As someone who just navigated this exact situation last year, I wanted to add a few practical tips that helped me. First, make sure to get your monthly benefit amount in writing from SSA - you'll need this to calculate potential withholding amounts. Second, consider asking your accounting firm if they can adjust your work schedule strategically. I found it helpful to work fewer hours in certain months to stay under the $1,860 limit, especially toward the end of the year when I was getting close to the annual threshold. Also, keep all your pay stubs and document any conversations with SSA representatives - if there's confusion later, having that paper trail is invaluable. The earnings test is definitely one of the most confusing aspects of early retirement benefits, but once you get through the first year, it becomes much more straightforward since only the annual limit applies. You're smart to ask these questions upfront rather than figuring it out after the fact like many of us did!

Hey there! I'm new to this community but have been lurking and learning so much from everyone's experiences. I'm 63 and considering starting my Social Security benefits early, but posts like yours really highlight how complex the earnings test can be. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly educational - especially learning about the monthly vs annual limits in the first year and how January/February earnings don't count if you start mid-year. It's honestly shocking how many people seem to get incorrect information from SSA representatives themselves. I'm bookmarking this entire thread as a reference! Thanks for asking such detailed questions - it's helping folks like me who are still in the planning stages.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through this exact situation two years ago. I'm a military widow receiving DIC ($1,800/month at the time) and started collecting Social Security at 62. The DIC absolutely does NOT count toward your earnings limit - I can confirm this from personal experience. What I found really helpful was calling SSA before I actually filed for benefits to discuss my specific situation. They walked me through exactly how the earnings test works and confirmed that only my potential part-time work income would count toward the $22,320 limit. One thing that surprised me was how straightforward the whole process was once I had all my documentation together. I brought my DIC award letter to my SSA appointment and they noted it in my file but explained it was completely separate from the earnings calculation. The peace of mind of having that guaranteed DIC income really did make taking early SS at a reduced rate feel like the right choice for me. I hope your planning goes smoothly - this community is great for getting real experiences from people who've actually navigated these waters!

I'm so grateful to have found this discussion! Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly helpful as I'm facing a very similar decision. I'm 64 and have been putting off retirement because I was worried about how my DIC payments (about $1,600/month) would interact with early Social Security. After reading all these real-world experiences from people who are actually living this situation, I feel much more confident that I can move forward with my retirement plans. It's amazing how much clearer things become when you hear from people who've actually navigated these systems rather than just trying to parse government websites and regulations. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories - especially those who got official confirmation from SSA. I'm definitely going to follow the advice about getting everything documented in writing and bringing my DIC award letter when I meet with Social Security. This community is such a valuable resource for those of us dealing with these complex benefit interactions!

Andre, I'm so sorry for the loss of your wife. What a tremendous loss after 29 years together, and I can only imagine how overwhelming it must feel to navigate these complex Social Security decisions while grieving. Reading through this entire thread, I'm impressed by how thoughtful your strategy is and how much excellent advice you've received from this community. The clarification that 401k contributions don't help with the earnings test was disappointing, I'm sure, but your overall "claim at 62, switch at 67" approach still makes strong financial sense given that significant difference between your benefits ($1,640 vs $2,850). What really stands out to me is how many helpful tools and safeguards you now have at your disposal: the monthly earnings test option for your first year, the ability to track earnings carefully with HR's help, the "do-over" option within 12 months if needed, and knowing that SSA will automatically switch you to the survivor benefit at your FRA. Plus, having nearly a year to prepare and "practice" different work schedules before you turn 62 next April gives you a real advantage. I think the in-person SSA appointment that others suggested will be invaluable for confirming your exact numbers and getting official guidance tailored to your situation. You've got a solid roadmap now, and I hope you feel more confident moving forward with your planning. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

Andre, I'm so deeply sorry for the loss of your wife. Losing a life partner after 29 years is heartbreaking, and having to navigate these complex Social Security decisions during your grief makes it even more challenging. I've been reading through this entire discussion, and I'm amazed by the wealth of knowledge and support this community has provided. While it's disappointing that 401k contributions won't help with the earnings test as you'd hoped, your overall strategy still makes excellent financial sense given that substantial difference between your retirement benefit ($1,640) and survivor benefit ($2,850). What gives me confidence in your approach is how many protective measures and options you now have: - The monthly earnings test for your first year of claiming - The ability to carefully track earnings with your HR department - The "do-over" option within 12 months if things don't work as planned - The automatic switch to survivor benefits at your FRA - Nearly a full year to prepare and optimize before you turn 62 next April As others have mentioned, even if the earnings test reduces your benefits in some years, you're still getting 5 years of Social Security income versus none at all before switching to that much higher survivor benefit. The math strongly favors your strategy. I'd echo the suggestion to schedule that in-person SSA appointment to get official confirmation of your exact benefit amounts and discuss your specific situation. Having professional guidance tailored to your circumstances will give you the confidence to move forward. You're making thoughtful, well-informed decisions during an incredibly difficult time. Take care of yourself, and I hope the path forward becomes clearer as you work through the planning process.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely amazed by the incredible journey Aurora has shared and the wealth of knowledge everyone has contributed! Reading through this entire thread has been both deeply educational and inspiring - it really demonstrates how powerful community support can be when someone is facing a complex crisis. What strikes me most is how Aurora's situation transformed from what seemed like an impossible nightmare - losing Medicaid coverage for her son's extensive medical needs - to having multiple concrete solutions within just a few days. The key lesson I'm taking away is that specialized knowledge and knowing WHO to ask is absolutely critical. The distinction between frontline Medicaid workers and specialists who understand disability transitions appears to make all the difference in the world. I'm bookmarking all the resources mentioned throughout this thread: WIPA counselors, Disability Rights offices, Protection & Advocacy organizations, Centers for Independent Living, and programs like Medicaid Working Disabled and Medicare Buy-In. As someone who may face similar challenges helping family members navigate these systems in the future, having this roadmap could prevent so much stress and confusion. Aurora, your courage in sharing both the initial panic and the positive updates is incredibly generous. Your experience proves that even when the system seems designed to make people give up, there ARE solutions if you know where to look and refuse to accept "no options" as final. Thank you for turning your frightening experience into a learning opportunity that will help countless other families facing DAC transitions. To everyone who shared their expertise and personal experiences - this is exactly what supportive community looks like. You literally helped prevent a family from facing a devastating medical coverage crisis, and your collective wisdom will continue helping families for years to come. This thread should be required reading for anyone navigating the disability benefits system!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely amazed by Aurora's journey and the incredible outpouring of support and expertise shared here! Reading through this entire thread has been both deeply educational and truly inspiring - it perfectly demonstrates how powerful community knowledge can be during a crisis. What strikes me most is how quickly Aurora's situation transformed from what seemed like an insurmountable nightmare to having concrete, actionable solutions. The key takeaway for me is that knowing WHO to ask is just as important as knowing WHAT to ask. The distinction between frontline workers and specialists who actually understand disability benefit transitions appears to be absolutely critical. I'm taking detailed notes on all the programs and resources mentioned: WIPA counselors, Disability Rights offices, Protection & Advocacy organizations, Centers for Independent Living, Medicaid Working Disabled, Medicare Buy-In, and patient assistance programs. Having this roadmap could be lifesaving for anyone facing similar transitions. Aurora, thank you for your incredible courage in sharing both the initial panic and your positive updates. Your experience proves that even when the system feels impossible to navigate, solutions DO exist if you know where to look and don't give up after the first "no options" response. Your willingness to document this journey will help countless families facing DAC transitions. To everyone who shared their expertise and personal experiences - this is exactly what supportive community looks like. You literally helped prevent a family from facing a devastating coverage crisis, and this collective wisdom will continue helping others for years to come. This thread should honestly be required reading for anyone navigating disability benefits!

Welcome to the community! Your situation sounds very well thought out, and you're smart to get all the details sorted before jumping in. I've been navigating Social Security and part-time work for the past couple years, and one thing I'd add to the great advice already shared is about record keeping for your demonstration work specifically. Since you'll be working trade shows, consider keeping a simple log for each event that includes: date, location, hours worked, gross income, and any expenses incurred. This makes it super easy to track both your monthly hours (to stay under that 45-hour rule) and your monthly earnings for the SSA limits. I use a basic spreadsheet but even a notebook works fine. Also, don't forget that if you're driving your own vehicle between multiple shows in a weekend, you can deduct mileage between venues, not just from home to the first show and back. Those miles add up! One last thing - since you mentioned kitchen gadgets and cookware demonstrations, if you end up purchasing any of the products you're demonstrating (either for practice at home or because you genuinely want them), keep those receipts too. The portion used for business purposes can be deductible. Sounds like you've got a solid plan and this community has given you excellent guidance. Best of luck with your new venture - trade show work can be really rewarding!

Welcome to the community! Your question really resonates with me because I went through almost the exact same situation when I started collecting at 65 last year. The combination of early Social Security benefits and 1099 self-employment work can definitely feel overwhelming at first, but you're asking all the right questions. One thing I learned that might be helpful - since you're just starting benefits in 2025, you get the advantage of the monthly earnings test rather than the annual test for this first year. This can actually work in your favor if your trade show schedule varies month to month, since you just need to stay under $1,860 per month rather than worrying about the full annual limit of $22,320. For the self-employment tax piece, yes, you'll pay both portions (15.3% total), but remember that half of that is deductible on your tax return, which helps offset some of the sting. And definitely make those quarterly payments - I learned that lesson the hard way my first year! Since you mentioned product demonstrations, don't overlook deductions for things like professional appearance costs (if you need specific clothing), business cards, or even a portable table if you need to bring your own setup. The IRS is pretty generous with "ordinary and necessary" business expenses for demonstration work. You sound like you have a great handle on this - the fact that you're thinking about IRMAA impacts and planning to stay well under the limits shows you're approaching this thoughtfully. Best of luck with the trade shows!