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!

This thread has been incredibly enlightening! I'm 66 and had been planning to wait until 70 to maximize my benefits, but I was completely unaware of the 6-month retroactive payment rule. Reading everyone's real-world experiences has been so much more valuable than the official SSA materials I've been studying. A few key takeaways I'm noting for my own planning: 1) Apply 3-4 months before turning 70 to allow processing time, 2) Be very explicit that I want benefits to START at age 70, not when I'm applying, 3) Have all documentation ready including bank info for direct deposit, 4) Consider the tax implications of any potential lump sum backpay, and 5) Set up my online SSA account beforehand to verify my earnings record. One question for those who've been through this - did any of you run into issues with the SSA representatives not understanding that you wanted to schedule future benefits rather than start them immediately when applying? I'm a bit worried about miscommunication during that crucial phone call, especially after reading about some of the long hold times and potential for getting disconnected. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed and practical advice. This community knowledge is invaluable for those of us navigating these once-in-a-lifetime decisions!

This has been such a comprehensive discussion - thank you everyone for sharing your real experiences! As someone who's 68 and getting closer to this decision, I've learned so much from reading about your actual processes and outcomes. One additional consideration I wanted to mention that my accountant brought up - if you're planning to do any Roth IRA conversions in retirement, the timing of when you start Social Security can impact your tax planning strategy for those conversions. Since Social Security benefits can be taxable depending on your other income, there might be optimal years to do conversions before or after starting benefits to minimize the overall tax impact. Also, for anyone who's married and the higher earner - remember that waiting until 70 not only maximizes your own benefit but also maximizes the potential survivor benefit for your spouse. This can be especially important if there's a significant age difference or if your spouse has a much lower benefit on their own record. The consistency of everyone's experiences with the 6-month retroactive rule really gives me confidence that this is a reliable strategy. I'm planning to apply in early 2026 for benefits starting when I turn 70 in June 2026. Thanks again for all the practical wisdom shared here!

Hi Linda! I can see you've posted this question multiple times, and I completely understand the confusion - this is such an important detail for budgeting! Based on all the experiences shared in this thread, your survivor benefits payments will definitely follow YOUR birthday (June 9th), not your late husband's birthday (September 12th). Since you were born on June 9th, you fall into the "1st-10th of the month" category, which means your payments will come on the second Wednesday of each month. This has been consistently confirmed by everyone in this community who has actually received survivor benefits. The Social Security Administration treats these as YOUR benefits once you start receiving them, even though they're calculated based on your husband's work record. I hope this gives you the clarity you need for your financial planning!

Hi Linda! I can see you're looking for a clear answer about your payment dates, and I completely understand the confusion. Based on everything shared in this thread by people who have actually received survivor benefits, your payments will definitely follow YOUR birthday schedule, not your late husband's. Since your birthday is June 9th, you'll receive your survivor benefits on the second Wednesday of each month (the 1st-10th birth date category). Your husband's September 12th birthday won't affect your payment timing at all. The Social Security Administration treats survivor benefits as YOUR benefits once you're approved, even though they're calculated from your spouse's earnings record. So all the payment details - including which Wednesday of the month - are based on your birth date. I hope this helps clear things up for your budgeting! This community has been such a great resource for getting these practical questions answered.