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Mine is still not here 😭 But at least I know others are getting theirs so maybe tomorrow for me? My bank sometimes takes longer to process international transfers.
That's common. Different international banks have different processing times for incoming wire transfers. Some can take up to 3 additional business days depending on their relationship with intermediary banks. As long as the payment has been initiated by SSA (which seems to be the case based on other users' experiences), it should appear in your account soon.
For anyone who continues to experience delays beyond 5 business days, here's what you should do: 1. Contact your bank first to confirm they don't see any pending deposits 2. Check your mySocialSecurity account to verify the payment status shows as processed 3. Contact the Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) at your regional U.S. Embassy or Consulate 4. If the FBU can't help, request an emergency payment if you're in financial hardship Keep in mind that the Treasury Department sometimes implements additional verification steps for international payments after system updates, which can cause temporary delays. These additional security measures are designed to prevent fraud but can unfortunately cause stress for legitimate beneficiaries.
got mine this morning too! 👍
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dont forget about the EARNINGS LIMIT!!! if either of u work while collecting SS before FRA they take back $1 for every $2 u earn over the limit (around $22k i think). my hubby got surprised by this and they took back half his benefits last year!!! 😠
That's a really good point I hadn't even considered! My wife wants to work part-time for a few more years even after starting benefits. Looks like I need to factor that into our calculations too.
my financial guy told me the best thing is usually for the lower earner to claim at 62 and higher earner wait till 70. that way u get some money flowing in early but also maximize the survivor benefit for later. worked good for us!
This approach works well for many couples, but it depends on factors like age difference between spouses, health/longevity expectations, and immediate income needs. It's definitely worth running the numbers for your specific situation.
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Thanks everyone for such helpful information! I'm going to: 1) Pay my quarterly Medicare bill in June as usual 2) Apply for SS benefits 2-3 months before my July birthday 3) Specifically mention I'm on Medicare with quarterly billing and IRMAA 4) Request that Medicare premium deductions start with October's benefit (to avoid overlap) 5) Keep documentation of all payments and communications Fingers crossed the transition goes smoothly! I'll update this thread after I go through the process in case it helps someone else.
sounds like a good plan! good luck with everything. remember most of the time this stuff works out fine, its just when theres a problem it can be a pain. congrats on making it to 70 for max benefits btw!
Has anyone had experience with getting a WRITTEN confirmation from SSA about when the Medicare premium deductions will start? I've heard so many horror stories about miscommunications with SSA that I'm worried about potential double-payments or coverage gaps. My mother had a similar situation last year and she received conflicting information from THREE different SSA representatives! One said to stop paying quarterly immediately, another said to keep paying until notified, and the third gave some confusing answer about "processing times." I don't trust verbal confirmations anymore. Is there a specific form or written confirmation we should request when applying for Social Security that specifically addresses the Medicare premium transition timing?
Yes, there are two documents you should request: 1) When you apply for benefits, ask for a "Medicare Premium Bill Option Confirmation" - it's not automatically provided but they can generate it when requested. 2) After your application is processed, request a "Benefits Calculation Statement" which should show your gross benefit, all deductions (including Medicare), and net payment amount. Finally, about 30 days after your application is processed, you should receive a Medicare Premium Payment Status Change notice from CMS (not SSA) confirming the change from direct bill to benefit deduction. Keep copies of ALL of these documents. If there's ever a dispute, having this paper trail is essential.
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THEY'VE BEEN TEASING US WITH THIS BILL FOR OVER A DECADE!!! Don't get your hopes up. This is just another empty promise from politicians who don't actually care about retired federal workers. I'll believe it when I see the money in my account!!!
my dad says the same thing! he's been retired from govt for like 20 years and says they've been promising to fix this forever!!
To determine exactly how much your benefit would increase without WEP, look at your Social Security statement (available on mySocialSecurity). Find the section that shows your projected benefit WITHOUT the WEP reduction. The difference between that amount and what you're currently receiving would be your increase if HR 82 passes. For FERS employees who worked at USPS after 1984, WEP typically only applies if you also had substantial non-SS-covered employment or if you were switched from CSRS to FERS mid-career.
I just checked my statement online and you're right - it does show both amounts. Looks like I'd get about $560 more per month without the WEP reduction. That would make a huge difference for me. Keeping my fingers crossed this bill finally passes.
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Anybody know if this delay will push back our COLA adjustment for 2025? My sister-in-law told me everything gets delayed when they're behind on paperwork.
The SSA-1099 delay has no effect on COLA adjustments. The 2025 COLA will be announced in October 2024 based on inflation data, and payments with the new amounts would begin January 2025, completely separate from tax form processing.
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I went through this exact situation last year and learned that planning ahead is crucial. What I do now is carefully track my earnings throughout the year and adjust my work schedule in the last quarter if I'm getting close to the limit. It's annoying, but it prevents surprises. I also discovered that certain types of income don't count toward the earnings test - like investment income, pension payments, annuities, and capital gains. Only wages and self-employment income count. This helped me reorganize some of my income sources to avoid going over the limit.
That's really smart planning ahead like that. I'm definitely going to track my earnings more carefully this year. I didn't realize some income doesn't count toward the limit - that's very helpful information! Thank you!
does anyone know if they give back this money they take? or is it just gone forever?
Yes, you do eventually get the money back! When you reach your Full Retirement Age (FRA), Social Security recalculates your benefit amount. The months that were withheld due to the earnings test are essentially credited back to you in the form of a higher monthly benefit for the rest of your life. So the money isn't permanently lost - the penalty is more like a deferral of benefits until you reach FRA.
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my cousin works for SSA and says lots of people confuse IRMAA (the medicare premium thing) with the actual SS benefit amount. two totally different things! your benefit is based on your lifetime earnings and those high income years actually HELP not hurt your payment. file away!
It seems like I'm definitely not the only one confused about this! Thanks for the reassurance. I'll go ahead with my application since I'm at my FRA and fully retired now.
Just to add one more important detail - once you reach FRA, the monthly benefit amount is fixed (except for COLA increases) regardless of any work you might do. So even if you decide to go back to work part-time or as a consultant, your SS benefit won't be reduced no matter how much you earn. Your Medicare IRMAA might go up, but that's calculated separately from your SS benefit.
Great point. I might actually do some consulting work next year, but it's good to know that won't affect my SS payment. I'll just need to be prepared for the Medicare premium adjustments. Thanks!
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One more thing to consider: if either of you are still working, the earnings test might reduce your benefits. In 2025, if you earn more than $22,750 (for those under FRA), your benefits are reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit. This applies to both regular retirement and spousal benefits.
Thank you for mentioning this. I'm fully retired but my wife still does occasional consulting work. She might earn about $15,000 this year, so it sounds like we'd be under that earnings limit.
do you guys know if they send the spousal money separate or is it all together in one payment? and is it on the same day as the regular ss payment?
They combine everything into one payment. Your wife will receive a single direct deposit or check that includes both her retirement benefit and the spousal supplement. Payment dates are determined by birth dates - if her birthday is between the 1st-10th, she'll be paid on the second Wednesday; 11th-20th, third Wednesday; 21st-31st, fourth Wednesday of each month.
Andre Lefebvre
Just to clarify some confusion in this thread - there are two separate processes at work here: 1. The automatic adjustment - this SHOULD happen without you doing anything after your tax return is processed. The IRS sends earnings data to SSA, and they're supposed to reconcile the withholding. 2. The manual request - if the automatic process fails (which unfortunately happens more often than it should), you can request a manual earnings test recalculation. For the manual process, you'll need to provide proof of your actual earnings (W-2s, tax return, etc.). You can submit this request by phone, but as others have mentioned, getting through can be challenging. If you don't see the adjustment by August, I'd recommend trying to contact them. The adjustment would come as a separate payment, not added to your regular benefit.
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StarStrider
•Thank you for breaking it down so clearly! I'll wait till August to see if the automatic process works for me. If not, sounds like I need to gather my tax documents and either call or visit an office. I appreciate everyone's help!
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QuantumQuasar
THE SSA NEVER GIVES YOU BACK YOUR MONEY WITHOUT A FIGHT!!!! I had the EXACT same situation and they claimed they never got my income information from the IRS even though I filed my taxes on time!!!! Had to go to my local office THREE TIMES to get it straightened out and they acted like they were doing me a favor giving me MY OWN MONEY back!!!! The whole system is designed to STEAL from seniors!!!!!
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Yuki Sato
•While there can certainly be frustrating delays and mistakes in the process, I want to assure folks that the SSA does routinely process these adjustments correctly for many beneficiaries. The system isn't perfect, but it's not designed to deliberately withhold funds people are entitled to. If the automatic process doesn't work in your case, definitely follow up, but many people do receive their adjustments without issues.
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