn't mean there are problems with your case. Your granddaughter is incredibly fortunate to have you advocating for her during this difficult time. The survivor benefits will provide important financial security as she finishes high school and considers her future education plans. You're giving her such a gift by ensuring she receives what her father's work history has earned her. Thinking of you both as you head into next week's appointment. You've got this!

As someone new to understanding these complex benefit interactions, I'm finding this discussion incredibly valuable! I'm 58 and currently working in a non-teaching government position, but I spent 15 years as a public school teacher in Ohio before switching careers. My spouse also worked for Norfolk Southern Railroad for 25 years before retiring. Reading through everyone's experiences, it's clear that the interaction between teacher pensions, Social Security, and railroad benefits is much more complicated than I initially thought. The mentions of WEP and GPO are particularly concerning - I had no idea that my teaching years could impact both my own Social Security benefits AND any potential railroad spousal benefits. A few questions for this knowledgeable group: Since I left teaching and have been paying into Social Security in my current government job for the past 8 years, does that change how WEP might affect my benefits? And has anyone dealt with the situation where you have BOTH a teacher pension AND a different government pension from the same state system? I'm also curious about the recommendation to contact the Railroad Retirement Board - should I wait until I'm closer to 60 to reach out, or is it better to start getting information now? Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world insight that's impossible to find in the official publications!

As a newcomer to this community and retirement planning in general, I'm amazed by how complex these benefit interactions are! I'm 57 and have been teaching in California for 25 years (CalSTRS system), plus I have about 10 years of Social Security credits from before and during summers. My husband recently started working for BNSF Railway, so I'm trying to understand if I might eventually be eligible for railroad spousal benefits too. Reading through all your experiences, it's clear I need to start educating myself now rather than waiting until I'm ready to retire. The mentions of WEP potentially reducing my Social Security and GPO affecting spousal benefits are really eye-opening - I had no idea these provisions even existed! A couple of questions for this knowledgeable group: Does anyone know if CalSTRS pensions are treated the same as other state teacher pensions for WEP/GPO purposes? And for those dealing with railroad spousal benefits, is there a minimum number of years your spouse needs to work for the railroad to qualify you for benefits? Thank you all for sharing your real-world experiences - this is so much more helpful than trying to decipher government websites on my own! It sounds like I need to start making some calls to get actual estimates rather than just worrying about what might happen.