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This entire thread has been incredibly educational! I'm 62 and just filed for early benefits last month, but I had no idea about the 45-hour rule for self-employment. I do occasional tax preparation work during tax season (January through April) and some bookkeeping throughout the year. After reading everyone's experiences, I'm realizing I need to immediately start tracking my hours and probably restructure when I take on clients. It sounds like I should concentrate all my tax prep work into just those 4 months and plan to forfeit benefits for those months, then collect benefits the remaining 8 months. One thing I'm still unclear on - if I'm already receiving benefits and then discover I need to report substantial services for certain months, is there a deadline for notifying SSA? And do they prefer phone calls or written reports for this kind of update? Also, for those who mentioned keeping detailed time logs, what level of detail does SSA actually want to see? Just daily totals, or do they want to know what specific tasks you were working on each day? This community has provided more practical guidance than hours of reading SSA publications. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences - it's saving people like me from costly mistakes!
@Mateo Hernandez Welcome to the community! You re'smart to be asking these questions now rather than finding out the hard way later. From what I ve'gathered in this thread, it s'better to report changes sooner rather than later to avoid overpayment situations. For reporting substantial services, I believe you can call SSA or submit updates in writing, but given how hard it is to get through on the phone as (several people mentioned ,)written documentation might be more reliable. You want a paper trail anyway. Regarding the time logs, I m'curious about this too as someone just starting to track my hours. From the experiences shared here, it sounds like daily totals are probably sufficient, but I m'keeping brief notes about what type of work I did each day just in case. Better to have too much documentation than too little, right? Your tax season strategy makes total sense - concentrate all that work into January-April, forfeit benefits those months, then collect the other 8 months. That seems to be the approach several successful people here have used. Just make sure to notify SSA about your expected work pattern when you report! Good luck navigating this system - at least we re'all learning together!
I'm new to this community but this discussion has been a real eye-opener! I'm 64 and was planning to start collecting Social Security early next year while continuing some freelance graphic design work. I had no clue about the 45-hour monthly rule - the SSA website definitely doesn't explain this clearly. Reading through everyone's experiences, it seems like the key takeaway is to completely separate work months from benefit months rather than trying to stay under annual limits while working consistently. I'm now thinking I should concentrate my client work into maybe 3-4 intensive months per year and collect full benefits the other 8-9 months. For those who have successfully implemented this strategy, do you find clients are understanding when you explain you need to batch work into specific timeframes? I'm worried about losing regular clients if I can't provide consistent availability throughout the year. Also, has anyone dealt with creative work where it's harder to define "hours worked"? Like if I spend 3 hours actively designing but also have ideas percolating in my head throughout the day, how do you track that for SSA purposes? I assume they want actual hands-on-keyboard time rather than creative thinking time, but I'd love to hear from others in similar fields. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical guidance you can't find in official publications!
@Bethany Groves Great questions about creative work! I m'also new here but have been following this thread closely. For tracking creative hours, I think you re'right that SSA would want actual work time rather than passive thinking time. Most people seem to track when they re'actively working on client projects - so your 3 hours of active designing would count, but not the background mental processing. Regarding client relationships, that s'definitely a concern I share. Maybe you could frame it as seasonal availability rather than explaining all the SSA rules? Like I "m'restructuring my practice to focus intensively on projects during certain months of the year. Some" clients might actually prefer that approach if it means they get your full attention during those periods. From reading the experiences here, it sounds like the documentation hassle and potential overpayment risks of trying to work year-round while collecting early benefits just aren t'worth it. The batch "work into specific months strategy" seems much cleaner, even if it requires some client education upfront. I m'curious to hear from others who ve'managed creative businesses - do you bill by project completion or track hourly? That might affect how you structure this approach too.
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To clarify about file and suspend: The "file and suspend" strategy that allowed spouses to claim on a suspended record was eliminated in 2016. However, you can still file for benefits and then later request to suspend them to earn delayed retirement credits. The difference is that NO ONE can receive benefits on your record while your benefits are suspended. Regarding the original question - one more consideration is that if your wife works until her own Full Retirement Age, she can choose to take either her own retirement benefit or the spousal benefit, whichever is higher. If she files before her FRA, she doesn't get this choice - she's deemed to have filed for both and gets essentially the higher amount.
Thanks for clarifying. This is all so complicated! I never realized how many different factors go into this decision. Sounds like I really need to talk with someone at SSA to run the numbers for our specific situation before making any decisions.
Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who's been researching this extensively for my own situation. One thing that might help with your decision is to use the SSA's online benefit calculators to model different scenarios. You can create "what if" scenarios showing your benefits at 62 vs your FRA, and estimate your wife's spousal benefits under each scenario. Also consider that if you're in good health and have longevity in your family, the break-even point for waiting vs filing early is usually around age 78-80. If you expect to live beyond that, waiting typically pays off financially. But if you need the income now or have health concerns, filing at 62 might make more sense despite the reduced benefits. The peace of mind factor is real too - having guaranteed income starting at 62 vs waiting and hoping the system doesn't change can be worth something that's hard to quantify in dollars.
This is really helpful advice about using the SSA calculators! I'm new to navigating all this Social Security stuff and it's pretty overwhelming. The break-even analysis you mentioned sounds like something I should definitely look into. Do you know if those online calculators factor in spousal benefits too, or are they just for individual benefits? Also, that point about peace of mind is something I hadn't really considered - there is value in knowing you have that income stream starting earlier, even if it means less money overall in the long run.
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Thank you for this summary. I think my next step is definitely to get accurate numbers from SSA about my ex's FRA benefit amount and then make some calculations. Really appreciate everyone's insights!
One thing I'd add to this great discussion is that you should also consider what happens if your own retirement benefit (based on your work record) might eventually exceed the spousal benefit. If you're still working and earning credits, your own benefit continues to grow until age 70 with delayed retirement credits. Even though you're receiving spousal benefits now, Social Security will automatically switch you to your own higher benefit if it becomes larger. So while you're weighing the spousal benefit decision, don't forget to factor in what your own benefit might look like at 70 - especially since you mentioned you're still earning around $21,500/year. This could potentially change the math significantly depending on your work history and future earnings!
This is such a great point that I hadn't even considered! I've been so focused on the spousal benefit decision that I completely overlooked how my own work record might factor in. I've worked for about 35 years total, but many of those early years were at much lower wages. Since I'm still working and earning $21,500 annually, those are probably some of my higher earning years that could help my own benefit calculation. Do you know if there's an easy way to see what my projected benefit at 70 would be compared to the spousal benefit? This could definitely change everything if my own benefit might eventually be higher!
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I'm new to this community but wanted to reach out because I'm currently helping my mom navigate a very similar situation. She was recently diagnosed with a progressive neurological condition and we're in the early stages of applying for SSDI. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about so many of these programs and options. The information about auxiliary benefits for children being based on the disabled parent's work record (not spousal income) is especially valuable since we were worried about income limits affecting eligibility. One thing I learned from our experience so far that might help - our state's 211 helpline (you can dial 2-1-1) was able to connect us with local disability resources we never would have found on our own. They knew about state-specific programs and even helped us understand which applications we could start working on before the SSDI approval comes through. Also, regarding documentation - we started keeping a "bad days" journal where we note not just symptoms but specifically how they prevent normal activities (like "couldn't grip coffee cup," "too fatigued to shower," "brain fog made it impossible to balance checkbook"). Our attorney said this kind of functional impact documentation is often more compelling than just medical records. Your proactive approach to researching options and asking questions is exactly right. Even though the system seems complicated, it sounds like there are more safety nets available than most people realize - you just have to know where to look. This community has been such a great resource for learning about all the possibilities. I hope your SSDI application goes smoothly and that you find good coverage solutions for your whole family!
Thank you for sharing your experience helping your mom through this process - it's so helpful to hear from someone currently going through something similar! The 211 helpline tip is fantastic - I had no idea that resource existed. Having a single number to call that can connect you with local disability resources sounds like exactly what I need to find programs I wouldn't discover on my own. Your "bad days" journal approach is brilliant too. I've been tracking symptoms but hadn't thought about specifically documenting how they prevent normal daily activities in such concrete terms. That kind of functional impact documentation makes so much sense - showing that you "couldn't grip coffee cup" is much more compelling than just noting "hand tremors." I'm going to start incorporating that approach into my own documentation right away. It's reassuring to hear that there are more safety nets available than most people realize. When you're first facing this situation, it feels like you're falling into a void, but this community has shown me that there are actually many programs and resources - you just have to know where to look and who to ask. Thank you for the encouragement about my proactive approach. Sometimes I worry I'm overthinking everything, but hearing from others who are successfully navigating similar challenges gives me confidence that we can figure this out. I hope your mom's application goes well too, and thank you for sharing such practical advice!
I'm new to this community but wanted to reach out because your post really resonates with me. I'm currently going through the SSDI application process myself for a different chronic condition, and the uncertainty around family coverage has been keeping me up at night. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly educational - I had no idea about auxiliary benefits for children or how the Medicare waiting period actually works. The clarification that your children's benefits would be based on YOUR work record rather than your husband's income is such important information that I don't think is widely understood. One thing that struck me from everyone's advice is how crucial it seems to be to connect with local resources. The suggestions about disability resource centers, independent living centers, and even calling 211 for local program information seem like they could uncover options that aren't obvious from federal websites alone. Your approach of keeping detailed symptom records is really smart. From what I'm learning here, the functional limitations documentation seems to be just as important as the medical records themselves. The SSA wants to see how your condition actually impacts your ability to work and perform daily activities. I know this whole process feels overwhelming when you're already dealing with health challenges, but you're clearly being proactive about planning ahead for your family. The fact that you're researching options now and asking the right questions puts you in a much better position than many people who wait until after approval to figure out next steps. This community has been such a valuable resource - I've learned more from reading everyone's responses here than from hours of searching government websites. I hope your SSDI application goes smoothly and that you find good solutions for your family's healthcare and financial needs!
Mason Stone
I'm in a very similar boat - turning 67 later this year and have been putting off this decision for weeks! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so reassuring. I was also terrified about making mistakes on the online application, but it sounds like the system is much more forgiving than I expected. The tip about having your "my Social Security" account ready beforehand is gold - I just logged in and can see all my earnings history right there, which will definitely make the application easier. I'm also relieved to hear that you can estimate dates if you don't remember exact employment details, since some of my job history from the 90s is pretty fuzzy! One question for those who've completed the process - about how long did it take from submitting your online application to actually receiving your first payment? I know the processing times can vary, but I'm trying to plan my budget accordingly. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences. This thread has given me the confidence to move forward with the online application instead of continuing to stress about getting through on the phone!
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Beth Ford
•Great question about timing! I completed my online application in February and received my first payment about 6 weeks later, which was actually faster than the estimated processing time they gave me. From what I understand, online applications typically process faster than paper ones - most people seem to get their first payment within 2-3 months of applying. Since you're planning for benefits to start later this year, applying now gives you plenty of buffer time. Even if there are any minor issues that need clarification, you'll have months to sort them out before your desired start date. One thing that helped me budget during the waiting period was that SSA sends you a letter once your application is approved (but before your first payment) that confirms your exact benefit amount and start date. So you'll know the details well before the money actually starts coming in. The peace of mind of having it submitted and in the system is honestly worth more than the stress of waiting for the perfect moment to apply. You've got this!
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Amara Okafor
Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a somewhat different situation - I'm turning 62 next year and trying to decide whether to take early benefits or wait until my FRA. But seeing how smooth the online application process seems to be for everyone gives me confidence that when I do decide to apply, the mechanics won't be the hard part. What strikes me most from all your stories is how the online system has really improved over the years. A few years ago, I remember hearing horror stories about government websites, but it sounds like SSA has actually made theirs pretty user-friendly. The built-in error checking and ability to save your progress are exactly the features that make online applications less stressful. For those still on the fence about online vs. phone - based on what I'm reading here, it seems like the phone option has gotten significantly worse while the online option has gotten better. That's probably the trend across most government services these days. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences. Even though I'm not applying yet, this thread has given me a great roadmap for when my time comes!
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Giovanni Marino
•You're absolutely right about the trend in government services moving toward better online experiences while phone support has declined. What I've found interesting reading through everyone's experiences is how much the fear of making mistakes seems to be the biggest barrier, but the reality is that the system has safeguards built in and SSA will work with you to correct any issues. Your point about the mechanics not being the hard part really resonates - it sounds like the actual application process has become quite manageable, so people can focus on the important decision of timing rather than worrying about navigating a complicated system. When you do reach your decision point about early vs. FRA benefits, you'll have a clear path forward for the application itself. The experiences shared here show that whether someone is 62, 67, or anywhere in between, the online application process is pretty consistent and user-friendly.
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