I went through this exact same situation when I started collecting early at 62! Yes, your PTO payout definitely counts toward the $23,400 limit since you received it in 2025. The SSA is very clear that they count income based on when it's RECEIVED, not when it was earned. One thing I learned the hard way - keep meticulous records of ALL your earnings throughout the year. I use a simple spreadsheet to track every paycheck, bonus, and any other income. It's saved me so much stress when dealing with SSA later. Also, since you're planning carefully, you might want to consider having your part-time employer withhold a bit extra for taxes since you'll have both work income AND Social Security benefits this year. The tax situation can get tricky with multiple income sources. Good luck navigating this - the earnings test is definitely one of the more confusing parts of early retirement with Social Security!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Started collecting at 64 in December and got hit with a surprise PTO payout in January that I totally forgot would count toward my earnings limit. It's so frustrating because you think you've planned everything out and then BAM - there goes a huge chunk of your allowable earnings for the year. One thing I discovered that might help you - if you're working part-time and have some control over your schedule, try to spread your remaining earnings evenly throughout the year rather than working more hours early on. That way if any unexpected income comes up (like overtime or a small bonus), you have more flexibility to reduce hours later without completely stopping work. Also, I'd strongly recommend getting everything in writing from SSA about your specific situation. I called three different times and got slightly different answers each time, which made me even more confused. At least with your PTO situation, everyone here seems to agree it counts, but for any future questions you might have, definitely get the official SSA response documented somehow. The whole earnings test system really needs to be simplified - it's way too confusing for people who are just trying to transition into retirement responsibly!

To summarize for your brother: 1. At age 67, he's definitely reached his Full Retirement Age and converted automatically from SSDI to retirement benefits 2. He can earn unlimited income without any reduction in his Social Security benefits 3. He should still report his work activity to SSA as a courtesy and for their records 4. His Medicare coverage continues unchanged 5. The only potential impact is on taxation of his benefits if his combined income exceeds certain thresholds This is one of those rare situations where the news is all good! I'm glad he's feeling well enough to try working again.

Just wanted to add from personal experience - when your brother does notify SSA about returning to work, he can also do it online through his my Social Security account at ssa.gov if he has one set up. It's much easier than trying to get through on the phone! He can report work activity under the "Message Center" section. I did this when I started working after my own conversion from SSDI to retirement benefits, and it was really straightforward. Plus you get confirmation that they received your report, which gives peace of mind.

This entire discussion has been a lifesaver! I'm new to receiving Social Security retirement benefits (just started 3 months ago) and have been so confused about why my deposit timing keeps changing. My bank used to deposit 2 days early consistently, then last month it came on the exact official date, and this month I'm still waiting even though it should have arrived yesterday according to my birth date. Reading through all these experiences, I now realize this is a widespread banking issue and not something wrong with my account or the SSA system. The explanations about FedNow implementation and banks changing their ACH processing policies really clarify what's happening across the industry. I'm going to try several of the strategies mentioned here: - Call my bank's ACH department specifically instead of general customer service - Download the official SSA payment calendar from ssa.gov and add those dates to my calendar - Set up my automatic bill payments for 3-4 days AFTER the official payment date instead of trying to time everything around early deposits - Start treating any early deposits as pleasant surprises rather than something to count on It's really frustrating that banks marketed early deposits as reliable benefits and then quietly changed their policies without proper notice to customers, especially those of us on fixed incomes who need predictable timing for budgeting. But this community has provided such practical solutions for adapting to these changes. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and advice - this kind of collective knowledge sharing is exactly what newcomers like me need to navigate these confusing system 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!

One more IMPORTANT thing no one mentioned - if you DO qualify for father's benefits while caring for kids under 16, you are subject to the SAME earnings limit that affects people who collect early SS retirement. For 2025, if you earn more than $22,320, they reduce your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn over the limit. Your KIDS' benefits aren't affected though. The whole system is designed to PUNISH working parents!!!! It's like they WANT us to be financially dependent. I lost out on thousands because I didn't know this rule when my husband died.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I went through something similar when my husband passed away 4 years ago. The Social Security survivor benefits system is incredibly complex, and I wish someone had explained all these nuances to me earlier. Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like you need to prepare for several key challenges: 1. The "blackout period" gap that everyone mentioned - this really caught me off guard too. You'll want to start building savings now while your kids are still receiving benefits. 2. If you're currently working part-time and might qualify for father's benefits (since your youngest is under 16), definitely contact SSA to find out. But be aware of the earnings limit that could reduce those benefits. 3. Consider speaking with a financial planner who specializes in widow/widower situations. They can help you create a strategy for that gap period and optimize your claiming strategy later. The system really does seem designed to penalize working parents trying to rebuild their lives. It's frustrating, but knowing these rules ahead of time at least lets you plan around them. Hang in there - you're asking the right questions now to prepare for what's ahead.

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.