I'm new to this community but have been following Social Security rules closely as I approach retirement myself. Based on everything I've researched and what others have confirmed here, your PTO payout definitely counts toward your 2025 earnings limit since you received it in 2025, regardless of when it was actually earned. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet that might be helpful - if you're using tax software like TurboTax or working with a tax preparer this year, make sure to mention your Social Security situation to them early. They can help you plan for the tax implications of having both SS benefits and work income, and some of the newer software versions actually have calculators that can help you model different earning scenarios throughout the year. Also, since you're being so methodical about tracking (which is smart!), consider setting up a simple alert on your phone for the last day of each month to update your earnings tracker. It only takes a few minutes but keeps you from falling behind on the math when you're busy with work and life. The $23,400 limit really doesn't leave much room for error, especially after that PTO payout, so staying on top of it monthly rather than trying to catch up quarterly will save you stress later.

I'm also dealing with the earnings limit as a newer Social Security recipient, and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I wanted to add one more resource that might help - the SSA has a specific publication called "How Work Affects Your Benefits" (Publication No. 05-10069) that goes into detail about the earnings test. You can download it for free from their website and it's much clearer than trying to navigate their main site. One thing I learned from my own experience is to also keep track of any state taxes that might be withheld from your Social Security benefits. Some states tax SS benefits and some don't, but it's another factor to consider when you're budgeting with both work income and benefits. Also, since you mentioned you're 65 and not yet at FRA, remember that the earnings limit increases significantly in the year you reach full retirement age (it goes up to $62,160 for 2025), and they only count earnings before the month you actually reach FRA. So depending on when your birthday is, you might have more flexibility later in the year you turn your full retirement age. Just something to keep in mind for future planning!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm amazed by how helpful and knowledgeable everyone has been in this thread! Reading through all the responses has really educated me about how Social Security works at full retirement age. For your brother, it sounds like he's in an ideal situation - no earnings limits at 67, Medicare continues unchanged, and the SSA actually supports people returning to work when they're able. The advice about reporting his work activity online through his my Social Security account seems like the easiest approach to avoid those frustrating phone waits. I really appreciate how this community comes together to help people navigate these complex benefits. It's encouraging to see someone feeling well enough to consider returning to work after so many years, and it's wonderful that the system is designed to support that transition rather than penalize it. Best wishes to your brother as he explores this new opportunity!

As someone new to this community and still learning about Social Security, this thread has been incredibly informative! It's wonderful to see how everyone has come together to help your brother understand his situation. From all the excellent advice shared here, it sounds like your brother is in a great position - at 67, he's past full retirement age so there are no earnings limits, his Medicare continues unchanged, and he just needs to report his work activity to SSA (preferably through the online portal to avoid phone hassles). What really strikes me is how the system is actually designed to support people like your brother who feel ready to return to work after being on disability. It's encouraging to hear about someone feeling well enough to try working again after 12 years, and it's reassuring that SSA won't penalize him for it. The advice about starting slowly at the hardware store makes a lot of sense too - after being away from physical work for so long, easing back into it would be wise regardless of the benefit rules. Wishing your brother all the best as he explores this new chapter!

This thread has been such an educational read! I'm not yet receiving Social Security benefits but my mom started getting her retirement payments about a year ago, and she's been experiencing the same exact frustrations everyone is describing here. Her credit union used to deposit her payments 3 days early like clockwork, but over the past 6 months it's become completely random - sometimes early, sometimes not, with no explanation from the bank. After reading through all these responses, I finally understand that this is a widespread banking industry issue caused by system changes like FedNow implementation, rather than anything wrong with individual accounts or SSA processing. The practical advice shared here is invaluable - I'm going to help my mom call her credit union's ACH department specifically (instead of general customer service) to get clearer answers about their new policy. The biggest takeaway for me is helping her shift from budgeting around hoped-for early deposits to planning everything based on the official SSA payment calendar dates. We're going to set up her bill payments for a few days AFTER her official payment date (3rd Wednesday based on her birth date) so she never has to stress about timing again. It's really frustrating how banks marketed early deposits as reliable benefits and then quietly changed their policies without proper communication, especially when this affects people on fixed incomes. But this community discussion has provided such practical strategies for adapting. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this knowledge sharing is exactly what families like ours need to navigate these confusing changes!

This entire discussion has been incredibly helpful as someone new to the Social Security system! I'm not receiving benefits yet but will likely be eligible in the next couple of years, so I'm trying to learn as much as possible about what to expect. What really strikes me is how consistent everyone's experiences have been across different banks - the shift from reliable early deposits to unpredictable timing seems to have happened industry-wide around the same timeframe. The explanations about FedNow implementation and ACH processing changes make perfect sense for why we're seeing this now. I'm taking notes on all the practical strategies shared here: - Always budget based on official SSA payment dates (ssa.gov has the calendar) - Contact ACH departments specifically, not general customer service - Set automatic payments for AFTER official dates instead of hoping for early deposits - Treat early deposits as bonuses rather than reliable timing - Use budgeting apps with built-in buffer days It's really disappointing that banks marketed early deposits as benefits then quietly changed policies without clear communication, especially knowing how this affects people on fixed incomes who need predictable financial planning. But this community has done an amazing job sharing workarounds and practical solutions. Thank you all for such a thorough discussion - this kind of collective knowledge sharing is invaluable for understanding these systems before I need to navigate them myself!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Aidan. Reading through all these responses really shows how complicated this system is, but also how much valuable experience this community has to share. One thing I wanted to add that might help with your planning - since you mentioned your younger child has health needs that limit your work capacity, you might want to explore state-specific caregiver support programs. Some states offer respite care, caregiver stipends, or other assistance that could help bridge the financial gap during those difficult periods. Also, regarding the remarriage rule that others mentioned - it's worth knowing that if you do remarry after age 60 and later divorce or become widowed again, you can potentially switch between different survivor benefit records. The rules are complex, but you're not necessarily locked into one choice forever. For immediate next steps based on everything discussed here: 1) Contact SSA about father's benefits while your youngest is under 16, 2) Set up that mySocialSecurity account, 3) Start that automatic savings transfer for the blackout period, and 4) Look into local AARP counseling as Eduardo suggested. You're being proactive by asking these questions now. That alone puts you in a much better position than many people who discover these gaps too late. This community clearly has your back with real-world experience and practical advice.

Welcome to the community, Nathan. I'm sorry for your loss and glad you found this discussion helpful. As someone who's been navigating this system for a few years now, I wanted to add one more resource that might help both you and Aidan - consider reaching out to your state's Department of Social Services or similar agency. Many states have widow/widower support programs that aren't well-publicized but can provide additional assistance during transition periods. Also, if either of you are veterans or have veteran spouses, there may be additional survivor benefits through the VA that run on completely different timelines and rules than Social Security. These can sometimes help fill gaps during the blackout period. The learning curve is steep, but this community really does help make sense of it all. Don't hesitate to ask questions as new situations come up - there's always someone here who's been through something similar and can offer practical guidance. Take care of yourselves during this difficult time. The financial planning is important, but remember that you're also grieving and caring for your families. Be patient with yourselves as you work through all of this.

my neighbor took ss at 62 and regrets it EVERY DAY!! says its the biggest financial mistake he ever made. hes 78 now and always complaining about how much more hed be getting if hed just waited!!

As someone new to this community, I really appreciate reading through all these detailed responses! I'm in a somewhat similar situation (turning 60 soon with a teacher's pension) and this discussion has been incredibly eye-opening. @Sofía Rodríguez - it sounds like the consensus here is pretty clear that waiting makes more sense in your situation. Between WEP, the earnings test, and all the other factors people have mentioned, claiming at 62 seems like it would give you very little actual money to invest. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone here actually done the math on what the breakeven age would be after factoring in ALL these reductions? Like, at what age would the "claim early and invest" strategy actually come out ahead versus waiting for the larger benefit? I suspect with WEP in play, it might be much older than the typical breakeven age of 80 that gets thrown around. Also wondering if there are any recent changes to WEP that might affect calculations? I keep hearing rumors about potential reforms but nothing concrete.