Based on everything you've shared - your continued part-time work, your good health, and your husband already receiving benefits - waiting until at least your Full Retirement Age would likely be more advantageous than claiming early. This would avoid both the permanent early claiming reduction and the earnings test reduction. You might even consider waiting until 70 for your maximum benefit, especially if family longevity suggests you'll live well into your 80s or beyond. I recommend using the calculators on SSA.gov to compare different scenarios based on your exact earnings record, or consulting with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security claiming strategies.

I'm glad you found this discussion helpful! Just to reinforce what others have said - the old "claim and switch" strategies are definitely off the table now. One additional thing to consider: since you mentioned you're in good health and planning to work part-time, you might also want to look into whether those continued earnings could potentially increase your benefit calculation. Social Security uses your highest 35 years of earnings, so if your current part-time work years are higher than some of your earlier lower-earning years, it could bump up your Primary Insurance Amount. The SSA recalculates benefits annually if you have qualifying earnings. Just another factor to weigh as you decide on your timing!

I'm currently in my first year of collecting Social Security at 64 while working part-time, and this discussion has answered so many questions I didn't even know I had! The explanation about wage indexing is particularly eye-opening - I never realized that my current earnings might be more valuable than they appear because of how SSA adjusts historical wages. I'm definitely going to start that monthly earnings spreadsheet that was suggested and set up annual reminders to check my Social Security account each December. One follow-up question: for those who've experienced these recalculations, do you typically get any notification from SSA when your benefit increases, or do you just notice the higher amount in your monthly deposit? I want to make sure I don't miss it when it happens!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a somewhat similar situation - started collecting at 65 (my FRA) but then got offered a great consulting opportunity. Even though I don't have to worry about the earnings limit anymore since I'm at FRA, I was still wondering about the recalculation benefits. Based on everything I've read here, it sounds like I should definitely take the job since any earnings will just add to my benefit without any downside. The point about wage indexing was particularly enlightening - I had no idea that current earnings could be more valuable than they appear when compared to decades-old wages. I'm going to set up that tracking system and annual account review that everyone recommends. It's amazing how this one question opened up such a comprehensive discussion about all aspects of working while collecting benefits!

As someone who actually made this decision 3 years ago at 62, I can share my experience. I took early Social Security despite the earnings test because I wanted the guaranteed income stream, even though it was reduced. The key was having a solid plan for my other income sources. Since 401k withdrawals don't count toward the earnings limit (as confirmed by everyone here), I was able to supplement my reduced SS benefits with strategic 401k distributions. Yes, I'm getting less SS than if I had waited, but I've had 3 years of retirement that I absolutely don't regret. My advice: calculate your total retirement income needs, factor in healthcare costs until Medicare kicks in, and remember that nothing is guaranteed - having some income now versus potentially more later was worth it for me. But everyone's situation is different! The peace of mind from having that SS check coming in every month, even if smaller, has been valuable.

Great discussion everyone! As someone who went through this exact situation 2 years ago, I can confirm that 401k withdrawals absolutely do NOT count toward the Social Security earnings limit. I was initially terrified about this too and spent weeks researching before retiring at 63. The SSA website specifically states that only "wages" and "self-employment income" count toward the earnings test - not retirement account distributions, pensions, investment income, or any other passive income sources. I've been taking about $40k annually from my 401k to supplement my early SS benefits and it hasn't affected my Social Security payments at all. However, like others mentioned, do pay attention to the tax implications! Those 401k withdrawals are taxable income and can push you into the range where your SS benefits become taxable too. Also consider spacing out larger withdrawals over multiple years if possible to manage your tax bracket. The retirement income puzzle has many pieces, but at least you can cross the earnings test off your worry list when it comes to 401k money!

As someone who's relatively new to understanding Social Security benefits, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation where my spouse is on SSDI and I'm approaching 62. The conflicting information from different SSA representatives is really concerning - it seems like this happens way too often based on everyone's experiences here. I'm definitely going to apply online when I'm eligible rather than risk getting incorrect information over the phone. It's frustrating that people are losing out on benefits they're entitled to because of inconsistent guidance from the agency itself. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and clearing up the confusion!

As a newcomer to this community and someone who's just starting to learn about Social Security benefits, I want to thank everyone for sharing their experiences! This thread has been incredibly educational. It's really eye-opening to see how many people have received conflicting information from SSA representatives about the same issue. The consensus here seems clear that you CAN apply for spousal benefits at 62 while your husband is on SSDI, which is great news for those in this situation. I'm bookmarking this discussion for future reference since I may be facing similar decisions down the road. It's reassuring to have a community where people share real-world experiences and help each other navigate these complex government systems. The advice about applying online to avoid phone confusion seems particularly valuable given all the stories about inconsistent information from different representatives.

This is exactly the solution I needed! I've been locked out of my MySocialSecurity account for over a week trying to access my disability appeal status. The login loop was driving me absolutely insane - I'd enter my credentials, it would accept them, then immediately bounce me back to the login screen with no error message whatsoever. I tried everything I could think of - clearing cache and cookies, different browsers, even tried from my phone and my local library computer. Nothing worked and I've spent countless hours on hold trying to reach someone at SSA with zero success. Just tried your incognito mode trick and I'm finally in! First attempt, worked like a charm. I honestly can't believe something so simple fixed what felt like a complete technical meltdown. You just saved me from having to take time off work to drive to my local office. It's really frustrating that we have to figure out these workarounds ourselves for such basic government services, especially when people are trying to access critical information about their disability appeals and benefit status. The fact that there's no official notice about this widespread issue on their website is pretty disappointing. But I'm so grateful for communities like this where people share real solutions that actually work. Based on all these comments, you've clearly helped tons of people who were probably ready to give up entirely. Thank you for taking the time to share this fix!

This is such a helpful thread! I've been having the exact same login loop problem for the past week trying to access my account to check my benefit verification letter. I tried everything - clearing cookies, different browsers, even restarted my router thinking it was a connection issue. Nothing worked and I was getting so frustrated since I need that letter for my apartment rental application. Just tried the incognito mode fix and it worked immediately! Can't believe something so simple solved what felt like a major technical disaster. You definitely saved me from having to take time off work to visit the SSA office. It's really concerning reading all these comments about how widespread this issue is, yet there's zero acknowledgment on their website. When people depend on accessing critical benefits information for housing applications, loan approvals, and other essential needs, we shouldn't have to figure out browser workarounds. But I'm so grateful for communities like this where we help each other when official support fails us. Thank you for sharing this solution!