Bottom line: Stay on SSDI until your Full Retirement Age (67). At that point, your SSDI automatically converts to retirement benefits at the same amount. If you want to try working before then, use the work incentives designed for SSDI recipients (Trial Work Period, etc.) rather than switching to early retirement. The permanent reduction from taking early retirement almost never makes financial sense for someone already receiving SSDI.

Just wanted to add another important consideration - if you do decide to explore work options while on SSDI, make sure to keep detailed records of ALL your earnings and work activities. The SSA uses something called "countable income" which isn't always the same as what you actually receive. For example, if you're self-employed, they look at your net earnings from self-employment after business expenses. Also, some types of income don't count toward the SGA limit (like certain disability-related work expenses). I learned this the hard way when I had to provide documentation going back months during a review. Having everything organized from day one makes the process much smoother if you get questioned later.

Just wanted to add one more consideration - since you mentioned your husband said "we'll have plenty saved" but that didn't pan out, make sure you factor in your spouse's Social Security situation too if applicable. If your husband is still working or hasn't claimed yet, coordinating both of your claiming strategies could maximize your combined household benefits. Also, if you're married and your husband has passed away, you might be eligible for survivor benefits that could be higher than your own benefit. It's worth asking SSA about spousal/survivor benefit optimization when you call them. Sometimes couples can use strategies like "claim and suspend" or file and restrict to squeeze out every dollar possible from the system.

I'm 72 and went through a very similar situation! Took SS at 62 due to health issues, then went back to work part-time at 69. Here's what I learned: Yes, those SS deductions are normal and they DO help your benefit amount, but probably not by much given your current earnings vs. your construction years. The real opportunity is suspension - I wish I had known about it earlier! One thing to consider: if you suspend benefits and return to full-time work, make sure you have a realistic backup plan. I tried going back full-time at 70 but my body just couldn't handle it anymore, even in an office job. The 8% annual increase is fantastic, but only if you can actually make it work physically and financially. Maybe test out a few months of full-time work while still collecting benefits (since there's no earnings limit at your age) before making the suspension decision? That way you can see how your body handles it without losing your safety net.

As a newcomer to this community and someone approaching retirement age myself, this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea these Social Security phishing scams were so prevalent and sophisticated. The timing aspect you experienced, Landon, would have completely freaked me out too - it's such a relief to hear from multiple people (including an actual SSA employee) that this is just an unfortunate coincidence and not a sign of a security breach. The practical advice here is invaluable - I'm writing down all the red flags everyone mentioned: exclamation points in subject lines, urgent language like "Check Now!!", direct clickable links, and anything that doesn't come from an official @ssa.gov address. The fact that legitimate SSA communications only go through the message center and are always formal in tone is something I definitely wouldn't have known otherwise. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise. This is exactly the kind of knowledge-sharing that makes online communities so valuable, especially for those of us navigating these major life transitions for the first time!

As someone who's new to this community and will likely be applying for Social Security benefits in the coming months, this entire discussion has been incredibly educational! I can't imagine how alarming it must have been to receive that suspicious email so soon after submitting your application, Landon. The timing really would make anyone panic. What I find most valuable about this thread is how it shows the importance of community knowledge-sharing. Between the experienced members explaining the red flags and Melissa from the actual SSA office confirming the official protocols, I now feel much better prepared to handle these situations if they arise. The key takeaways I'm noting are: never click links in emails claiming to be from SSA, always go directly to ssa.gov, look for formal language and @ssa.gov addresses, and remember that legitimate communications come through the message center. It's unfortunate that scammers target people during such important life transitions, but knowing what to expect makes all the difference. Thank you to everyone who contributed their experiences and expertise - this is exactly why communities like this are so valuable!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm finding this thread incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation as Madison - working in education (I'm a substitute teacher) and trying to figure out Social Security timing. One thing that might be worth exploring is whether your school district participates in any Social Security Administration outreach programs. Some districts actually bring SSA representatives on-site during benefits enrollment periods to help employees understand how their specific employment situation affects Social Security benefits. If your district doesn't offer this, you might suggest it to your union representative or HR department - they often have collective bargaining power to request these kinds of educational sessions. Also, I've learned that some school employee unions have partnered with financial advisors who specialize in education sector retirement planning. They understand the unique challenges like 9-month work schedules, summer layoffs, and how different pension systems interact with Social Security. It might be worth checking if your local bus drivers' union or education association offers any retirement planning resources specifically tailored to school transportation workers. The generic Social Security advice is helpful, but having someone who understands the nuances of school employment could be invaluable for your specific situation!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to add something that might be helpful for your situation, Madison. I've been researching Social Security timing myself and learned about something called the "first-year monthly test" that could potentially work in your favor as a school bus driver. If you decide to claim benefits mid-year (say, in June when school ends), Social Security will use a monthly earnings test for the remainder of that calendar year instead of the annual test. The monthly limit for 2025 is $1,860 - so if you could arrange to not receive any paychecks during the summer months (June-August) by switching to the 9-month payment schedule, you might be able to collect full Social Security benefits for those months even if your total annual earnings exceed the yearly limit. This would only work for your first year of claiming benefits, but it could be a way to "test the waters" and see how the earnings test affects your specific situation. Of course, you'd need to weigh this against any loss of summer health benefits or other considerations, but it's another strategic option to explore. Have you had a chance to ask your payroll department about the flexibility of switching payment schedules mid-year?

I'm new to this community but have been following Social Security rules closely as I approach retirement myself. Based on everything I've researched and what others have confirmed here, your PTO payout definitely counts toward your 2025 earnings limit since you received it in 2025, regardless of when it was actually earned. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet that might be helpful - if you're using tax software like TurboTax or working with a tax preparer this year, make sure to mention your Social Security situation to them early. They can help you plan for the tax implications of having both SS benefits and work income, and some of the newer software versions actually have calculators that can help you model different earning scenarios throughout the year. Also, since you're being so methodical about tracking (which is smart!), consider setting up a simple alert on your phone for the last day of each month to update your earnings tracker. It only takes a few minutes but keeps you from falling behind on the math when you're busy with work and life. The $23,400 limit really doesn't leave much room for error, especially after that PTO payout, so staying on top of it monthly rather than trying to catch up quarterly will save you stress later.

I'm also dealing with the earnings limit as a newer Social Security recipient, and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I wanted to add one more resource that might help - the SSA has a specific publication called "How Work Affects Your Benefits" (Publication No. 05-10069) that goes into detail about the earnings test. You can download it for free from their website and it's much clearer than trying to navigate their main site. One thing I learned from my own experience is to also keep track of any state taxes that might be withheld from your Social Security benefits. Some states tax SS benefits and some don't, but it's another factor to consider when you're budgeting with both work income and benefits. Also, since you mentioned you're 65 and not yet at FRA, remember that the earnings limit increases significantly in the year you reach full retirement age (it goes up to $62,160 for 2025), and they only count earnings before the month you actually reach FRA. So depending on when your birthday is, you might have more flexibility later in the year you turn your full retirement age. Just something to keep in mind for future planning!