One thing nobody's mentioned yet - your continued work might increase your benefit at 70, but not in the way you might be thinking. There's no special increase at 70 based on work. However, if between 67-70 your new earnings replace a lower year in your calculation, you'd see some increase. This happens whenever SSA does their annual recomputation, not specifically at age 70. There's also delayed retirement credits if you had suspended your benefits (8% per year), but since you're already collecting, that's not applicable here.

Just wanted to add something practical - if you decide to take this job, consider asking your new employer about withholding extra taxes from your paychecks. Since you'll now have both Social Security and work income, you might end up owing more at tax time than expected. I learned this the hard way when I started working part-time at 68. Even though my combined income wasn't huge, more of my SS benefits became taxable and I ended up with a surprise tax bill. Now I have them withhold an extra $50 per paycheck and it covers it perfectly. Also, keep all your pay stubs and tax documents organized - if SSA does make any mistakes (which seems to happen more than it should based on other comments here), you'll want clear records to sort it out quickly. Sounds like a great opportunity though - enjoy the work and the extra income!

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I've learned a lot and have some follow-up questions: 1. For the automatic recalculation that might increase my benefit - does this happen without me needing to contact SSA? 2. For those who mentioned tax implications - is there a calculator anywhere that can help me estimate how much of my SS will be taxable with this additional income? 3. I'm still not clear on Medicare coordination - if I take my employer's health plan, can I drop Medicare Part B entirely or just use it as secondary coverage?

Just wanted to add another consideration that hasn't been mentioned - if you're planning to work part-time at $42k/year, make sure you understand how this might affect any pension benefits you might have from previous employers. Some pension plans have "return to work" provisions that could reduce pension payments if you work for a competitor or in the same industry, even after retirement age. Also, since you mentioned it's consulting work, keep detailed records of any business expenses you might have (home office, computer equipment, travel, etc.) as these could help offset some of the tax burden from your combined SS + consulting income. Self-employment expenses can be quite valuable for tax planning! One more thing - if your consulting arrangement allows it, consider asking about spreading payments across tax years or negotiating payment timing to help manage your tax brackets and potential IRMAA thresholds.

One more important detail based on your situation: Since you're reaching FRA in January 2026, you'll be eligible for Medicare in January 2025 (Medicare eligibility starts at 65). The Initial Enrollment Period for Medicare starts 3 months before your 65th birthday month and extends 3 months after. So you'll need to decide about Medicare about a year before you reach FRA. If your employer has 20+ employees, you can decline Part B during this period without penalties, but you'll need to get that employer coverage verification I mentioned. Just be aware of this timeline so you're not caught off guard by Medicare decisions before your FRA.

I'm actually going through something very similar right now! I reached my FRA last month and have been researching this extensively. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet is to double-check with your HR department about how your employer handles Medicare coordination. Some employers automatically make you the primary insurance once you're Medicare-eligible, even if you don't enroll, which can create coverage gaps. Also, since you mentioned your part-time job has "pretty good" benefits, make sure to compare the actual coverage details with what Medicare would provide. Sometimes employer plans for part-time workers have higher deductibles or limited networks that might make Medicare + a supplement plan more attractive financially, even if the employer plan seems "free." The good news is you have plenty of time to research since you're not hitting FRA until January 2026. I'd recommend creating a timeline with key dates (Medicare eligibility, FRA, any employer benefit deadlines) so you can make informed decisions without rushing.

To give you complete peace of mind, call the Medicare Coordination of Benefits Contractor at 1-855-798-2627 to record that you have employer coverage as your primary insurance. This helps prevent claim processing errors. Also, keep documentation from your employer proving your continuous health coverage for when you eventually do enroll in Part B. This documentation will exempt you from late enrollment penalties when you fully retire.

wait i just realized something do you have a health savings account HSA with your work plan?? if you do, once you have ANY medicare (even just part A) you CANNOT contribute to HSA anymore!!! found this out hardway

UPDATE: Success! I finally got through this morning (took 3 attempts) and spoke with a very helpful agent. Turns out there was an earnings discrepancy from 2022 they needed to verify, but the letter requesting information was sent to my old address despite me updating it online. The agent processed the verification while I was on the phone and moved my application to step 3! She said I should receive my award letter within 7-10 days and my first payment will arrive as scheduled in March. Such a relief to finally know what's happening. For anyone else stuck in this situation, keep trying to call right when they open at 8am. That's when I finally got through with only a 15-minute wait.

Congratulations on getting through and resolving your issue! Your experience really highlights the importance of persistence with SSA. The fact that they sent the verification letter to your old address despite updating it online is unfortunately a common problem that affects many people. It's great that you shared your successful strategy of calling right at 8am - that timing tip could really help others who are struggling with similar delays. Thanks for taking the time to update the thread with your resolution!