This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation with my FRA coming up in February 2026 (Feb 12th to be exact), and reading through everyone's real-world experiences has put my mind at ease. It's reassuring to see that SSA generally applies common sense to these early-year FRA situations rather than getting bogged down in complex daily calculations. One question I have for those who've been through this: did any of you proactively contact SSA before reaching your FRA to discuss the earnings test, or did you just let their system handle it automatically? I'm wondering if it's worth calling ahead of time to make sure they have the correct FRA date on file, or if that might just create unnecessary complications. Also, for anyone still working full-time like Vanessa, I'd recommend checking with your HR department about how they report earnings timing to SSA. My company was able to provide me with documentation showing exactly which pay periods correspond to which work dates, which could be helpful backup if any questions ever arise. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this community is such a valuable resource!

This has been such an informative discussion! I'm new to this community and facing a similar situation - my FRA is January 19, 2026. Reading through everyone's real-world experiences has been incredibly reassuring. It sounds like the key takeaway is that SSA's systems are designed to handle these early-January FRA cases with practical common sense rather than getting bogged down in complex daily calculations. I'm particularly grateful for the advice about keeping detailed records of earnings timing and the tip about checking with HR for documentation of which pay periods correspond to actual work dates. As someone who's been stressing about those couple weeks in January before my FRA, this thread has given me so much peace of mind. One thing I'm curious about - for those who went through this recently, did you notice any delays or issues with your benefits transitioning smoothly after reaching FRA, or did everything adjust automatically? I want to make sure I'm prepared for any potential administrative hiccups, even though it sounds like most people's experiences have been pretty seamless. Thanks to everyone for creating such a supportive and informative discussion - this community is amazing for helping navigate these complex Social Security questions!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm finding this discussion absolutely invaluable! I'm 64 and will hit my FRA in about 8 months, so this decision is becoming very real for me. I have around $720k in my 401k and have been going back and forth on this exact strategy. What really strikes me from reading through all these responses is how much the "human element" matters alongside the math. Yes, the 8% guaranteed growth from delaying SS is compelling, but the peace of mind factors - having that cash cushion, being prepared for market volatility, understanding the tax implications - seem just as important for actually sleeping well during those bridge years. I'm particularly curious about something I haven't seen mentioned: how do you handle the annual Social Security statements during the delay period? Do they continue to show updated projections with the delayed retirement credits, or do you need to calculate those increases yourself? I want to make sure I can track that my strategy is working as planned. Also, for those who've successfully navigated this, what was the biggest surprise or unexpected challenge you encountered during your bridge years? I'm trying to anticipate potential issues before I commit to this path. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed, real-world insights. This community is exactly what I needed to help finalize this major decision!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really grateful for discovering this incredibly detailed discussion! I'm 65 and just reached my FRA two months ago, so I'm right in the thick of making this decision. Reading through everyone's real-world experiences has been more helpful than months of researching generic advice online. What's really resonating with me is how this isn't just a simple "delay Social Security" decision - it's a comprehensive retirement income optimization strategy that touches on tax planning, investment management, healthcare considerations, and even psychological preparedness. The interconnected nature of all these pieces is both exciting and a bit overwhelming. I'm particularly intrigued by the Roth conversion opportunity that so many have mentioned during the bridge years. With about $800k in traditional 401k assets, it seems like I might have a unique window to convert substantial amounts while controlling my tax bracket through strategic withdrawals. One question I haven't seen addressed: for those who've done significant Roth conversions during bridge years, did you find it better to spread them evenly across all four years, or concentrate them in the early years when you might have more flexibility? I'm trying to balance the tax optimization with maintaining enough traditional assets for ongoing withdrawals. Also, I'm curious about estate planning implications. Does this strategy affect how you think about leaving assets to heirs, given that you're drawing down 401k assets earlier but creating a larger SS survivor benefit? Thanks for such a welcoming and knowledgeable community - exactly what I needed as I navigate this major life transition!

Thank you all so much for the helpful responses! To summarize what I've learned: 1. My January 2025 benefit (paid in February) will automatically include the 2025 COLA 2. The delay to February is just the normal payment cycle (January entitlement paid in February) 3. I should double-check my MySocialSecurity account when the award letter arrives to confirm everything This community has been incredibly helpful - I was really worried about losing out on the COLA increase for my budget planning. I appreciate everyone taking the time to explain how this works!

You're absolutely right to summarize those key points! Just to add one more helpful tip for your budget planning - when you do receive your award letter, it will show your exact monthly benefit amount with the 2025 COLA already included. This makes it much easier to plan your finances since you won't have to calculate the increase yourself. Also, keep in mind that Medicare Part B premiums (if applicable) will be deducted from your Social Security payment, so make sure to account for that in your budgeting as well. Congratulations on reaching your full retirement age and getting your benefits sorted out!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's incredibly frustrating when government systems don't communicate properly with each other! I'm approaching 65 myself and had no idea about this retroactive Medicare enrollment issue. From reading everyone's responses, it sounds like you're on the right track by getting the documentation from SSA and working with your HSA administrator. Just wanted to add that you might also want to check if your employer offers any kind of benefits counseling or has dealt with this situation before with other employees. Some larger companies have benefits specialists who are familiar with these Medicare/HSA conflicts and might be able to help you navigate the process more smoothly. Also, definitely keep records of all your phone calls with SSA (dates, times, reference numbers if they give you any) in case you need to reference them later for tax purposes or if there are any disputes. This whole situation really highlights how much these agencies need to improve their communication with beneficiaries!

This is exactly why I always recommend people research Medicare enrollment rules BEFORE applying for Social Security benefits, especially if they're still working and contributing to an HSA. The retroactive enrollment rule has been around for decades but SSA does a terrible job of explaining it upfront. One thing that might help - if you're within 12 months of your Social Security application, you technically have the right to withdraw your entire application (called a "withdrawal of application"). This would also cancel your Medicare Part A enrollment, allowing you to continue HSA contributions. However, you'd have to pay back any Social Security benefits you've already received, and you can only do this once in your lifetime. For most people, it's not worth it financially, but it's an option if maximizing HSA contributions is really important to your retirement strategy. You'd need to run the numbers carefully with a financial advisor to see if it makes sense in your situation. The good news is that once you get through this initial mess and get your excess HSA contributions sorted out with your tax preparer, everything should be much clearer going forward. Just make sure your payroll department stops the HSA deductions immediately if they haven't already!

This entire thread has been incredibly eye-opening as someone who's about to navigate the SSDI system myself. The consistent pattern of misinformation from SSA offices about earnings limits for child-in-care benefits is really concerning - it seems like this is happening nationwide, not just isolated incidents. What I find most valuable here is seeing the specific resources people have shared (POMS sections, SSA publications, escalation procedures) and the real-world examples of how these situations play out. The fact that both @3c26881dece6 (disability) and @6178c5c5de5a (retirement) were dealing with the same type of incorrect information about earnings tests really drives home how systemic this problem is. For anyone else reading this who might be in similar situations, I'm taking away these key points: - Print out relevant POMS sections before appointments - Always request written decisions rather than accepting verbal responses - Be prepared to escalate to supervisors or Congressional offices if needed - Document everything, including incorrect information you receive It's unfortunate that we have to become experts in SSA rules just to get accurate information from the agency itself, but threads like this show how powerful community knowledge-sharing can be. Thank you to everyone who's contributed their experiences and specific guidance - you're helping families avoid losing benefits they're legally entitled to receive.

As someone who works with disability benefits professionally, I want to emphasize that this thread perfectly illustrates why families need to be prepared with documentation when dealing with SSA. The misinformation about earnings limits for child-in-care benefits is unfortunately very common - I see it regularly in my practice. A few additional resources that might help others in similar situations: 1. SSA's "Red Book" (Publication 64-030) has a clear section on work incentives that explains child-in-care benefits are exempt from earnings tests. 2. If you're getting conflicting information, ask the SSA representative to cite the specific regulation they're referencing. Often they'll realize they're applying the wrong rule. 3. Consider contacting your local SOAR program (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery) - they have trained staff who can help navigate these complex applications. The key takeaway from both @3c26881dece6's SSDI situation and @6178c5c5de5a's retirement situation is that child-in-care spousal benefits follow the same rule regardless of which type of record they're based on - no earnings limit applies. This is a fundamental principle that SSA staff should know, but clearly many don't. Don't let incorrect information from local offices cost your family thousands of dollars in benefits. Be persistent, document everything, and don't hesitate to escalate when you know you're right.