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this whole thread made my head hurt lol im turning 65 next year and now im scared about dealing with all this stuff
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my mom did this & REGRETS taking SS early!!! she got like $240 less per month by filing at 63 and then when dad filed she thought she would get half his benefit but nope! they gave her some complicated explanation about her getting her own benefit PLUS a little extra for the spousal part but it was way less than she expected!!! dont do it!!!
Thank you for sharing your mom's experience. I'm definitely leaning toward waiting now. I knew there was a reduction for filing early, but I didn't realize how it would impact the spousal benefit too. Seems like waiting those extra months will be worth it in the long run.
One more important point: You mentioned your husband plans to work into his 70s, which is great. Just be aware that once he files for benefits (even at 70), if you then apply for spousal benefits, your income will be subject to the earnings test if you're still working and under your FRA. In 2025, you can earn up to $22,300 without affecting benefits, but above that, $1 in benefits is withheld for every $2 you earn above the limit. This doesn't apply once you reach your FRA. Also, don't forget to consider the taxation of Social Security benefits. If your combined income (adjusted gross income + nontaxable interest + half of Social Security benefits) exceeds certain thresholds, up to 85% of your benefits could be taxable. This might affect the calculations of when to file.
Great point about the earnings test. That's something many people overlook when planning their filing strategy. Worth noting that any benefits withheld due to the earnings test are eventually given back through a recalculation after FRA, but the month-to-month cash flow impact can be significant if someone is still working with substantial earnings.
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have you checked whether you can get benefits based on YOUR work record? my friend thought her ex would give her more but turned out her own SS was actually better!!!
That's a good point! I should definitely check my own record. I've worked on and off for about 25 years, though many years were part-time. I'll create a my Social Security account and check my estimated benefits.
I wish they would make these rules simpler to understand. It's like they WANT us to mess up our retirement planning! When my mom retired, she had no idea she could have gotten more by waiting until her FRA. Now she's stuck with a permanently reduced benefit. The whole system feels rigged sometimes.
omg same with my aunt!! she took SS at 62 and now gets like $300 less EVERY MONTH than if she waited. nobody told her and she cant go back and change it. so messed up!!!
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i think everyone here is making this way more complicated than it needs to be!!! i got survivers benifits when my husband died and they just told me when i wuold get paid. you'll find out tomorrow anyway so why stress about it tonight?
Because financial planning is important when you've just lost your spouse? Some people need to know what's coming when to make arrangements for bills and expenses. Not everyone has a financial cushion to fall back on.
Glad your appointment went well! One thing to keep in mind is that survivor benefits have an earnings limit if you're under full retirement age and still working. For 2025, you can earn up to $22,320 without any reduction in benefits. Above that, they reduce your benefits by $1 for every $2 you earn over the limit. Make sure to report your expected earnings accurately to avoid overpayments that you'd have to pay back later.
That's really good to know. I do work part-time but I make less than $20,000 a year so it sounds like I'll be under the limit. I'll definitely keep track of my earnings carefully.
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everyone here is talking about partial months but nobody mentioned the earnings test! if ur under FRA and still working they take away $1 for every $2 you earn above the limit. that limit is like $22,000 in 2025 i think?
Good point, but that's usually applied during the benefit calculation, not as a surprise reduction after your benefit amount is established. The 2025 annual earnings limit for those under FRA is $22,320, and benefits are reduced by $1 for every $2 earned above that. However, this is typically factored into the stated benefit amount, not applied as a reduction to an already-calculated benefit.
This happens to everyoooone! SSA is so bad at communicating these things. My first check was like 1/3 of what it was supposed to be and I literally cried thinking they'd calculated everything wrong. Turns out the date you file vs. the date your benefits actually start makes for weird first payments. Check your MySocialSecurity account in a few days - it should show the breakdown!
I'm so relieved it's not just me! And you're right - when I checked my account again today, the breakdown finally appeared. It looks like everything is correct, just prorated for a partial month. Thanks for the reassurance!
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I think ppl get confused cause theres like two different issues - the earnings test which is about working while on ss and then the tax thing where ur benefits might be taxed... i made that mistake too at first
Exactly! And a lot of financial advisors don't explain this clearly!!
Thanks everyone for the great information! This community is so helpful. So to summarize what I've learned: 1. My 401k withdrawal will NOT count toward the earnings limit 2. It WILL potentially make more of my SS benefits taxable 3. I should consider having taxes withheld from the 401k withdrawal to avoid a surprise tax bill I really appreciate all your help!
Perfect summary! And if you're still concerned, you can always request an appointment with SSA to review your specific situation. But yes, your 401k withdrawals won't impact your benefit amount - just possibly the taxation of those benefits.
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If he absolutely refuses to participate in the SSI application process, you might want to look into legal guardianship or conservatorship. It's a complicated process but might be necessary if his mental health issues are severe enough that he can't make financial decisions for himself. Might be worth consulting with an elder law attorney about your options.
One more crucial thing: once he's on SSI, if he ever receives money from ANY source (gift, inheritance, lottery, etc.), he MUST report it immediately. SSI has very strict income and resource limits ($2,000 in assets). I've seen people lose benefits because a well-meaning family member gave them money and they didn't report it.
Thank you for this warning. I had no idea the rules were so strict. I occasionally give him small amounts of spending money - would that affect his eligibility?
Yes, it potentially could. Cash gifts are considered income for SSI purposes. Once he's on SSI, even small regular cash gifts should be reported. The first $20 of unearned income each month is excluded, but beyond that, it reduces the SSI payment dollar for dollar. One-time larger gifts can push him over the resource limit if they put his total assets over $2,000.
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One thing to consider is that taxes might be different with survivor benefits vs her own retirement benefit. When I was getting survivor benefits after my husband died, I had to pay taxes on 85% of them because my other income was too high. It might be worth talking to a tax person too before deciding.
I hadn't even thought about the tax implications. That's a great point. She does have some investment income besides her part-time job, so this could definitely affect the calculation. I'll suggest she consult with her tax advisor as well.
Since your sister is already 66, if she was born in 1957 or earlier, she's already at her full retirement age. This means: 1. She can take her own retirement benefit with no reduction (though it would continue growing if she waited until 70) 2. She can take the full survivor benefit with no reduction 3. The earnings test no longer applies, so her work income won't reduce either benefit In this case, the optimal strategy is likely to take the higher of the two benefits now. If her own benefit at age 70 would exceed the survivor benefit due to delayed retirement credits, she could take the survivor benefit now and switch to her own at 70. This is definitely a situation where she should get her exact numbers from SSA before deciding.
Thank you for breaking it down so clearly. She was born in 1958, so I think she's very close to her FRA. This is all extremely helpful information, and I'll help her set up an appointment with SSA to get her exact numbers. This forum has been incredibly helpful!
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One thing to keep in mind - if your ex hasn't claimed yet but does so in the future, they might get a higher benefit from their own record depending on their earnings history. The SSA will pay whichever is higher: their own retirement benefit or the spousal benefit (which maxes out at 50% of your PIA). So don't assume they'll automatically claim on your record even if eligible.
That's a good point I hadn't considered. My ex earned quite a bit less than me during our marriage (lots of career transitions), so I'm guessing the spousal benefit would be higher, but who knows what happened after our divorce. Thanks for pointing that out!
Does your ex know that you're delaying until 70? Because if they're collecting on your record while you're delaying, they're only getting the benefit calculated on your PIA at your full retirement age, not the increased amount you'll get at 70. Just FYI.
This is an excellent point that often gets overlooked. Ex-spouse benefits are based on the worker's PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) at FRA (Full Retirement Age), not the enhanced amount from delayed credits. So your decision to wait until 70 doesn't increase what your ex might receive.
Dana Doyle
WATCH OUT!!! My cousin was in a similar situation and ended up with a SURPRISE tax bill!!! But it turned out he had a small pension from a job he had years ago - only like $250/month. That pushed him over the limit and suddenly half his SS was taxable!! Make ABSOLUTELY SURE your son has ZERO other income!!!
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Harold Oh
•This is a good caution. Even small amounts of other income can trigger tax liability when combined with Social Security benefits. Interest from savings accounts or dividends from investments count too (even if automatically reinvested). Definitely worth checking if there are ANY other income sources, however small.
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Gael Robinson
I just want to say it's wonderful you're planning ahead like this. So many families don't think about these things until there's a crisis. Your son is fortunate to have you looking out for him!
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Payton Black
•That's very kind of you to say. I try my best, but navigating all these systems can be overwhelming sometimes. I'm grateful for helpful communities like this one.
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