I'm glad I found this thread! My husband and I are facing a similar decision and all of this information is incredibly helpful. One additional resource I wanted to mention is the SSA's online benefit calculators - they have a "Retirement Estimator" tool that can help you see projected benefits at different claiming ages, including the delayed retirement credits. What really surprised me from reading everyone's experiences is how common calculation errors seem to be at SSA. That's definitely making me think we should keep very detailed records of our own calculations and maybe even consult with a fee-only financial advisor who specializes in Social Security optimization before making the final decision. The Medicare timing point is also crucial - we learned the hard way that just because you delay Social Security doesn't mean you can ignore Medicare deadlines. My sister got hit with late enrollment penalties because she thought everything was connected. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real-world experiences along with the technical details. This is exactly the kind of practical advice you can't get from the official SSA publications!

I've been lurking here for a while as my wife and I navigate similar decisions, and this thread has been incredibly educational! One thing I wanted to add that I learned from our financial advisor is about the "file and suspend" strategy that used to exist - it's no longer available as of 2016, but some older online articles still mention it, which can be confusing. Also, for those worried about SSA calculation errors, I found it helpful to create a simple spreadsheet tracking my wife's earnings history (you can get this from your annual Social Security statement at ssa.gov/myaccount). This way, when we do file, we'll have our own record to compare against their calculations. One more tip: if you're married, don't forget to consider spousal benefits in your strategy. Even though you're focusing on maximizing your wife's benefit since yours will be smaller, there might be timing strategies around spousal benefits that could help optimize your combined Social Security income. The rules are complex, but it's worth understanding all your options before making the final decision. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences - especially the warnings about double-checking calculations and the Medicare timing reminders!

UPDATE: I ended up keeping my original November 18th appointment, but I did verify the call was actually from SSA by calling their main number. Apparently they're trying to process survivor benefits faster and had a cancellation. Thanks everyone for the quick advice - it really helped me figure out what to do while at work without all my documents!

Glad you were able to verify it was legitimate! This is such a good reminder for everyone - when in doubt, always call the official SSA number directly rather than trusting incoming calls. Even if they sound official, scammers are getting really sophisticated. You made the right choice keeping your original appointment so you can be fully prepared. Having all your documents ready will make the process much smoother. Sorry for your loss, and I hope the survivor benefits process goes smoothly for you in November.

I'm a Social Security caseworker and can confirm what everyone here is saying is absolutely correct. When you transition from SSDI to retirement benefits at your Full Retirement Age, your monthly payment amount will NOT change. Your $2,100 will continue exactly as is. The confusion often comes from people mixing up two completely different scenarios: 1) Taking early retirement benefits before FRA (which ARE reduced), and 2) Converting from SSDI to retirement at FRA (which maintains the same payment amount). Since SSDI is already calculated at your full benefit rate regardless of age, there's no reduction when it converts to retirement benefits. The transition happens automatically - you don't need to apply or do anything. You'll receive a notice from SSA explaining the conversion, and your benefit will simply be reclassified from "disability" to "retirement" on your statements. The main changes are that medical reviews stop and work restrictions are lifted, but your payment stays identical.

This thread has been incredibly educational! I'm 59 and have been on SSDI for about 4 years after a workplace injury, and I had the exact same worry about my benefits being reduced when I reach FRA. The responses here, especially from Cedric who works as a Social Security caseworker, have completely put my mind at ease. It's so helpful to understand that the reduction only applies to people who choose early retirement, not those of us transitioning from SSDI. I'm definitely going to create a My Social Security account online like Isabella suggested to track my benefits, and I'll probably call SSA using that Claimyr service Mia mentioned since getting through on the phone seems to be such a challenge. Thank you Olivia for asking this question - you've helped so many of us who had this same concern!

This is such a common issue that trips up so many of us! I went through the exact same panic last year when my deposit was way different from my COLA letter. What helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track all the deductions: COLA amount minus Part B premium minus any IRMAA surcharge minus Medicare Advantage/Part D premium minus tax withholding (if any) = actual deposit amount. Now I do this calculation every December so I know what to expect in January. It's frustrating that we have to be our own accountants, but at least once you understand the system it makes sense. The key thing to remember is that your COLA letter is just showing the gross benefit increase - it doesn't account for any of the deductions that come out before your money hits the bank.

I work at a local SSA field office and see this confusion literally every day in January! What most people don't realize is that the COLA notice you receive in December is generated by one system that only knows about your Social Security benefit amount, while Medicare premiums are handled by a completely different system. When your actual payment gets processed, that's when all the deductions finally get applied together. It's definitely confusing and I wish the notices were clearer. If you want to avoid this surprise next year, you can request a COLA notice that shows estimated net amounts, but you have to specifically ask for it. Most people just get the standard gross amount notice. The good news is your online account should update with the detailed breakdown by the end of this month showing exactly what was deducted and why.

As someone who recently went through this exact same situation, I can confirm what others have said - it's definitely when you EARNED the money, not when you received it. I was 62 when I started benefits last year and had the same payroll timing issue. What really helped me was creating a simple calendar marking when I worked vs when I got paid, and keeping all my pay stubs filed by the work period dates shown on the stub (not the deposit date). My employer's payroll also runs a month behind, so March work gets paid in early April. The key thing that gave me peace of mind was getting this confirmed directly with SSA. I used their online messaging system through my Social Security account - took about a week to get a response, but they confirmed it in writing which I saved for my records. One small tip: if you're cutting it close to the monthly earnings limit, consider asking your employer if they can provide a letter stating your exact work dates for each pay period. I never needed it, but having that documentation ready made me feel more prepared. You're being smart to plan this out in advance rather than trying to figure it out after the fact!

I'm so glad you asked this question! As someone who just started collecting Social Security at 63 while still working part-time, I went through this exact same confusion about 6 months ago. The timing of when earnings are counted versus when you get paid is definitely one of those things that can keep you up at night worrying about it. Everyone here has given you the correct answer - it's absolutely when you PERFORM the work that counts, not when the paycheck hits your account. I learned this the hard way by initially tracking everything by payment dates and then having to redo all my calculations when I realized my mistake. Since you mentioned your employer uses 1st-30th/31st pay periods, you're actually in a good spot because those dates on your pay stub will clearly show which month's work each payment covers. I'd suggest starting a simple tracking system now - even just a basic Excel sheet or even handwritten notes showing work dates vs pay dates for each check. One thing I wish I'd known earlier: SSA can be pretty reasonable if you accidentally go over the limit in a month and can document exactly when the work was performed. They're much more understanding when you have good records showing you were trying to comply with the rules. You're being really smart to think through all these details before your retirement date. Best of luck with your transition!