Since you mentioned health insurance: be aware that if you take Social Security at 62, you still won't be eligible for Medicare until 65. Make sure you factor your health insurance costs into your calculations for those 3 years if you're planning to reduce your work hours. Many people forget this important detail when planning early retirement with Social Security.

Yes you can as long as the 401K contributions are pre tax and taken out of your paycheck by your employer.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! This is exactly what I needed. I'll definitely: 1. Track all my work hours and keep well under 45/month 2. Keep excellent records of all business expenses 3. Set aside 30% for taxes and make quarterly payments 4. Report my estimated earnings to SSA And I'll check out that Claimyr service to get specific guidance from SSA about my situation. The trade show job pays $300-$400 per event, so even doing 2-3 per month I should stay well below the annual limit. I just wanted to make sure I understood all the tax implications before jumping in!

Great question! I went through something very similar when I started collecting at 62 and then picked up some freelance work. A few additional things to keep in mind: Since you're doing product demonstrations, you might be able to deduct things like demonstration supplies, promotional materials, or even clothing if it's specifically required for the job. Also, if you're staying in hotels for these weekend conventions, those travel expenses can really add up as deductions. One thing that caught me off guard was that Social Security counts your net self-employment income for the earnings test, but the IRS requires you to pay self-employment tax on 92.35% of your net earnings (they give you a small deduction). It's a weird quirk in the system but worth knowing about. Also, since you're just starting in 2025, you get to use the monthly earnings test this year instead of the annual test, which can be more forgiving if your income varies month to month. Just make sure you're not going over that $1,860 monthly limit in any single month.

UPDATE: I wanted to thank everyone for the amazing advice! I contacted our state's Disability Rights office yesterday, and they connected me with a benefits specialist who knew exactly what to do. Apparently there's something called the "Medicaid Working Disabled" program in our state that my son qualifies for even though he can't work full-time. We're submitting the application today. I also spoke with his neurologist who is providing 3 months of emergency medication samples while we sort this out, and has enrolled him in patient assistance programs for two of his most expensive medications. Still working on getting through to SSA to clarify some details about the transition, but at least I feel like we have a path forward now. Thank you all so much!

So glad to hear you're making progress! The "Medicaid Working Disabled" program is exactly what saved us when my daughter went through this transition. Just a heads up - the application process can take 30-45 days, so make sure you ask about retroactive coverage to avoid any gaps. Also, when you do get through to SSA, ask them about the "Medicare Buy-In" option for when his Medicare kicks in after the 24-month waiting period. With his medication costs, having both Medicare and Medicaid will be crucial for full coverage. You're doing an amazing job advocating for your son - this system is so complex and most people don't realize these programs exist until they're in crisis mode like you were!

This has been such an informative discussion! I'm 69 and have been stressing about the timing for months. Reading everyone's experiences has really helped me understand that the 6-month retroactive payment rule is real, but there's absolutely no benefit to waiting beyond 70. One thing I wanted to add from my research - I've been using the Social Security Administration's online retirement estimator tool (ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/estimator.html) to model different scenarios, and it's been really helpful for visualizing exactly how much I'd receive at different claiming ages. For anyone still on the fence about timing, I'd recommend plugging in your numbers there to see the concrete dollar differences. Also, for those worried about getting through to SSA on the phone, I've found that calling right when they open at 8 AM local time significantly reduces wait times. I called last week just to ask some preliminary questions and only waited about 15 minutes versus the horror stories of 3+ hour holds. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences - it's so much more valuable than just reading the official SSA publications!

This has been such a comprehensive and helpful discussion! As someone who's 68 and planning to file at 70, I wanted to add one more consideration that my elder law attorney mentioned - the importance of having all your documentation organized before you apply. Beyond just knowing when to file, make sure you have easy access to your birth certificate, marriage certificate (if applicable), tax returns from the last few years, and any military service records. The SSA rep will need to verify various details, and having everything ready can make the process much smoother. Also, if you have any name changes throughout your life (maiden names, etc.), be prepared to provide documentation for those as well. I learned this the hard way when helping my sister apply - what should have been a straightforward call turned into weeks of back-and-forth because she couldn't immediately provide proof of a name change from 30 years ago. One last tip: consider setting up a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov before you apply. You can review your earnings history to make sure everything is accurate, which could save time during your application call. Plus, once you start receiving benefits, you can access statements and manage certain aspects of your account online rather than having to call. The collective wisdom in this thread has been invaluable - thank you all for sharing your real-world experiences!

No one seems to know the correct answer to this question I am getting survivors of benefits for my late husband do the payment dates while on my birthday which is June 9th 1965 for my late husband's birthday which is September 12th 1940

What day does payments fall on for survivors benefits my late husband's birthday which is September 12th or my birthday it which is June 9th