As someone who just went through this exact decision process last year (born in 1959, so my FRA was 66 and 10 months), I can confirm what others have said - once you reach your FRA of 67, you can absolutely work full-time and earn $85k with zero penalty to your Social Security benefits! I was in a similar boat - still working and earning good money but wanted to start collecting. The key thing that helped me decide was running the numbers on the "opportunity cost" of waiting. Yes, you get 8% more per year if you wait until 70, but that's 8% of your base benefit amount. For me, three years of collecting benefits at FRA actually came out ahead in total dollars received until I'd be about 82-83 years old. One practical tip: when you do file, you can choose to have federal taxes withheld from your Social Security payments (10%, 12%, 22%, or 24%). Given your income level, you'll definitely want some withholding since up to 85% of your benefits will be taxable. I chose 22% withholding and it's worked out well for avoiding a big tax surprise. Also, don't forget that your Social Security benefit will continue to get annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) regardless of when you start collecting. Last year's 3.2% COLA and this year's 2.5% really add up over time! The peace of mind of having that monthly payment coming in while still working has been worth it for me, even knowing I'm not getting the absolute maximum possible benefit.

Welcome to the community! As someone who's been researching this topic extensively, I wanted to add a few practical considerations that might help with your decision. Since you're born in 1960, your FRA is definitely 67, and yes - once you reach 67, you can earn unlimited income without any reduction to your Social Security benefits. The earnings test completely disappears at FRA. Here's something to think about that I don't see mentioned much: if you're planning to work past 67 anyway, consider whether your current earnings might actually increase your Social Security benefit calculation. Social Security uses your highest 35 years of earnings (adjusted for inflation). If you're earning $85k now and that's higher than some of your earlier career years, continuing to work could actually boost your benefit amount since they'll replace lower-earning years in the calculation. Also, one strategy some people use is to file and suspend - you can actually file for benefits at FRA to establish your claim, then immediately suspend payments to earn those delayed retirement credits until 70. This can be useful if you want to preserve certain spousal benefit options while still maximizing your own benefit. Though honestly, if you don't need the money right away, just waiting to file at 70 is simpler. The tax impact others mentioned is real - with your income level plus Social Security, you'll definitely hit that 85% taxable threshold. But that's not necessarily a reason not to claim if you can use the extra cash flow for investments or other financial goals. Have you looked at your actual benefit estimate on ssa.gov? That can help you run the real numbers for your specific situation.

I'm going through something very similar right now! I'm 53, been receiving survivor benefits for 4 years, and my partner and I have been discussing marriage timing for the same reasons. What really helped me was calling SSA and asking them to mail me a benefit verification letter that shows exactly what I'm currently receiving monthly. Then I could do the math - if I'm getting $2,800/month in survivor benefits, that's $33,600 per year, which means waiting until 60 would preserve about $235,000 over 7 years. That made the decision much clearer! Also, I learned that even if you remarry after 60, you don't have to immediately switch to spousal benefits. You can continue receiving survivor benefits and then evaluate your options when you reach full retirement age to see which benefit would be highest. One practical tip - if you call SSA, ask them to walk you through a "what if" scenario. They can tell you exactly what would happen to your current benefits if you remarried on a specific date. Getting that official confirmation really helped ease my anxiety about making the wrong choice. The waiting isn't easy emotionally, but knowing we're securing our financial future together makes it feel worth it. Good luck with whatever you decide!

As someone who works with retirement planning, I want to emphasize one critical point that hasn't been fully addressed - you need to compare not just the immediate survivor benefits you'd lose, but also the long-term retirement benefits available from each spouse's record. Here's what many people don't realize: when you reach your Full Retirement Age, you can claim 100% of your deceased husband's benefit (not just the reduced survivor benefit you're getting now at 51). This could be substantially higher than what you're currently receiving. So your calculation should be: 1. Current survivor benefits lost from remarrying before 60 (roughly 9 years worth) 2. The difference between your deceased husband's full retirement benefit vs. your new husband's full retirement benefit 3. Factor in that your new husband is 11 years older - statistically, you're more likely to become his widow and need his survivor benefits I'd also recommend checking if your state has any additional widow benefits or property tax exemptions you might lose upon remarriage. Some states have programs specifically for widows that aren't tied to federal Social Security rules. The math gets complex, but given the potential six-figure impact, it's definitely worth spending some time with a fee-only financial advisor who specializes in Social Security optimization to run all the scenarios before making this decision.

As a newcomer to this community, I've found this entire discussion incredibly enlightening! I'm still several years away from even considering retirement, but reading through everyone's experiences and advice has really opened my eyes to how complex Social Security planning can be. What strikes me most is how many misconceptions there are - I definitely would have assumed that having 40 credits meant your benefit was "locked in," and I had no idea about the highest 35 years calculation. The real-world examples people have shared here, like the $800 monthly difference between siblings and the various part-time/consulting strategies, are so much more valuable than just reading abstract explanations. I'm particularly grateful for the discussion about spousal benefits and delayed retirement credits - those are aspects of Social Security I never would have thought to research on my own. It's clear that retirement planning really needs to be viewed as a comprehensive household strategy rather than just individual decisions. I'm definitely going to set up my my.ssa.gov account this week to start familiarizing myself with the tools and my own earnings record. Even though retirement is still years away for me, it seems like understanding these concepts early will give me a huge advantage in planning. Thank you to everyone who shared their expertise and personal experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical, real-world guidance that makes this community so valuable!

This has been such an incredibly helpful thread! I'm also approaching 60 and have been wrestling with the same exact question about early retirement and Social Security impacts. What really resonates with me is how this discussion has evolved from the basic "40 credits vs. benefit calculation" confusion to covering all these interconnected factors - spousal benefits, delayed retirement credits, state programs, health insurance bridges, and even the psychological value of early retirement vs. financial optimization. The part-time/consulting strategy that several people have mentioned sounds like it could be the perfect middle ground. Getting some of that early retirement freedom while still protecting the Social Security calculation makes a lot of sense. I'm also realizing I need to have a serious conversation with my spouse about how my timing decision affects our overall household retirement strategy. One question for those who've done the my.ssa.gov calculations: how accurate have you found the benefit estimator to be? I'm planning to set up my account this weekend, but I'm curious if the projections end up being close to what you actually receive when you start claiming benefits. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community really is a goldmine for practical retirement planning advice!

I'm a social worker who has helped many families navigate the SSI to DAC transition, and I want to echo what everyone has said - your daughter should absolutely receive 50% of your husband's PIA ($1700/month), not his reduced benefit amount. The representative who told you otherwise was completely incorrect. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also ask about "protective filing" when you contact SSA. If there are any delays in getting the formal application submitted, a protective filing establishes your intent to apply and can preserve the retroactive payment date. This is especially important given that you've already been discussing this with SSA representatives. Also, when you do get the correct benefit amount, don't forget that this will likely make your daughter ineligible for SSI going forward (since the DAC benefit will be higher than the SSI payment limit), but as others have mentioned, the Medicaid protections should keep her healthcare coverage intact. I've seen too many families get shortchanged by SSA representatives who don't understand DAC rules. Stay persistent, document everything, and don't accept incorrect information. Your daughter deserves every penny she's entitled to under the law!

I'm a disability advocate who works with families navigating SSA benefits, and I wanted to jump in to reinforce what everyone has correctly told you - your daughter is absolutely entitled to 50% of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount (his full retirement age benefit of $3400), which equals $1700/month, NOT 50% of his reduced early retirement amount. What concerns me most about your situation is that the SSA representative admitted they "weren't sure" about such a fundamental rule. This suggests they may not be properly trained on DAC benefits, which unfortunately happens too often. When you file the application (and please do this immediately to preserve retroactive benefits), specifically request to speak with a "DAC specialist" or "Technical Expert" who handles adult disabled child cases regularly. I also want to emphasize timing: file that DAC application THIS WEEK if possible. You can receive up to 12 months of retroactive benefits from your application date, but every month you delay is money lost forever. Even if you don't have every single piece of documentation ready, get the application filed and submit additional records as requested. For the Medicaid situation, contact your state Medicaid office immediately and use these exact words: "Section 1634(c) Medicaid continuation for DAC transition." This federal protection exists specifically for situations like yours where someone loses SSI due to receiving higher DAC benefits. Don't rely on SSA to handle this - they often don't coordinate well with state Medicaid programs. That $450/month difference adds up to $5,400 per year - money that rightfully belongs to your daughter for her care and future security. Don't let one misinformed representative cost your family thousands of dollars!

I was able to get through to SSA finally! The agent confirmed I'll only get 6 months of retroactive benefits, so I've definitely lost some money by waiting. But at least I'm getting it sorted now. The agent mentioned my benefit amount is a bit higher than it would have been at exactly 70 due to my extra work years, just like someone mentioned here. Still mad at myself for not knowing about this sooner though!

Great to hear you got through and are getting it sorted out! Don't beat yourself up too much - this is unfortunately a very common mistake because SSA doesn't do a good job of informing people about the rules around age 70. At least you caught it relatively quickly compared to some horror stories I've heard. The silver lining about your higher benefit amount from the extra work years is nice too. Make sure to keep an eye on when your first payment arrives - sometimes there can be processing delays even after you've applied.