Thank you everyone for all the helpful information! To summarize what I've learned:1. Apply 3-4 months before January 2026 (so September-October 2025)2. First payment will come in February 2026 (for January benefits)3. Payment date will be the third Wednesday of February (based on his birth date)4. Benefit might be slightly prorated since his FRA is on the 11th, not the 1st5. Use MySocialSecurity to track application statusWe'll make sure to budget accordingly knowing there's that one-month delay between benefit start and actual payment. This has been incredibly helpful for our retirement planning!

Perfect summary! One additional tip: When your husband applies, he should print or save PDF copies of all confirmation screens and any communication from SSA. This documentation can be helpful if there are any issues with processing his application.

my cousin works and gets ssdi. he said theres some program where they dont count all your income. ticket to work maybe? not sure but worth looking into

Thank you everyone for the helpful replies! I think I understand better now - I get 9 months where I can earn any amount, then after that I need to stay under $1,550 to keep benefits. I've scheduled a call with SSA through that Claimyr service someone mentioned to confirm everything before I accept this job. Really appreciate all the detailed explanations!

Dont forget that if ur in a state that taxes SS (there are 12 of them) u might need state withholding too!!! The system is BROKEN when they tax our SS that we already paid into our whole lives!!!!

i forgot to say, i changed my witholding once and it was super easy. just filled out the form and gave it to my local office. took effect the next month i think

I spent HOURS trying to get through to someone at Social Security to ask this exact question last month! Kept getting busy signals or disconnected after waiting forever. Total nightmare trying to get answers from them.

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I'm feeling much more optimistic about this legislation now. Sounds like I should expect a modest increase to my Social Security check if it passes, with no negative impact on my pension. I'll keep following the progress of the bill but won't count on the extra money until it actually becomes law.

Just to follow up on my earlier comment - you mentioned applying last week. I recommend marking your calendar for 30 days from your application date. If you haven't received any correspondence by then, that's a good time to contact SSA for a status update. The MySocialSecurity online account sometimes shows processing status, though it's not always updated promptly. Have you created an online account yet? That might give you some visibility into the process.

Just heard from a friend who recently received widow's benefits - her first payment came exactly 37 days after application. She said what helped was submitting all documentation together with the initial application rather than having SSA request additional items later. Also, for planning purposes, remember that Social Security payment dates are based on your birth date: - Birth dates 1-10: Second Wednesday of the month - Birth dates 11-20: Third Wednesday of the month - Birth dates 21-31: Fourth Wednesday of the month So once your benefits begin, you'll receive payments on the same Wednesday each month based on your birth date.

my neighbor said they always mess up payments. she got wrong amount for like 5 months before they fixed it. make sure u check everythng twice

This happened to me too! They underpaid me for 4 months before I noticed. The backpay was a hassle to get straightened out. Keep detailed records of EVERYTHING and check your bank account against the benefit verification letter they send you.

my sister had this same ? last yr. its just ur work $ that counts, not SS $. btw dont forget they look at GROSS pay not takehome

Thanks everyone for the great info! So it sounds like the consensus is that my Social Security benefits don't count toward the earnings limit, just my work income (and gross, not net). That's exactly what I needed to know. I'll be careful to stay under the $22,300 limit with my part-time job. I appreciate all your help!

the paperwork isnt as bad as it sounds. they asked for my ss award letter, bank statements, and id. took about an hour to fill out the forms. medicaid office helped me with the confusing parts. i think ssdi and ss retirement r treated the same for these programs but not 100% sure

One other important thing to know: Even if you don't qualify for the Medicare Savings Programs through Medicaid, you should look into Medicare Advantage plans that have $0 premiums and include prescription coverage. Many also offer extra benefits like dental, vision, hearing, and over-the-counter allowances. Part B premiums would still apply, but many Advantage plans help reduce your overall healthcare costs. You can switch plans during the Annual Enrollment Period from October 15 to December 7 each year. Based on your income level, I'd recommend applying for both the Medicare Savings Program AND Extra Help as soon as you're eligible. You can apply for Extra Help up to 4 months before your Medicare begins.

im confused why would u file at 64 and take a permanent reduction when u could wait till 66/67 (whatever ur FRA is) and get the full 50% of his PIA???? unless u really need the money now it seems like a bad deal to take the early reduction

One more thing worth mentioning - when you apply, make sure you're clear about applying for BOTH your retirement benefit AND spousal benefits. While SSA is supposed to automatically check if you qualify for both, sometimes this gets overlooked. Also, for planning purposes: as a spouse filing at 64 (assuming your FRA is 67), you'll receive approximately 35% of your husband's PIA as a spousal benefit (rather than the 50% at FRA). Your total benefit will be your own reduced retirement benefit, plus the spousal add-on to reach the 35% of his PIA (if that's higher than your own benefit alone).

another thing to think about is if ur enrolled in social security benefits already. if u already get SS retirement, they automatically enroll u in part A when u turn 65 whether u want it or not. that stops HSA right away. happened to my coworker.

Since you're still working with employer coverage, here's what I recommend based on your HSA priorities: 1. Delay BOTH Medicare Part A and B while you continue working 2. Continue maximizing HSA contributions 3. When you retire or lose employer coverage, enroll in both Part A and B during your Special Enrollment Period 4. For the year you enroll in Medicare, prorate your HSA contributions for only the months before Medicare started This approach maximizes your tax advantages while avoiding penalties. Be sure your employer coverage meets the "creditable coverage" requirements to avoid Part D penalties later.