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As someone who just completed this process last month (turned 70 in December), I want to add one more practical tip that really helped me: create a simple checklist of all the steps mentioned in this thread and check them off as you complete them. My checklist included: ✓ Review earnings history in MySocialSecurity for errors, ✓ Gather all certified documents, ✓ Clear browser cache before applying, ✓ Take screenshots of each application page, ✓ Double-check bank routing numbers, ✓ Set calendar reminder to check status in 6 weeks, etc. Having everything written down helped me stay organized and gave me confidence that I wasn't forgetting anything important. Also, I discovered that my local library had a "Social Security application help" session once a month where a volunteer helped people navigate the online process - might be worth checking if your community offers something similar. @Carmen Ruiz - you're incredibly well-prepared thanks to all the great advice in this thread! The October application timeline with February start date is exactly what I did, and everything went smoothly. You've got this!
That checklist idea is brilliant! As someone who's just starting to think about this whole process, having a structured approach like that would definitely help reduce the anxiety and make sure nothing gets overlooked. I love that you found community resources too - I hadn't thought to check if my local library might offer similar assistance. It's amazing how this thread has evolved from a simple timing question into such a comprehensive guide for the entire Social Security application process. @Carmen Ruiz really started something valuable here that s'going to help so many people navigate this important milestone with confidence!
This entire thread has been absolutely amazing to read through! As someone turning 70 in August, I've learned more practical information here than from all the official SSA materials combined. The level of detail everyone has shared - from the October application timing to avoid holiday delays, to checking earnings history for errors, to taking screenshots during the online process - is incredibly valuable. I'm particularly grateful for the clarification about the retirement date selection meaning when benefits START rather than when you stop working. That would have definitely confused me! And the tip about applying on Tuesday mornings to avoid website issues is the kind of insider knowledge you just can't get from government websites. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - I recently attended a AARP seminar on Social Security, and they mentioned that if you're married, it's worth running the numbers on spousal claiming strategies even when you're both turning 70. Sometimes there can be small advantages to coordinating the timing of your applications, especially if one spouse has significantly higher lifetime earnings than the other. Thanks to everyone for creating such a comprehensive resource here. @Carmen Ruiz, your original question has sparked what's essentially become a complete Social Security application guide!
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Glad to see this got resolved! For anyone else reading this thread, just want to add that if you're having trouble accessing your my Social Security account, you can also request a new SSA-1099 by mail by calling the automated phone system at 1-800-772-1213 and following the prompts (no need to speak to an agent). It usually takes 7-10 business days to arrive, so plan accordingly if you're close to tax deadlines. The online method is definitely fastest when it works though!
That's really helpful info about the automated phone system! I didn't know you could request it that way without waiting to talk to someone. Good to know for next time - 7-10 days is much better than the horror stories I've heard about trying to get through to a live agent.
This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation - just started receiving Social Security disability benefits last year and had no idea they send a different form than W-2s. I've been checking my mailbox every day wondering where my W-2 was! Going to log into my account right now to look for the SSA-1099. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions.
Welcome to the club! It's definitely confusing the first time around. I was in the exact same boat - kept waiting for a W-2 that was never going to come. The SSA-1099 should be in your my Social Security account under "Replacement Documents" if you can access it online. If not, the automated phone line that @CosmicCaptain mentioned sounds like a good backup option. Hope you get it sorted out quickly!
@Mateo Sanchez You re'definitely not alone in this confusion! I went through the same thing when I first started getting disability benefits. One tip that helped me - once you get your SSA-1099, make sure to check if any taxes were withheld it (ll'show in Box 3 if so .)Since it s'your first year, you might want to review your withholding settings for next year to avoid any surprises at tax time. The Social Security Administration website has a good calculator to help figure out the right amount.
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As a newcomer to this community, I'm really impressed by how comprehensive and helpful this discussion has been! I'm currently 63 and starting to think seriously about my retirement timeline, so reading through Oliver's question and all the detailed responses has been incredibly educational. What really stands out to me is how clear-cut the rules become once you reach Full Retirement Age - the fact that the earnings test completely disappears is such an important distinction that I wasn't fully aware of before. I also appreciate how many people shared their actual experiences with similar vacation payouts rather than just theoretical advice. The tax planning considerations that several members mentioned are definitely something I need to factor into my own retirement planning. This thread is a perfect example of why peer-to-peer knowledge sharing is so valuable - you get real-world insights that you just can't find in official documentation. Thank you to everyone who contributed their experiences and expertise!
Welcome to the community! I'm also new here and found this discussion incredibly helpful. At 61, I'm just starting to think about retirement planning, and the distinction between being under vs. over Full Retirement Age regarding earnings limits was completely new to me. It's reassuring to see so many real experiences shared - like knowing that vacation payouts won't affect benefits once you reach FRA, but the tax implications are definitely worth planning for. This thread has given me a great starting point for my own research and planning. Thanks to Oliver for asking such a practical question and to everyone who shared their experiences!
As a newcomer to this community, I want to echo what everyone else has said - you're in excellent shape since you're past your Full Retirement Age! I'm still a few years away from retirement myself, but this entire discussion has been incredibly educational. What really strikes me is how many people have shared their actual experiences with large vacation payouts, and every single one confirms that once you reach FRA, the earnings test is completely off the table. The consistent advice about tax planning is also really valuable - it's clear that while your Social Security benefits won't be reduced, that $8,700 will definitely impact your tax situation for 2025. I love how supportive and knowledgeable this community is - you asked a great question that's helped not just you, but everyone else planning for retirement. Congratulations on reaching this milestone and enjoy your well-deserved retirement!
Welcome to the community, Mateo! I'm also new here and have been following this discussion closely. As someone just starting to think about retirement planning at 62, this thread has been incredibly eye-opening. The consistency of everyone's advice about the Full Retirement Age threshold is really reassuring - it's such a clear dividing line between having to worry about earnings limits and complete freedom from them. I had no idea that vacation payouts could be such a significant concern for people under FRA, but knowing that Oliver is safely past that point makes his situation so much simpler. The tax planning angle that keeps coming up throughout this discussion is definitely something I need to start researching for my own future retirement. It's amazing how this one question has generated so much valuable real-world insight from people who actually lived through these situations!
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I'm 67 and went through this exact situation 9 months ago after my shoulder surgery. I was on paid medical leave for 14 weeks and filed for SS retirement benefits about 6 weeks into my leave. **The short answer is absolutely YES** - you can receive both your employer's PML and SS retirement benefits simultaneously. They're completely separate income sources in SSA's view. **Key steps that made it work smoothly for me:** 1. **Get written documentation from HR** - I asked for email confirmation about how my PML is classified for tax purposes and whether starting SS would affect my leave eligibility 2. **Be upfront with SSA when applying** - I reported my ongoing PML payments during the application process, which they handled without any issues 3. **Understand the earnings test impact** - My PML counted as wages, so my SS was temporarily reduced by about $170/month until my leave ended **My timeline:** I successfully collected both benefits for the remaining 8 weeks of my leave. Once the PML ended, my full SS benefit amount resumed. Given your health situation after surgery and being only 14 months from FRA, the peace of mind of having guaranteed income now might outweigh waiting for the slightly higher benefit later. That's exactly how I felt - the financial security during my recovery was more valuable than maximizing future payments. The process was much smoother than I expected once I had all the documentation in place. Best of luck with both your recovery and your decision!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! As someone new to navigating these benefits, reading through all these detailed accounts has been incredibly reassuring. Your timeline of successfully collecting both benefits for 8 weeks and the specific temporary reduction amount ($170/month) really helps me understand what to expect. I'm starting to see a clear pattern from everyone's experiences - getting written documentation from HR and being transparent with SSA during the application seems to be absolutely crucial for a smooth process. Like you mentioned, given the health concerns after surgery, having that financial security during recovery does feel more valuable than waiting for slightly higher future payments. It's amazing how much more confident this discussion has made me feel about what initially seemed like an overwhelming decision!
I'm 64 and currently on paid medical leave after my recent back surgery, and I'm seriously considering filing for SS retirement benefits rather than returning to work. Reading through everyone's detailed experiences has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! What I'm taking away from all these stories is that: 1. **You CAN receive both PML and SS retirement simultaneously** - multiple people have successfully done this 2. **Getting written documentation from HR is absolutely critical** - everyone emphasizes this point 3. **The temporary earnings test reduction (if PML counts as wages) is manageable** - ranging from $140-180/month that people mentioned 4. **Being transparent with SSA during application makes the process smoother** One additional question for those who went through this: Did anyone have to deal with their employer requiring you to officially declare retirement vs. just being on extended medical leave? I'm wondering if that declaration affects the PML payments or creates any complications with the timing. Also, for those who mentioned the permanent 7.8% reduction for filing early - do you feel like it was worth it given your health situations? I'm struggling with that aspect since I'm relatively close to my FRA too. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences. This community has turned what felt like an impossible decision into something much more manageable!
I'm new to this community but wanted to share what I learned from my research on this topic. Regarding your question about declaring retirement vs. extended medical leave - this can definitely matter! Some employers have policies where officially retiring changes how they handle remaining PML payments or affects when your COBRA period starts. I'd suggest asking HR specifically: "If I declare retirement while on medical leave, does that change my PML eligibility or any other benefits?" As for the 7.8% reduction question, I've been wrestling with the same thing. From what I'm reading here, it seems like most people felt the financial security during recovery was worth more than the higher future payments, especially given health uncertainties. The peace of mind factor seems really important when you're dealing with medical issues. Thanks for summarizing all the key points so clearly - it really helps newcomers like me understand the essential steps!
Natalie Wang
I'm new to this community and just want to thank everyone for this incredibly informative discussion! I was having the exact same panic when I checked my MySocialSecurity account yesterday and saw $0 for 2024 despite working full-time all year. I was convinced my employer had made some catastrophic error with my Social Security reporting. This thread has been such a lifesaver - the detailed explanations about how SSA operates on annual tax reporting cycles (W-2s submitted by January 31st, then 6-12 months processing time) finally makes everything clear. It's really frustrating that MySocialSecurity doesn't have a simple notice explaining this normal delay right where people check their earnings! I'm definitely going to call my HR department tomorrow to verify they have my correct SSN for W-2 reporting - that seems like such a smart proactive step while waiting for the normal timeline to play out. Also starting a dedicated folder for organizing all my paystubs and tax documents after seeing how many people recommend keeping detailed records. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is invaluable for getting real answers about these government systems that can be so confusing to navigate on your own!
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Mohammad Khaled
I'm also new to this community and experiencing this exact same issue! Just discovered my 2024 earnings showing $0 on MySocialSecurity despite working steadily throughout the year, and I was starting to panic that something was seriously wrong with my employer's payroll reporting. This thread has been absolutely incredible for understanding that this delay is completely normal - I had no idea SSA operates on annual tax reporting cycles rather than real-time updates. The timeline breakdown everyone provided (W-2s due January 31st, then 6-12 months for processing) makes perfect sense now, but it's honestly mind-boggling that this isn't explained anywhere on the MySocialSecurity website where people would actually see it. I'm definitely going to follow the advice here about contacting my HR department to verify they have my correct SSN for W-2 reporting. It feels really good to have something concrete I can do right now while waiting for the normal processing timeline. Also starting a proper filing system for all my pay documents after seeing how many experienced members stress the importance of keeping detailed records. A simple banner on the earnings page saying "Current year earnings typically appear 6-12 months after year-end" would save so many people the stress and confusion we've all experienced. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating these government systems!
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