This is such valuable information for grandparents! I wanted to add something that might help - if you're concerned about proving the parents aren't providing support (like Sofia mentioned), you can also ask SSA about getting a "Statement of Non-Support" form. This is something the absent parents can sign (if you can locate them) or you can provide an affidavit explaining their absence and lack of contact. I learned this when helping my neighbor with a similar situation. Also, keep records of ANY expenses you pay for your grandson - school supplies, clothes, activities, even small things add up and show the pattern of you being the primary provider. The more documentation you have, the stronger your case will be.

As someone new to this community, I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm in a very similar situation - I've had custody of my 8-year-old nephew for the past 4 years after his parents lost their rights due to substance abuse issues. Reading through Sofia's journey and everyone's advice has given me so much hope and direction for planning our future when I retire in a few years. The practical tips about documentation, the health insurance angle, and especially learning about the Statement of Non-Support form are game-changers. It's reassuring to know that SSA does recognize these family situations where grandparents and other relatives step up to raise children. Thank you all for sharing your experiences so openly - it makes navigating this complex system feel much less overwhelming for those of us just starting to research our options.

My head is spinning with all these rules!!! I thought Social Security was supposed to be simple? Why do they make everything so complicated with all these different ages and percentages and rules about who can file when???? I'm turning 60 next month and now I'm terrified I'm going to mess everything up when it's my turn to figure this out!!

I'm new to this community but going through something similar with my parents right now. My dad is 68 and still working, mom just turned 63. We learned the hard way that she can't get spousal benefits until he actually files - even though he's past FRA. One thing that helped us was requesting a Social Security Statement online to see exactly what both their benefits would be at different ages. You can create an account on the SSA website and it shows your projected benefits at 62, FRA, and 70. Really helps with running the numbers to see what makes sense financially. Also, don't forget about Medicare! Even if you delay Social Security, you still need to enroll in Medicare at 65 to avoid penalties (unless you have qualifying employer coverage). That's a whole other set of rules to navigate unfortunately.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful for all the detailed information shared here! I'm 65 and was completely overwhelmed trying to understand the Social Security earnings limit rules on my own. The consistent confirmation that retirement account withdrawals don't count toward the $23,000 earnings limit has been a huge relief. I've been hesitant to file because I thought my required minimum distributions from my 401k would push me over the threshold, but now I understand those are considered unearned income and completely separate from the earnings calculation. I'm particularly impressed by the practical advice about getting written documentation from SSA and using tracking spreadsheets to monitor earnings throughout the year. These are the kinds of real-world tips that make all the difference when you're actually trying to navigate the system. One question I haven't seen addressed - for those who have seasonal work patterns (like working more hours during busy seasons), do you find it better to spread your earnings evenly throughout the year, or does it not matter as long as you stay under the annual $23,000 limit? I do tax preparation work that's heavily concentrated in the first few months of the year, and I want to make sure there aren't any monthly reporting issues I should be aware of. Thank you all for creating such a supportive and knowledgeable community - this thread alone has answered questions I've been struggling with for months!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to echo everyone's appreciation for the incredibly helpful and detailed responses in this thread! I'm 63 and have been anxiously researching Social Security options for months, and this single conversation has provided more clarity than countless hours spent trying to decipher the official SSA materials. The confirmation that retirement account withdrawals don't count toward the earnings limit is absolutely crucial for my planning. I was genuinely considering delaying my Social Security application because I thought my IRA distributions would conflict with my part-time work income, but now I understand they're completely separate calculations. What strikes me most about this community is how people share not just the rules, but the practical strategies for managing them - like requesting written documentation from SSA, using tracking spreadsheets, and even tips for actually getting through on the phone. These real-world insights are invaluable when you're trying to navigate such a complex system. I'm particularly grateful for the clarification about seasonal income patterns and the proportional calculations if you accidentally exceed the limit. Knowing that going slightly over isn't catastrophic, and understanding exactly how the withholding works, takes away a lot of the anxiety around this decision. Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences and knowledge. This is exactly the kind of supportive community that makes such a difference when facing these major financial decisions!

This thread has been so educational! I'm in a similar boat - turning 63 next year and considering when to start my benefits. My partner and I have been together for 8 years but never married because we both heard these scary stories about losing benefits. Reading all these responses, especially from the SSA employee, has really opened my eyes to how much misinformation is out there. It sounds like the key is understanding exactly WHICH type of benefit you're receiving. For those of us getting our own retirement benefits, marriage is actually a non-issue (and could even be beneficial). Thanks everyone for such a thorough discussion - this is exactly the kind of real-world info that's hard to find elsewhere!

As someone who just went through this process last year, I wanted to add my perspective! My fiancé and I were also worried about the marriage penalty after hearing horror stories from friends. We ended up scheduling an appointment at our local SSA office (took about 3 weeks to get in, but worth it for the peace of mind). The representative walked us through exactly how our benefits would be affected - spoiler alert: they wouldn't be! She explained that retirement benefits you earn through your own work are completely protected from marriage status changes. The confusion often comes from people mixing up different benefit types. What really surprised us was learning that marriage could actually increase our combined household benefits in the future if one of us becomes eligible for spousal benefits. Don't let fear of losing benefits you've rightfully earned keep you from happiness - get the facts straight from SSA and then celebrate your engagement!

As someone who recently went through this process myself, I can confirm that the online application does clearly separate the application date from your chosen benefit start date. The key is to take your time on each screen and read carefully - there will be a section specifically asking "When do you want your retirement benefits to begin?" where you can select January 2025. Don't let the October application date worry you at all - that's just administrative. I'd also recommend taking screenshots of the confirmation page showing your January 2025 start date for your records. One additional tip: after you submit, you should receive an email confirmation within 24-48 hours. If you don't get that confirmation email, definitely follow up to make sure your application went through properly. The peace of mind is worth it when you're dealing with something this important!

I just want to echo what everyone else has said - you're absolutely doing the right thing by being so careful about this! I work as a retirement counselor and see people make mistakes with their Social Security applications all the time. The good news is that the online system has gotten much better at making the benefit start date selection clear. When you get to that screen, it will literally ask "What month and year do you want your retirement benefits to start?" and you'll see a dropdown menu where you can select January 2025. The system won't let you proceed without making this selection, so there's less chance of accidentally missing it. Also, after you submit, print out or save a PDF of your entire application summary - not just the confirmation page. This gives you a complete record of everything you submitted, including both your benefit start date and entitlement date. If there are ever any discrepancies later, having this documentation will help resolve them quickly.