Exactly right! Since you're not yet claiming Social Security benefits, you can work and earn as much as you want without any impact on your future benefits - it can only help. The earnings test only kicks in if you're already receiving benefits before your full retirement age. This is actually a great strategy many people use - work a few years between stopping their main career and claiming SS to boost their calculation. Even if you only worked part-time making $20,000-25,000 per year for 2-3 years, those earnings would replace zeros in your 35-year calculation and could meaningfully increase your monthly benefit for the rest of your life. Plus you'd be paying into the system longer, which never hurts!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation - retired early but not claiming SS yet. One thing I learned from my financial advisor that might be worth mentioning: if you do decide to work part-time to boost those final years, consider jobs that offer flexibility since you don't necessarily need the income right away. Things like seasonal work, consulting in your former field, or even retail during busy periods can be good options. The key is just making sure you're paying into Social Security on whatever you earn. Even earning the equivalent of minimum wage for 20 hours a week could add up to a meaningful increase in your lifetime benefits!

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.