This has been such an informative thread! As someone approaching a similar decision, I wanted to share a resource that might help with the planning process. The SSA has a "Retirement Estimator" tool on their website that lets you input different claiming ages and earnings scenarios to see how they affect your benefits. You can model claiming at 64 vs waiting until FRA, and even factor in continued earnings. It's been really helpful for me to visualize the trade-offs between getting benefits earlier (but reduced) versus waiting for the full amount. The tool also shows you the break-even point - basically how long you'd need to live to make waiting worthwhile financially. Of course, everyone's situation is different and there are factors beyond just the math (like needing the income now, health considerations, etc.), but it's nice to have the numbers to work with when making such an important decision.

This thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding the complexities of claiming early while continuing to work! I'm in a similar situation - turning 62 next year and considering my options. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the impact of claiming early on spousal benefits. If you're married, your spouse's potential spousal benefit is based on YOUR full retirement age benefit amount, not the reduced amount you'd get by claiming at 64. So claiming early doesn't just affect your own benefits - it could impact your spouse's options too. Also, if you're the higher earner, your claiming decision affects the survivor benefit your spouse would receive. Just another layer to consider when weighing the decision between claiming early versus waiting for FRA. The break-even analysis is important, but for married couples, you really need to look at the household's total lifetime benefits, not just your individual benefit stream.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ella. I went through this same process about 18 months ago when my wife passed. You definitely cannot apply online for survivor benefits - it has to be done by phone or in person. The most frustrating part is getting through on the phone. I found that calling right when they open at 7am local time gave me the best chance of getting through without waiting hours. Also, make sure you have your husband's Social Security number handy when you call, as they'll need it right away to pull up his record. Once you do get an appointment, the actual process was much smoother than I expected - the representative was very compassionate and walked me through everything step by step. Hang in there, and don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ella. I went through this exact situation when my father passed away two years ago. You're right that survivor benefits cannot be applied for online - it's one of the few SSA benefits that still requires a phone call or in-person visit. What worked for me was calling the national SSA number (1-800-772-1213) at exactly 8:00 AM on a Tuesday. I had better luck midweek rather than Mondays or Fridays. Also, have a pen and paper ready because they'll give you a confirmation number for your appointment that you'll need. The waiting time for appointments can be 3-4 weeks depending on your area, so don't get discouraged if they can't see you right away. Once you do get your appointment, the process itself was actually straightforward and the representative was very helpful in explaining all my options. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

Based on what you've shared about your income ($65,000) and age (turning 60), here's my recommendation: 1. Since you're substantially over the earnings limit, most or all of your survivor benefits would be withheld until you reach FRA or reduce your work hours. 2. You might consider waiting to apply until either: - You're closer to retirement or reducing hours, OR - You reach FRA when the earnings test no longer applies 3. If you decide to apply anyway, January would be slightly better than December for tax purposes, but the earnings test impact would be far more significant than any tax difference. 4. Remember that the reduction for taking survivor benefits early is permanent, but if your own retirement benefit at 70 would be higher than your survivor benefit at FRA, there might still be a strategy in taking reduced survivor benefits for a period and then switching.

I'm so glad you found this thread before making your decision! I went through something similar when my spouse passed two years ago. The earnings test is definitely the biggest factor most people don't know about upfront. One thing that helped me was scheduling a consultation with SSA just to understand all my options without actually filing yet. They can run the numbers for you based on your specific situation - your current earnings, your deceased spouse's work record, and your own projected retirement benefit. Also consider that even though the reduction for taking survivor benefits early is permanent, if your own retirement benefit would be significantly higher, you could potentially use survivor benefits as a "bridge" later when you do reduce your work hours, then switch to your own record at 70 when it reaches maximum value. But with your income level, that strategy might not work until you're closer to retirement anyway. The grief support group you mentioned might have other members who've navigated this - it really helps to talk to people who've been through the whole process!

Just to summarize everything for others who might have similar questions: Your pension absolutely does NOT count toward the Social Security earnings limit - only wages and self-employment income count. At $16,000/year from part-time work, you're well under the 2025 limit of $22,680. However, do keep in mind a few things: 1) Your pension WILL count toward determining if your SS benefits are taxable (up to 85% can be taxed), 2) Check if WEP/GPO applies to your state pension as that could reduce your SS benefit amount, and 3) Consider the tax withholding options when you apply. Sounds like you're in good shape to start collecting in June!

Great question! I'm approaching 65 myself and had similar concerns. Just wanted to add that it's worth double-checking with SSA about your specific state pension to make sure WEP doesn't apply. Some state employees paid into Social Security for part of their career and some didn't, which affects whether WEP reduces your benefits. You can use the WEP calculator on the SSA website to get an estimate. Also, since you mentioned your FRA is 66 and 10 months, you might want to run the numbers on waiting vs. taking benefits early - the monthly reduction for taking at 65 instead of FRA could be significant over your lifetime. But sounds like you've got the earnings limit part figured out thanks to everyone's great advice!

I'm also facing this same timing decision and wanted to share something I learned from my local SSA office visit last week. The representative emphasized that when you're born in January of any year, you actually reach your birthday month age on the first day of that month for Social Security purposes. So if you were born in January 1958, you're considered to reach age 66 on January 1, 2024, and then your additional 10 months would put your FRA at November 1, 2024. What really helped me understand this was asking the SSA rep to show me exactly how they calculate it in their system. She pulled up my record and walked through it step by step. This might be worth doing if you have any lingering doubts - even though it can be hard to get through on the phone, visiting a local office (with an appointment if possible) can give you that face-to-face confirmation. One more tip - when I was there, she showed me how the online application has a "preview" feature before you submit where you can see exactly what benefits will start when. Use that preview to double-check everything looks right before hitting submit!

This thread has been incredibly educational! I'm in a similar boat - born January 1958 with an FRA of 66 and 10 months. Reading everyone's experiences has really helped clarify the process. One thing I wanted to add that I learned from my financial advisor - if you're married and your spouse will eventually claim spousal benefits on your record, starting your benefits right at FRA (rather than delaying) can actually be beneficial because it establishes your Primary Insurance Amount for their spousal benefit calculation. Delaying your own benefits past FRA increases YOUR monthly payment but doesn't increase the spousal benefit amount your spouse could receive. This might not apply to everyone's situation, but it's worth considering if spousal benefits are part of your household's retirement strategy. Just another piece of the puzzle to think about when timing your application! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's so helpful to hear from people who have actually been through this process successfully.