I'm new to this community but wanted to share that I'm going through something remarkably similar! SSA hit me with a $6,100 overpayment claim about 6 months ago, also related to workers' comp offset issues. Like you, I appealed immediately and am still waiting for my ALJ hearing. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - especially learning about the congressional inquiry option and Form SSA-795. I had no idea these resources existed! The pattern everyone's describing is so consistent: vague overpayment notices, impossible phone waits, and SSA's refusal to show their actual calculations. Your $3,400 partial refund is actually huge evidence in your favor. As others have pointed out, you don't refund money if your original calculation was correct. The fact that they did this without explanation strongly suggests they found significant errors in their methodology. I'm definitely going to pursue the congressional inquiry route based on all the success stories shared here. It sounds like that's the key to breaking through SSA's bureaucratic wall and getting real answers about their calculations. Don't let the long wait discourage you - the fact that so many people here have gotten their entire overpayments dismissed at ALJ hearings gives me hope we'll all come out of this vindicated. Keep fighting and document everything!

As someone who's been through this exact situation, I can tell you that partial refund is actually incredibly significant evidence in your favor! About two years ago, SSA claimed I had a $5,400 workers' comp offset overpayment, and after 8 months of fighting, they suddenly sent me a $2,100 refund with zero explanation - just like what happened to you. That partial payment essentially proves their original calculation methodology was flawed. You don't refund money if your math was correct the first time. When I brought this up at my ALJ hearing, the judge was very focused on why SSA would make a "correction" if their initial determination was accurate. Here's what worked for me: I immediately filed a written request asking for the specific reasoning behind the partial refund and detailed calculations for the remaining balance. I also got my complete earnings record to verify they had calculated my ACE correctly (they hadn't - they were missing a high-earning quarter that significantly changed the calculation). The ALJ ended up dismissing my entire remaining overpayment because SSA couldn't adequately justify their calculations or explain the partial correction. Your situation sounds even stronger since your workers' comp was relatively low compared to your prior earnings. Don't let them wear you down with the long wait times. That $3,400 refund is solid evidence that their system made errors, and it significantly strengthens your case for the ALJ hearing. Keep all documentation and consider requesting your full file through FOIA to see their internal notes about why they issued that partial refund.

Just want to add another perspective here - I'm a retired federal employee who dealt with coordinating Social Security with my TSP and federal pension. One thing that often gets overlooked is that if you do start SS at 62 and then get that high-paying job, you might also want to consider the impact on your overall retirement tax planning. Working at $125K while collecting SS benefits (even if they're being withheld) can push you into higher tax brackets and affect things like Medicare premiums down the road through IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount). This is especially true if you're also drawing from other retirement accounts. The withdrawal option within 12 months really is a clean slate approach - it's like hitting the reset button on your Social Security filing. But if you're past that window, just remember that suspended benefits from FRA to age 70 earn those 8% delayed retirement credits, which can be substantial over time. Good luck with your decision! The fact that you're thinking through all these scenarios puts you ahead of many people who just file and hope for the best.

This is such a comprehensive discussion with great real-world examples! As someone currently navigating Social Security decisions myself, I wanted to add one more consideration that might be helpful for your specific timeline. Since you mentioned the job opportunity might come 3-4 months after you start collecting benefits, you'll want to be very strategic about timing if you decide to file at 62. The 12-month withdrawal window is calculated from your "entitlement date" (usually the month you first become eligible to receive benefits), not from when you actually receive your first payment. So if you file in January with benefits starting February, your 12-month window closes in January of the following year - regardless of when you actually received payments. This means if the job comes through in May or June, you'd still have plenty of time to withdraw if needed. Also, regarding the Form SSA-521 that others mentioned - you can actually download it from ssa.gov ahead of time and have it filled out (except for dates) just in case. That way if the job opportunity does materialize, you're ready to submit immediately rather than scrambling to figure out the paperwork. The stories shared here about successful withdrawals are really encouraging. It seems like while the process has some complexity, it's definitely manageable if you stay organized and understand the timeline!

To summarize your options since there's some confusion in the comments: 1. If within 12 months of filing: You can withdraw your application (Form SSA-521), repay all benefits, and it's like you never filed. You can refile later for a higher amount. 2. If it's been more than 12 months since filing: You cannot suspend benefits until you reach Full Retirement Age (likely 67). 3. Working while receiving benefits: Subject to the earnings limit ($22,320 in 2025) until you reach FRA. Excess earnings result in withholding of benefits. The decision should be based on your short and long-term financial needs, life expectancy, and employment plans. There's no single right answer - it depends on your circumstances.

One thing to add that might help with your decision - you could also consider doing a "break-even analysis" to see if taking benefits early makes sense for your situation. Calculate how much total money you'd receive by taking benefits at 62 versus waiting until your Full Retirement Age or even age 70. For example, if you take $1,200/month at 62 versus $1,600/month at 67, you'd need to live past about age 77-78 for waiting to pay off. If you're in good health and expect to live well into your 80s or 90s, waiting could mean tens of thousands more in lifetime benefits. But if you really need the income now for basic expenses, that changes the calculation. Also worth noting - if you have a spouse, your decision affects their potential survivor benefits too. The higher earner's benefit amount at death becomes the survivor benefit, so starting early permanently reduces what your spouse might receive later.

I'm so sorry for your loss and can completely understand your frustration with the incomplete information from SSA. You're absolutely right to be asking these questions - this decision will impact your financial security for the rest of your life. From my experience helping clients navigate Social Security decisions, the printout you received is likely a basic benefit estimate that stops at your Full Retirement Age (67). You definitely need projections through age 70 because that's when your own retirement benefit reaches its maximum value with delayed retirement credits. Here's what you should specifically request on your next visit: 1. "Detailed benefit calculation for both survivor benefits AND retirement benefits from age 60 through 70" 2. Ask them to run scenarios showing your retirement benefit if you stop working at 60 vs. continuing to work 3. Request a break-even analysis comparing different claiming strategies The key strategy many widows use is taking reduced survivor benefits early (as early as 60) while letting their own retirement benefit grow until age 70, then switching to whichever is higher. But you need those complete projections to determine if this makes sense in your situation. Also, verify your husband's earnings record is accurate - errors are more common than you'd think and can significantly impact your survivor benefit amount. Don't let them rush you through this. You have every right to understand all your options completely before making such an important decision.

I'm new to this community but going through something very similar. My husband passed away last year and I'm 55 now, so I'm trying to understand my options before I reach 60. Reading through everyone's responses here has been incredibly eye-opening. I had no idea about the strategy of taking survivor benefits early while letting your own retirement benefit grow until 70, or that there were different types of benefit calculations you could request from SSA. One question for those who have been through this process - when you're asking for the "detailed benefit calculation," do they charge anything for these extended projections? And has anyone found certain SSA offices more helpful than others? I'm wondering if it's worth driving to a different office if my local one isn't providing complete information. Also, @Scarlett Forster, thank you for starting this discussion. Even though I'm not at the decision point yet, understanding these complexities now will help me be much better prepared when the time comes. The specific language everyone has shared for requesting complete projections is going to be invaluable.

I'm in a similar situation but with fewer railroad years (12 years RRB, 20 years other employment). Reading through all these responses, it sounds like the strategy can work but really depends on your individual numbers. One thing I learned from my research is that you can actually use the RRB website calculator to get rough estimates before requesting the formal G-90. It's not as detailed but gives you a ballpark figure to work with. Also, I found out that if you have questions about the coordination between SS and RRB benefits, there's actually a specific department at RRB that handles dual benefit cases - they might be more knowledgeable than the general customer service reps. Have you considered consulting with a fee-only financial planner who specializes in government benefits? Might be worth the cost to get an objective analysis of your situation before making such a big decision. The difference between optimizing and not optimizing these benefits could be tens of thousands over your lifetime.

Reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm also approaching 62 and have been wondering about my own SS/RRB situation (14 years railroad, 18 years other work). A few things I wanted to add based on my recent research: The RRB does have a dual benefit coordination unit - you can reach them by calling the main RRB number (877-772-5772) and specifically asking to be transferred to "dual benefit coordination." They're supposedly more knowledgeable about these complex scenarios than general customer service. Also, I discovered that the timing of when you apply matters a lot. If you're already receiving SS when you become eligible for RRB, the coordination happens automatically. But if you're not yet receiving SS, you might have more flexibility in how the benefits are structured. One more thing - I've seen people mention that some railroad unions offer retirement counseling services that include help with SS/RRB coordination. Might be worth checking if your former employer or union has resources available. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here. It's clear this is a common situation that many of us are navigating, and the more information we can share, the better decisions we can all make!