Does anyone know if there's a minimum number of hours you need to work to keep getting the stipends? My agency requires at least 36 hours per week to qualify for the tax-free stuff.

One last thing to be aware of - if you go over the earnings limit, it's not a cliff where you lose all benefits. For every $2 you earn above the 2025 limit of $22,320, SSA will withhold $1 from your benefits. So even if you accidentally exceed the limit somewhat, you won't lose everything. Also, in the year you reach Full Retirement Age (FRA), the limit is much higher and the penalty is lower (only $1 withheld for every $3 over the limit). And once you hit your FRA, there's no earnings limit at all.

Quick update: My first payment arrived today as scheduled! Exactly the amount they promised. I'm so relieved this whole process went smoothly. The SSA website said to expect my Medicare premium to be deducted starting with my second payment - is that right?

I wonder if applying right after FRA makes a difference in processing time versus exactly at FRA? I'm turning 67 in August (my FRA is 67) and debating whether to apply 3 months early as recommended or wait until my birthday month. Anyone have experiences with this timing question?

I wanted to add one more point: keep in mind that survivor benefits can be affected by your earnings if you're still working. In 2025, if you earn more than $22,750 while collecting benefits before your FRA, SSA will deduct $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit. The earnings test no longer applies once you reach your full retirement age.

One thing I wanted to mention - when I was applying for survivor benefits, my friend gave me a tip to specifically request an appointment with a claims specialist who handles survivor benefits. Not all reps are equally knowledgeable about all benefit types. It made a huge difference in my case because the specialist caught something that would have reduced my benefit that the previous person I spoke with missed completely.

To follow up on your question about the monthly earnings test: Yes, you're understanding correctly. In your first year of retirement, SSA can apply the monthly test. How it works: For any month you earn under $1,920 (the 2025 monthly limit) AND don't perform substantial services in self-employment, you'll receive your full benefit regardless of your annual total. So if you retire March 31st: - January-March: You'd lose benefits for months you earned over $1,920 - April-December: You'd receive full benefits as long as those special wage payments (bonus/vacation) are properly documented as not counting for those months This is why the SSA-131 is crucial - it ensures those special payments aren't incorrectly counted as monthly earnings after you've stopped working. Regarding Medicare premiums: Your award letter should have explained the multiple deductions, but many don't notice this detail. The first check typically includes catch-up premiums for any months you were Medicare-eligible before benefits began.

The whole earnings limit thing is just another way the government punishes people who want to work. Why should they penalize you for getting a bonus you EARNED? The system is completely broken. And don't get me started on how they handle Medicare premiums...

i know this is off topic but does anyone know if the spouse benefit is affected if the disabled person is getting a pension from a job that didnt pay into social security?? my husband gets a firefighter pension and i'm worried about WEP or GPO or whatever its called

Thank you all for the helpful advice! I think we're going to start with the online application but make sure to explicitly mention the spousal benefits in the remarks section. Then we'll follow up with a phone call to confirm everything is being processed correctly. If we run into trouble getting through on the phone, I might try that Claimyr service that someone mentioned. It's reassuring to hear from people who've been through similar situations. I'll update this thread once we get everything sorted out in case it helps someone else down the road. I really appreciate all your insights!

Let me address a few key points about your situation: 1. For couples with separate finances, the standard "one delays, one claims early" advice often doesn't apply. 2. With your savings level ($390,000), you can easily afford to delay claiming. 3. The 8% per year increase (actually about 8.33% per year after FRA) is a guaranteed return that's hard to beat elsewhere. 4. Women typically live longer than men, meaning you have a higher statistical likelihood of benefiting from maximized benefits. 5. If you're both in excellent health with family longevity, delaying is generally the mathematically optimal choice. One thing to consider: the optimal strategy also depends on tax implications. Since you're drawing from retirement accounts during the delay period, check how this affects your tax bracket compared to taking SS now and smaller 401(k) distributions later.

Just want to say its so refreshing to see someone who has almost $400K saved!!! So many posts here are ppl who have nothing saved and are trying to live on just SS. Good for you for being responsible!

Has anyone used the new SSDI online application?? I heard they made it easier to apply online instead of calling but not sure if that's true???

Thank you all for the helpful information! I'm going to start gathering my medical records and look into disability attorneys in my area. I'm still nervous about the application process and potential wait time, but at least now I know that IF I get approved, I'll receive my full benefit amount without reduction. That's a huge relief. I'll also check out that Claimyr service when I need to call SSA - sounds much better than sitting on hold all day with my painful joints! I'll update this thread once I get started with the process in case it helps others with similar conditions.

One more important thing to understand: if some of your benefits are withheld because you exceed the earnings limit in 2025, they're not permanently lost. Once you reach FRA in January 2026, the SSA will recalculate your benefit amount to credit you for the months when benefits were withheld. This results in a permanent increase to your monthly benefit amount going forward. Many people don't realize this - exceeding the earnings limit isn't completely punitive. You eventually get the money back through higher monthly payments for the rest of your life.

Thank you all for such helpful information! I think I now understand my options much better. I'm going to: 1. Work my normal schedule January-June 2025 2. Start my SS benefits in July 2025 as planned 3. Carefully track my earnings to stay under approximately $2,000/month from July-December 4. Make sure any December work that gets paid in January is properly accounted for And most importantly, I'll try to get an official confirmation from SSA directly before finalizing my plans. It's frustrating how complicated they make these rules, especially for those of us who miss the calendar year cutoff by just a few weeks!

my head hurts trying 2 understand all this lol

To summarize the accurate information in this thread: 1. When you claim spousal benefits at your Full Retirement Age, you'll receive 50% of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is the benefit he would receive at his FRA regardless of when he actually claimed. 2. Your husband's decision to claim early at 62 reduces HIS benefit by approximately 30%, but it does NOT affect the calculation of YOUR spousal benefit (as long as you wait until your FRA). 3. If YOU claim spousal benefits before YOUR FRA, then YOUR spousal benefit would be permanently reduced. 4. You'll receive either your own retirement benefit or your spousal benefit, whichever is higher - not both. 5. Your own retirement benefit can increase with delayed retirement credits if you wait past FRA, but spousal benefits do not increase after FRA. This is a perfect example of why personalized planning is so important with Social Security - the rules can be complex but understanding them can significantly impact your lifetime benefits.

One thing nobody mentioned - be prepared for sticker shock when you see how the spousal benefit actually calculates. I was expecting to get 50% of my husband's benefit on top of my own, but that's NOT how it works. You only get the DIFFERENCE between your benefit and 50% of his, and then that difference is reduced because you took early retirement. So if you're getting $1400 and his full benefit would be $3000, you don't get $1500 more. You might only get a couple hundred dollars additional. The SSA does a terrible job explaining this.

Just wanted to add that sometimes the SSA makes mistakes in these calculations. My aunt applied for spousal benefits last year and they initially calculated it wrong. She had to appeal and it took 4 months to fix. Make sure you understand how they calculate your amount and check their math!