As someone who just went through the FRA application process myself, I wanted to add a few practical tips that might help based on what I learned: First, definitely create your my Social Security account well before you plan to apply - not just to see your FRA date, but also to familiarize yourself with the interface. When you do apply online, the system will ask you to specify your "month of entitlement" (when you want benefits to begin), and you'll want to select the month your FRA falls in, even though you won't receive payment until the following month. Second, keep documentation of when you submit your application. I took screenshots of my confirmation pages because I'm paranoid about these things, and it gave me peace of mind to have proof of when I applied and what I requested. Third, once you're approved, you'll receive a letter from SSA confirming your benefit amount and payment schedule. This usually comes a few weeks before your first payment, so don't panic if you don't hear anything immediately after applying. One last thing - if you're still working when you reach FRA, make sure you understand how the earnings test works (spoiler: there isn't one at FRA, but it's good to know). The SSA website has a retirement earnings test calculator that can help if you're in this situation. Hope this helps ease some of the anxiety around the process! This community has been such a great resource for navigating all these Social Security questions.

I'm approaching my FRA in about 8 months and this entire thread has been incredibly enlightening! I've been stressing about the exact timing for weeks, constantly second-guessing myself about when to apply and when benefits would actually start. Reading through everyone's real experiences has made this so much clearer than any of the official SSA materials I've been trying to decipher. The distinction between "month of entitlement" vs "payment month" that several people explained really clicked for me - I was getting confused by all the references to benefits being "paid for the previous month" on the SSA website. A couple of quick questions for the group: - For those who applied online, did you run into any technical issues with the application system, or was it pretty straightforward? - Did anyone here have to provide additional documentation during the process, or did most applications go through with just the basic information? I'm planning to follow the advice about applying 3-4 months ahead and setting up my Social Security account soon. This community has been such a lifesaver for understanding how this all actually works in practice. Thank you all for sharing your experiences so openly!

This has been an incredibly informative discussion! As someone who will be eligible for SS at 62 in a couple of years, I had no idea about the nuances between different types of pre-tax deductions and how they affect the earnings test calculation. The key takeaway for me is that SSA uses W-2 Box 1 earnings, which already accounts for 401(k) contributions but NOT traditional IRA contributions. That's a crucial distinction I hadn't understood before. I'm also intrigued by the strategies mentioned - particularly the idea of deferring bonuses or PTO payouts as "special payments" and the possibility of withdrawing an application within 12 months if the math doesn't work out. These aren't options I would have known about without this community discussion. For those still working and considering early filing, it seems like the consensus is pretty clear: unless you can get your annual earnings significantly below the limit through reduced hours or part-time work, waiting until closer to FRA makes more financial sense. The earnings test penalty is just too steep for higher earners. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - this practical knowledge is invaluable for retirement planning!

This discussion has been incredibly enlightening! I'm 61 and was considering filing at 62 while continuing to work part-time at around $35,000 annually. Based on what I'm reading here, even at that reduced income level, I'd still be over the earnings limit by about $12,680, which would mean losing roughly $6,340 in benefits. What really struck me was the explanation about how 401(k) contributions reduce your Box 1 earnings but IRA contributions don't affect the earnings test calculation. I've been maxing out both, so I thought I'd be in better shape than I actually am. The idea of negotiating reduced hours or consulting arrangements is particularly appealing. Has anyone had success convincing their employer to restructure their role specifically to help with Social Security planning? I'm wondering if there are creative ways to stay engaged at work while getting under that earnings threshold. Also, the point about benefits being recalculated annually to include higher earning years is reassuring. Even if I wait a few more years to file, these continued earnings at a decent salary should help boost my eventual monthly benefit amount. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed, real-world experiences. This is exactly the kind of practical advice that's impossible to get from the official SSA materials!

This is absolutely infuriating and unfortunately not uncommon. I work as a paralegal at a disability law firm and see these cases regularly. The good news is that your sister's case is NOT subject to Administrative Finality - that 4-year rule doesn't apply here since everything happened so recently. The ALJ made an error in their interpretation. When they found that SSA was wrong and your sister properly reported, they absolutely have the authority to order a full refund of improperly collected funds. I suspect the judge may have confused different types of overpayment cases or applied the wrong regulation. Here's what your sister needs to do immediately: 1. File that Appeals Council review (sounds like she already did - good!) 2. In the appeal, specifically cite 20 CFR 404.502(c) which allows for reopening and revision of determinations 3. Request a complete administrative record review 4. Consider filing a 1696 form to get representation - many attorneys will take these cases on contingency The key argument is that this is a "clerical error" case, not an Administrative Finality case. SSA received her reports but failed to process them correctly. That's their mistake and they cannot keep money collected due to their own processing error. Don't give up - this is absolutely winnable with the right legal approach.

I'm so sorry your sister is going through this - what an absolute nightmare! As someone who's dealt with SSA bureaucracy myself, I can't believe they can just keep money they wrongfully collected even when a judge admits they made the mistake. One thing I wanted to add that I haven't seen mentioned yet - has your sister considered filing a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)? They handle complaints about government agencies taking money improperly, and sometimes external pressure from other federal agencies can help get SSA to actually follow their own rules correctly. Also, definitely document EVERYTHING moving forward - every phone call, every letter, every interaction. Take photos of all documents before mailing them. I learned this the hard way when SSA "lost" paperwork I sent them twice. The legal advice others have given sounds spot-on, especially about this being a clerical error rather than an Administrative Finality issue. Your sister shouldn't give up - $42,000 is life-changing money and she deserves to get it back when she did everything right. Keep fighting!

I just want to echo what everyone else has said and add my own experience - YES, your spousal benefit calculation absolutely includes all the COLA adjustments that have been applied to your husband's PIA since his FRA in 2021! I went through this same confusing process about 6 months ago. Like you, I got wildly different answers from SSA phone reps - one told me COLAs weren't included, another said they were, and a third gave me a number that was way off from what I calculated myself. What finally worked: I visited my local SSA office with my husband's benefit verification letter from his my Social Security account and his most recent SSA-1099. The in-person representative was incredibly helpful and actually showed me on her computer screen how they calculate spousal benefits using the current COLA-adjusted PIA. Your $175 monthly difference is absolutely realistic - when I did the math for my situation (my husband reached FRA in 2020), the difference between using his original PIA versus the COLA-adjusted PIA was about $200 per month! Those annual adjustments really compound over time. The key is to be very specific when you call or visit: ask for the "current PIA with all COLA adjustments applied since FRA." This eliminates any confusion about which number they should use. Don't stress about the 2025 COLA for now - it will automatically be added to your monthly payment once you start receiving benefits. Focus on getting the correct calculation using the 2021-2024 COLA adjustments first. Good luck, and don't give up! The difference is too significant to accept incorrect information.

I'm currently going through this exact same situation and wanted to share what I've learned after finally getting some clarity. You're absolutely right to be confused - the SSA phone reps give wildly inconsistent information about this! After multiple frustrating phone calls, I visited my local SSA office and got definitive answers. YES, your spousal benefit will be calculated using your husband's current PIA, which includes ALL the COLA adjustments that have been applied since he reached FRA in 2021. So you would include the 2022 (5.9%), 2023 (8.7%), and 2024 (3.2%) COLAs. Your $175 monthly difference calculation sounds very accurate - when those COLAs compound over multiple years, it really adds up significantly. I had a similar calculation that showed about $160 difference for my situation. Here's what worked for me: I brought my spouse's most recent benefit statement and SSA-1099 to the local office and asked to see exactly how they calculate spousal benefits. The representative pulled up the current PIA (with all COLAs included) on her computer and walked me through each step. Much more reliable than phone reps! The magic phrase to use is "current PIA with all COLA adjustments applied since FRA" - this eliminates any confusion about which number they should be using. The 2025 COLA will automatically be added to your benefit once you start receiving payments, so don't worry about factoring that in manually right now. Good luck and don't let anyone shortchange you by using the outdated 2021 PIA!

my mom got switched from SSI to disabled widoes benefits and got EXTRA money but also got medicare too. maybe check if u got medicare now cuz that worth something too even if money went down a little

I'm a benefits advocate and this situation is unfortunately more common than it should be. What you're describing sounds like an automatic conversion to disabled widow's benefits that should have included proper notification. Here are some important points to bring up when you call SSA: 1. Request a written explanation of why the conversion happened and why no advance notice was provided 2. Ask for a benefit verification letter showing your new benefit type and amount 3. Inquire about "protective filing" - they should backdate any corrections to when the error first occurred 4. Most importantly, ask about SSI supplementation if your total benefits decreased The Medicare eligibility others mentioned is actually significant - Medicare Part A is free and could save you hundreds monthly if you were paying for health insurance. Make sure to understand all the changes, not just the cash benefit amount. Also, document everything during your call and ask for a case number. If the first representative can't fully explain what happened, ask to speak with a supervisor or technical expert. You have rights here and shouldn't accept a reduction without proper explanation and appeal options.