I'm also dealing with this same frustrating wait! Filed my retirement application in mid-November and it's been about 7.5 weeks now with absolutely no updates. Like everyone else here, my MySocialSecurity account just shows that useless "processing" status with zero helpful information. I was really starting to panic that maybe I made an error somewhere or that my application got lost, but reading through all these responses has been such a relief. It's clear that SSA is just completely overwhelmed right now and their 30-day estimate is completely unrealistic. I'm also planning to start benefits in January, so it's really reassuring to hear from the more experienced folks here that processing delays don't affect the actual benefit start date. The total lack of communication during this process is honestly maddening - even a simple automated email saying "we received your application, expect 6-8 weeks" would help so much with the anxiety. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this thread has been more helpful than anything I could find on the SSA website!

I'm also going through the exact same situation! Filed my retirement application in late November and it's been about 6 weeks now with complete radio silence from SSA. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - I was starting to think maybe I filled something out wrong or my application got lost somewhere in their system. It's really frustrating that their website still claims 30 days when clearly 6-8 weeks is the new reality for everyone. Like others mentioned, my MySocialSecurity account just shows "processing" with zero helpful details or timeline updates. I'm also hoping to start benefits in January, so it's comforting to hear from folks like Evan that processing delays shouldn't affect the actual benefit start date as long as we filed before our intended start month. The complete lack of communication during this whole process is definitely the most nerve-wracking part - even a simple acknowledgment email would help so much with the anxiety. Thanks to everyone for sharing your timelines and experiences - this community discussion has been way more helpful than anything I could find on the SSA website!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful for this comprehensive discussion! I'm 64 and planning to retire in May 2026, so this first-year retirement rule is exactly what I needed to understand. Like so many others here, I had never heard of this rule before and was genuinely concerned that my January-May earnings (probably around $35,000) would significantly impact my Social Security benefits. The clarification that SSA uses monthly earnings tests instead of annual limits for first-year retirees is such a game-changer! It's reassuring to know that as long as I completely stop working before claiming benefits in June, my pre-retirement earnings won't matter at all. I'm taking detailed notes on all the practical advice shared here - applying in February (3 months early), being crystal clear about my May retirement date, having all documentation ready, etc. One question I have: when people mention being "very specific" with SSA about your retirement timeline, are there particular phrases or terminology that work best? I want to make sure I communicate this correctly so the first-year rule gets applied properly from the start. This thread has been more helpful than any official SSA publication I've read. Thank you to everyone who shared their real-world experiences!

As someone completely new to this community and Social Security planning, this discussion has been absolutely invaluable! I'm 62 and still a few years away from retirement, but reading through all these detailed explanations about the first-year retirement rule has completely transformed my understanding of mid-year retirement planning. The distinction between the annual earnings test and the monthly earnings test for first-year retirees is something I never would have discovered on my own. It's incredible that you can work at full salary for most of the year and as long as you completely stop working before claiming benefits, those earnings won't impact your Social Security at all! What really impresses me is the wealth of practical advice shared here - from applying 3-4 months in advance to being very specific about retirement dates when communicating with SSA. The additional considerations about health insurance transitions, tax planning, and having proper documentation ready are also extremely helpful. For someone just starting to think about retirement timing, this thread has shown me how important it is to understand these "hidden" rules that can make such a huge difference. The first-year retirement rule seems like one of those critical pieces of information that's not widely known but can completely change your retirement planning strategy. Thank you to everyone who has shared their real-world experiences - this community knowledge is so much more valuable than just reading official publications alone!

I'm new to this community and wanted to share my perspective as someone who recently navigated a very similar situation. The thread above has been incredibly helpful and accurate based on my own experience. I turned 66 in September 2024 but my FRA wasn't until June 2025 (66 and 9 months). Like many others here, I initially thought the earnings limits would end when I turned 66, but learned the hard way that they continue until the MONTH you reach your actual Full Retirement Age. For your specific situation with an FRA of March 2026, you'll be subject to the higher earnings limit (approximately $62,160 for 2025) from when you claim benefits in April 2025 all the way through February 2026. Only starting in March 2026 will you have completely unrestricted earnings. Your $42,000 from January-April 2025 is well below the threshold, so you're definitely in good shape there. Just make sure to track your total earnings carefully through February 2026. One thing I learned that might help: I created a simple monthly tracking system using a basic spreadsheet to monitor my progress against the annual limit. This gave me confidence throughout the year that I was staying on track. Also, the SSA sends annual statements showing your reported earnings, which can help verify everything matches up when they do their review. The confusion about these rules is so understandable - the shift from FRA being 65-66 years ago to 67+ now creates this gap that trips up a lot of people. But once you understand that it's your actual FRA month that matters (not turning 66), the planning becomes much more manageable. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this discussion - this community is such a valuable resource for getting real-world insights on these complex Social Security rules!

I'm new to this community and wanted to share some additional clarification that might help, as I work with Social Security cases regularly. The confusion in this thread highlights how complex these rules have become since FRA shifted from 66 to 67+ for most people. To directly answer your original question: you will be subject to the earnings limit from April 2025 (when you claim) through February 2026, with NO earnings restrictions starting March 2026 when you reach your FRA. Your $42,000 from January-April 2025 is well under the projected $62,160 limit for 2025, so you're fine there. The key is planning for May 2025 through February 2026 - that's when you'll need to monitor your annual earnings total. One thing I haven't seen mentioned is that if you're concerned about managing earnings during this restriction period, you might want to calculate whether delaying your claim until your FRA in March 2026 could actually result in a better financial outcome. You'd avoid the permanent reduction for early claiming (about 7.78% in your case) AND wouldn't have to deal with earnings restrictions at all. For someone planning to work at current income levels, the math might favor waiting. The resources shared here are excellent - definitely set up your MySocialSecurity account to verify your exact FRA date, and consider consulting with a financial planner who specializes in Social Security strategies to run the numbers for your specific situation. This community has provided fantastic real-world insights that complement the official resources perfectly!

I'm new to this community and just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire discussion has been! I'm in a very similar situation with my disabled adult daughter who receives SSDI, and I've been struggling to get clear answers about survivor benefits and planning strategies. Reading through all the expert advice and real experiences shared here has given me a complete roadmap for what I need to do. The suggestions about requesting Form SSA-7004 for benefit estimates, coordinating claiming strategies between divorced parents, getting everything in writing from SSA, and working with specialized attorneys who understand adult disabled child benefits are exactly what I needed to hear. I'm particularly grateful for the Social Security caseworker who clarified the key rules, and for everyone who shared specific resources like the Protection & Advocacy organizations, ABLE accounts, and state disability supplement programs. It's amazing how this community has turned what seemed like an overwhelming and confusing situation into a manageable planning process with concrete steps to take. @LordCommander, thank you for asking the questions that so many of us have been wondering about. Your proactive approach to planning while both parents are still healthy is inspiring, and I'm sure your daughter will benefit tremendously from all the strategic thinking you're putting into her future security. This thread should be required reading for every family dealing with adult disabled child benefits!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience dealing with a very similar situation. My disabled son receives SSDI and we've been working through the same survivor benefit questions with our local SSA office. One thing that really helped us was creating a timeline document showing when each parent plans to claim benefits and what the projected survivor benefits would be at different points. This made it much easier to have productive conversations with financial advisors and helped us coordinate our claiming strategies. I also wanted to mention that some states have disability benefits counselors through their developmental disabilities departments who can help navigate not just Social Security rules, but also how they interact with state programs. Ours was incredibly helpful in explaining how survivor benefits would work alongside other services my son receives. The planning you're doing now is so important - it's exactly what every parent of a disabled adult child should be thinking through while they still have time to make strategic decisions. This entire thread has been incredibly educational and shows what an amazing resource this community can be for families facing these complex situations.

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share my recent experience and express my gratitude for all the valuable information shared here! Just this morning I received a phishing email claiming to be from Social Security about a "mandatory account verification" due to new federal regulations. The email looked quite professional with SSA branding and said I had 36 hours to complete the verification or risk having my benefits frozen. What immediately raised red flags for me after reading this thread was: the sender address was from ssa-verification-center.net (not .gov), it used "Dear Social Security Recipient" instead of my name, and most importantly - they were asking me to verify personal information that SSA already has on file! The psychological pressure these scammers use is really disturbing - they prey on our fears about losing benefits and create fake urgency to make us panic and click without thinking. This entire discussion has been like a crash course in scam recognition, showing how they constantly evolve their tactics with fake benefit statements, Medicare coordination issues, security breaches, and now "federal regulation compliance." The golden rule I've learned here is: SSA will never ask you to verify, update, or confirm information they already possess through email links. When in doubt, go directly to ssa.gov or visit your local office in person. Thank you all for creating such a protective and educational community - I'm definitely sharing this wisdom with friends and family who need to stay vigilant against these increasingly sophisticated scams!

As a new member here, I want to thank everyone for this incredibly educational thread! I just received one of these scam emails yesterday claiming there was an "error in my tax withholding calculation" that needed immediate correction through their link or I'd face penalties. The email had official SSA formatting and logos, but several red flags stood out after reading all your experiences: it came from benefits-tax-correction.com (not .gov), demanded action within 24 hours, and most telling - asked me to "update" tax information that SSA already coordinates automatically with the IRS! What really helps is that simple test everyone keeps mentioning: "Why would SSA need me to verify something they can access directly from government records?" These scammers are clearly targeting tax season fears right now, just like they exploit COLA announcements and Medicare coordination at other times of year. I'm sharing this entire discussion with my local library's senior computer group since many attendees have been asking about suspicious government emails. The collective wisdom here has been invaluable for recognizing these increasingly sophisticated scams. Remember everyone - when in doubt, always go directly to ssa.gov, never click email links claiming to be from Social Security!