also remember ur getting less money by taking it at 62!! My brother took his at 62 and only gets like $1787 but if he waited til full retirement age he wouldve got like $2500!! Sometimes its better to wait if u can

One more thing to be aware of - if February 2025 will be your first payment, make sure you have a budget plan for January. Many new retirees are caught off guard when they retire in December but don't receive any payment until February. This creates a gap month with no income. Just wanted to mention this in case you hadn't factored it into your planning.

Has anyone dealt with getting a Social Security office to authenticate documents for residency visa applications?? I'm thinking about Ecuador which needs all these verified documents and it feels IMPOSSIBLE to get an appointment!!!

Another important tip if you're moving to Portugal specifically - they have a favorable tax regime for new residents called the NHR (Non-Habitual Resident) program that might allow you to pay little to no tax on your Social Security benefits for 10 years. Definitely consult with a Portuguese tax advisor who specializes in expats before making your move.

My neighbor fell for something similar last month. The scammers are getting really sophisticated with these SSA emails. They even had a fake website that looked just like the real mySocialSecurity login page. I think they got her bank info before she realized what was happening. She had to cancel all her cards and it was a huge hassle.

Thank you all for the quick responses! I've reported the emails to the fraud department as suggested. I'm a bit embarrassed I almost fell for it, but they really do make these look legitimate. I'll stick to only trusting physical mail from the SSA from now on, and if I need to contact them, I'll use the official website or phone number from my statement.

Coming back to add more info - if your uncle's estate is small enough, many states have simplified procedures for small estates that don't require full probate. You might be able to file a small estate affidavit (the name varies by state) which would legally establish you as the person handling the estate. With that documentation, you could then appeal the SSA decision by providing evidence that: 1. There's no surviving spouse, children, or parents 2. You're the legal representative of the estate 3. You paid the burial expenses You'll need to file the appeal within 60 days of receiving the denial letter. Be sure to include copies of all relevant documentation.

MAKE SURE you file the appeal in time!! SSA is super strict about deadlines and they'll deny you automatically if you're even one day late. We tried to appeal something for my dad and they rejected it because we were 3 days past their stupid deadline. The whole system is rigged!!

One more thing to remember - fixing this isn't just about your retirement benefits. Your Social Security earnings record also affects potential SSDI benefits if you ever become disabled before retirement age, and could impact survivor benefits for your family. So there are multiple reasons to make sure your record is accurate.

just wondering but did you ever file a tax return that year with the wrong ssn? cuz if so the irs shouldve caught it?? or did the employer just report the wrong ssn to ssa but your w2 copy had the right one?

My brother got denied on his first application even though he clearly qualified. Almost everyone gets denied the first time - it's like their standard procedure. Just be prepared for that possibility and know that appeals often have better success rates.

Something else to consider: Since your brother-in-law is 64, if his SSDI application is still pending when he reaches full retirement age (which is likely 66 and some months for someone his age), the application essentially becomes moot. At FRA, he would automatically get his full retirement benefit regardless. So worst case, if his SSDI claim takes a very long time or is denied, he's only looking at 2+ years of reduced benefits if he switches to early retirement now. That said, the backpay from SSDI could still be substantial if he's approved, so waiting is generally the better financial choice if possible.

i forgot to mention my sister had a similar problem but she was getting close to FRA and only had like 6 months to go so she just reduced her work hours for those months to get under the earnings limit and got some benefits. might not work for you if your younger but something to think about if your close

One last thing I'd recommend - schedule an appointment with SSA about 6 months before your FRA to review your survivor benefit eligibility and exact benefit amount. They'll need your ex-husband's death certificate and marriage/divorce records if you haven't already provided them. Also, keep documentation of your ex's earnings history if you have access to it, as survivor benefits are based on his earnings record and sometimes mistakes happen. The SSA's estimates aren't always accurate, so it's worth verifying everything in advance.

I'm wondering if those zero years for caregiving might actually qualify for Caregiver Credits? I've heard some talk about this being considered in congress, but I don't think it's actually a thing yet in the US Social Security system, though it should be! Many other countries give credit for caregiving years. Might be worth asking SSA about this specifically, though I suspect they'll say no...

Thanks everyone for the helpful information! I just spoke with my brother and apparently he HAS received a couple of small increases over the years, but they were so minimal (like $15-20 each time) that he didn't think much of them - he assumed they were just cost of living adjustments. Based on your comments, I'm going to recommend he: 1. Check his my Social Security account to review his earnings record 2. Make sure all his recent higher earnings are properly recorded 3. If everything looks correct but the increases seem too small, try to contact SSA directly I'll let him know about the Claimyr service too since he's been complaining about not being able to get through on the phone. Really appreciate all the help!

My neighbor said to check that your employer actually reported your 2024 wages correctly! His company messed up and it took forever to fix!!! Maybe call your old HR department just to make SURE everything was submitted right??

The WHOLE SYSTEM is designed to pay you LESS than you deserve!!! I've been fighting with them for 2 YEARS about my benefit calculation and they keep giving me the runaround. They're HOPING you won't notice or follow up so they can keep underpaying you. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING and keep calling until they fix it!!!

The ENTIRE social security system is rigged against working people!!! I'm in the same boat - still working at 67 and they penalize you for being productive! Why should your child suffer because you choose to WORK for a living instead of retiring early?? The whole earnings test should be abolished. It's a tax on productivity and hurts families who are trying to support young children.

have u thought about reducing ur hours just enough to get under the limit? might be worth it depending on how much ur kid would get