I'm new here but unfortunately joining the club of people dealing with Medicare Part B deduction issues! I'm 67, still working full-time with comprehensive health coverage through my job, and explicitly declined Part B when I applied for Social Security benefits eight months ago. Despite having my decline paperwork properly filed and confirmed, they've been deducting $174.70 every month since my benefits started. The most infuriating part is the inconsistent information from different representatives - I've been told it's a "database sync issue," then a "form processing error," then that my employer needed to verify something, and most recently that there was a "Medicare enrollment coding mistake." Each rep acts like they're hearing about this for the first time. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both validating and eye-opening. It's clear this is a systemic problem with how their Medicare and SSA systems communicate, not just isolated incidents. I'm planning to use all the specific strategies shared in this thread: contacting the Medicare Premium Payment department, asking for tier 2 specialists, calling the Medicare Coordination of Benefits Contractor at 1-855-798-2627, and definitely trying that Claimyr service to avoid the hours-long hold times. Starting a detailed log today with dates, rep names, reference numbers, and exact explanations given. Thank you all for sharing your real-world solutions - this community knowledge is invaluable for navigating this bureaucratic maze!

I'm also dealing with this exact same Medicare Part B deduction issue! I'm 70, still working with excellent insurance through my spouse's employer plan, and specifically declined Part B when I enrolled for Social Security benefits four months ago. Yet they've been deducting $174.70 every month despite having all my decline documentation properly submitted. What's particularly maddening is how each representative gives you a completely different explanation - I've been told it's a "system update delay," then a "Medicare coordination issue," then that I needed to resubmit forms I already submitted, and most recently that there was a "computer processing error." It's like they're just making things up as they go along! Reading through all these experiences, it's obvious this is a widespread systematic failure between their Medicare and SSA systems, not individual mistakes. The fact that so many people have identical stories with proper decline paperwork but ongoing deductions shows their internal processes are fundamentally broken. I'm definitely going to try the specific strategies shared here - especially asking for the Medicare Premium Payment department, requesting tier 2 specialists, and calling that Medicare Coordination of Benefits Contractor number at 1-855-798-2627. The Claimyr service sounds promising too for avoiding those endless hold times. Thank you everyone for sharing your real-world solutions. This thread has been more helpful than months of frustrating calls to SSA! I'll start documenting everything with dates and reference numbers like others suggested.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Connor. Having been through a similar situation myself, I understand how overwhelming it can be to navigate these decisions while grieving. You've received some truly excellent advice here, and I want to emphasize a few key points that really stood out to me: 1. **The pension income revelation is huge** - Only your $15K part-time work counts toward the earnings test, not your $48K pension. This completely changes your situation from what you initially thought. 2. **Your teaching job paying into Social Security is a major advantage** - No GPO to worry about, which means you can collect your full survivor benefit (minus any earnings test reduction). 3. **The timing strategy makes perfect sense** - Taking survivor benefits at 60 and switching to your own higher benefit at FRA is exactly what many financial advisors recommend for widows in your situation. One additional thought: since you mentioned trying to call SSA multiple times without success, you might also consider visiting your local SSA office in person if the phone service continues to be problematic. Sometimes face-to-face appointments can move things along more smoothly, especially for complex situations like yours. The fact that you're researching this thoroughly and asking the right questions shows you're going to make informed decisions. Your husband would be proud of how thoughtfully you're handling this difficult situation. Take care of yourself through this process!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Connor. What a difficult situation to navigate while you're grieving. After reading through all these responses, I wanted to add one more perspective that might be helpful. As someone who works in benefits administration (not SSA, but similar programs), I've seen how important it is to get everything documented properly from the start. When you do apply - whether through Claimyr or directly with SSA - I'd strongly recommend asking for written confirmation of a few key points: 1. That only your $15K work income (not pension) counts toward the earnings test 2. That your application is specifically for SURVIVOR benefits only 3. The exact monthly benefit amount you'll receive after any reductions 4. Confirmation that you can switch to your own retirement benefit later without penalty Also, consider asking about "protective filing" - you can establish your filing date even while gathering documents, which can be important for benefit calculations. The strategy everyone's outlined here really is sound financial planning. You're maximizing your lifetime benefits while maintaining your current income sources. That's exactly what you should be doing in this situation. Wishing you all the best as you move forward with this process!

Thank you all so much for the helpful responses! After reading everything, I feel much more confident that we can accept this pension distribution without affecting my husband's Social Security benefits under the earnings limit rules. I'll still keep an eye on his part-time job wages ($18,000) to make sure that stays under the $22,600 limit for 2025. And we'll talk to our tax advisor about the potential tax implications of the distribution - especially how it might affect the taxation of his SS benefits. Really appreciate everyone taking time to help clarify this confusing topic!

You've gotten excellent advice here! Just wanted to add one small clarification that might be helpful - when you mention the $22,600 earnings limit for 2025, that's correct for most people under full retirement age. But if your husband reaches his full retirement age during 2025, there's actually a higher limit ($59,520 for 2025) that applies only to earnings in the months before he reaches FRA, and then no limit at all after that month. Since he turned 62 in January, he's probably got a few more years before FRA, but it's worth keeping in mind for future planning. The pension distribution is definitely safe to take - enjoy those home repairs!

Just to clarify something that might be confusing - when we talk about your "spousal benefit" in this scenario, you're not actually switching from your retirement benefit to a spousal benefit. Instead, you'll receive your own reduced retirement benefit PLUS a spousal add-on amount (if you qualify for one based on the calculations). The deemed filing rules mean that when you file for one benefit (retirement), you're deemed to have filed for all benefits you're eligible for at that time. This prevents people from selecting one benefit type now and another later to maximize payments. Definitely contact SSA to see what additional amount you might receive. The application process for the spousal component is relatively straightforward once you get through to a representative.

I went through this exact same situation about 2 years ago! Filed early at 62 and was getting around $950/month when my husband finally started collecting his $2,400 at FRA. I was so hopeful I'd get a big boost but ended up with only about $180 extra per month as a spousal add-on. The SSA calculator they use is pretty complex but here's what I learned: they take 50% of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount (his benefit at FRA before any delayed credits), subtract your own PIA, and then reduce that difference based on when you filed early. In my case, since I filed 4 years and 10 months before my FRA, the reduction was significant. Don't get discouraged though - that extra $180 has really helped, especially with rising costs. And like others said, definitely apply soon because they only backpay 6 months maximum. I made the mistake of waiting 8 months after my husband started collecting and lost out on some money. Good luck!

i had something simlar happn but it was bcause i was on SSI not retirment. SSI is the one that gets reduced when u marry someone with income. reglar social secrity retirement stays the same no matter who u marry or how rich they are. my uncle married a really rich lady and still gets his full SS check every month lol

Just wanted to jump in as someone who went through this exact worry! My husband and I got married when he was already collecting his retirement benefits at 67, and I was terrified his payments would change. They didn't! His monthly deposit has stayed exactly the same for the past two years since our marriage. The SSA website has a really helpful tool called the Retirement Estimator that can give you an idea of what your own benefits might look like when you're ready to claim at 67. That way you can compare it to potential spousal benefits. Also, I'd recommend creating a my Social Security account online if you haven't already - it shows your earnings record and projected benefits, which makes planning so much easier than trying to guess. Your husband's neighbor probably meant well, but it sounds like they were thinking of a different situation entirely. Congratulations on your marriage, and don't let this stress you out unnecessarily!