As someone who just joined this community specifically to understand Social Security rules better, I have to say this thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm 63 and considering early retirement due to burnout, but I was completely overwhelmed by trying to understand the earnings test rules on my own. What strikes me most is how this discussion has revealed a critical gap in how SSA communicates these rules. The monthly earnings test for mid-year retirees seems like such an important provision - especially for people facing unexpected layoffs, health issues, or burnout who need to retire before their full retirement age but have already earned over the annual limit earlier in the year. I've been bookmarking responses throughout this thread because the practical insights from people who have actually navigated this process are worth their weight in gold. Learning that your pre-retirement earnings don't count against you once you officially retire mid-year, and that you can earn up to $1,950/month for the remainder of that year without penalty, completely changes my retirement planning calculus. Thank you Sarah for asking the question that so many of us needed answered, and thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge. This kind of community support makes such a difference when trying to navigate complex government programs!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely blown away by how helpful and informative this discussion has been! I'm 61 and my employer just announced layoffs that will likely affect my department in the coming months, so I've been frantically trying to understand my Social Security options. Like so many others here, I was completely confused about the earnings test and assumed that if I had already earned over the annual limit ($23,400), I'd be out of luck for benefits for the entire year. Learning about the monthly earnings test for mid-year retirees has been a revelation - the fact that SSA only looks at your post-retirement earnings using the $1,950 monthly limit for the remainder of your first retirement year is information I never would have found on my own. What really resonates with me is how many people here have shared similar experiences of getting inconsistent or incorrect information from SSA representatives themselves. It's both frustrating and sadly not surprising that such a critical rule is so poorly communicated. This community is clearly filling an essential gap by providing real-world guidance that you simply can't get from official sources. I've been taking notes throughout this entire thread because it's essentially become the most comprehensive and practical guide to mid-year retirement earnings rules that I've ever encountered. Thank you Sarah for asking the question we all needed answered, and thank you to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and experiences. This kind of peer support is invaluable when facing these major life decisions!

I'm 52 and new to this community - this discussion has been incredibly helpful as I start planning for my Social Security application in the coming years! What really amazes me is how this "early first payment" pattern seems to be virtually universal based on everyone's experiences here, yet it's completely absent from any official SSA communications. It's like they have this whole separate fast-track system for processing initial payments but just choose not to tell anyone about it! Reading through all these real stories has been far more informative than anything I've found on government websites or in their pamphlets. Now I know to expect my first payment might arrive at some random time that has nothing to do with my birth date, but to plan my entire budget around the regular Wednesday schedule from the beginning. It's both helpful and frustrating that we have to learn these crucial details from each other rather than from the agency itself. Thank you all for taking the time to share your experiences - this kind of real-world knowledge is exactly what makes online communities so valuable!

I'm 63 and new to this community - wow, what an incredibly helpful thread! I had no idea about this early first payment phenomenon before reading everyone's experiences here. What really stands out to me is how absolutely universal this seems to be, yet it's nowhere to be found in any of the official SSA materials I've been studying as I prepare to apply for my benefits next year. It's almost like they have this secret express lane for first payments that they just forgot to mention to anyone! Reading through all these real stories has been infinitely more valuable than hours spent on the SSA website or reading their confusing pamphlets. Now I know to expect my first payment might show up at some completely random time, but to base all my financial planning on the regular third Wednesday schedule (for my birth date) from the very beginning. It's both reassuring and frustrating that we have to learn these crucial details from each other rather than from the agency that's supposed to be helping us navigate this process. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical wisdom that makes joining communities like this so worthwhile!

To summarize what everyone's shared (and clarify some confusion): 1. Since your own benefit at FRA ($1,800) exceeds half of your partner's PIA ($1,375), you won't receive additional money from spousal benefits. 2. This means your claiming strategy should focus solely on optimizing YOUR retirement benefit timing. 3. Each year you delay claiming between now and 70 adds approximately 8% to your lifetime benefit amount. 4. The one-year marriage requirement doesn't impact your optimal strategy in this case. The decision ultimately comes down to: do you need the money now (claim early) or can you afford to wait for a larger monthly amount later (delay claiming)?

Great discussion everyone! As someone who just went through this process myself, I wanted to add one more consideration that might be helpful. Since you're 63 and considering delaying benefits, make sure you factor in healthcare costs if you're not yet Medicare eligible. I delayed my benefits from 62 to 65, but the extra money I gained was almost entirely eaten up by COBRA premiums and higher healthcare costs during those years. Sometimes the "mathematically optimal" choice isn't the practically optimal choice when you consider all expenses. Also, if you do decide to claim early, remember that the earnings test might apply if you're still working - you could temporarily lose some benefits if you earn over the annual limit ($22,320 for 2024). Just something else to factor into your decision-making process!

I'm in a similar situation and found AARP's Social Security calculator really helpful for this kind of analysis. It lets you input different claiming ages and shows the cumulative benefit differences over time, which helped me visualize the trade-offs better than just looking at monthly amounts. One thing that helped me decide was calculating not just the break-even age, but also looking at the "regret scenarios." For example, if you claim at 67 and live to 95, how much would you "lose" compared to waiting until 70? Then flip it - if you wait until 70 but only live to 80, how much did the delay cost you? With your excellent longevity genes and current financial stability, you have the luxury of optimizing for the long term. But there's also something to be said for enjoying those benefits while you're younger and healthier. Maybe consider a middle ground like claiming at 69 - you'd still get a 16% boost over FRA but reduce your opportunity cost by a full year.

I went through this exact analysis last year and ended up creating my own spreadsheet to track the monthly increases. Here's what I found helpful: The SSA website does show your benefit at ages 62, 67, and 70, but you're right that it doesn't break down the monthly progression during that final stretch from 67-70. What I did was take my FRA benefit amount and multiply by 1.0067 for each month of delay (that's the 2/3% monthly increase others mentioned). So if your FRA benefit is $2,500: - Month 1 after FRA: $2,500 × 1.0067 = $2,516.75 - Month 2: $2,516.75 × 1.0067 = $2,533.60 - And so on... But honestly, after running all the numbers, I realized I was overthinking it. The monthly difference is relatively small compared to the bigger question of when to start. I ended up filing at 68 and 8 months - not because that was mathematically optimal, but because it felt right given my health, finances, and peace of mind. With your strong family longevity and current financial stability, you have the luxury of fine-tuning, but don't let perfect be the enemy of good. Any decision between 67-70 is probably going to work out fine in the long run.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share some additional resources that might help. If you're having trouble getting through to SSA by phone, you can also try contacting your local Social Security office directly - sometimes they're less busy than the national line. Also, make sure to keep detailed records of every interaction you have with SSA during this process. Write down dates, times, names of representatives you speak with, and what was discussed. This documentation can be crucial if you need to escalate further. One thing that helped me when dealing with a similar bureaucratic mix-up was sending everything via certified mail so I had proof of delivery. That way there's no question about whether they received your reconsideration paperwork. You've got a solid case here - the fact that she's been receiving SSI for over a decade with a documented onset date before age 22 should make this straightforward once the right person reviews it. Don't let them discourage you!

I'm new here but wanted to add that you should also consider requesting a "protective filing" for your daughter's CDB benefits if you haven't already. This ensures that if/when the benefits are eventually approved, they'll be backdated to when you first applied rather than when the appeal is resolved. Also, one strategy that worked for a friend of mine in a similar situation was to specifically ask the SSA representative to look up your daughter's "Master Beneficiary Record" (MBR) which should show her complete SSI history including the disability determination. Sometimes referencing the specific system they need to check can help get faster results. The fact that they're claiming she wasn't disabled before 22 when she's literally been receiving disability benefits since 18 is mind-boggling. You're absolutely right to fight this - it's not just about the money, it's about getting the correct determination that your daughter deserves.