random question but does anyone know if this works the same way if the husband took SS early and the wife waits till FRA? my parents situation is opposite of yours

Yes, the rules work exactly the same regardless of which spouse files early. The early filer gets their own reduced benefit, and then when the other spouse files, the early filer may get a top-up if 50% of the second filer's PIA (reduced for the early filing penalty) exceeds their own benefit amount.

DONT FORGET ABOUT TAXES!!!!! Even if you stay under the earnings limit, you might still have to pay taxes on your Social Security benefits if your combined income is high enough. Up to 85% of your benefits can be taxable depending on your total income. Nobody warned me about this and I got hit with a surprise tax bill my first year on SS. 😡

When I retired last year the SSA rep told me something that helped me understand this: think of the earnings limit as ONLY counting money you actively work for. Your pension, investments, rental income, and most importantly your SS benefits do NOT count toward the earnings limit. Only wages from a job or self-employment count.

wait i'm confused why does everyone keep saying ex spousal benefits?? isnt that only for retirement?? i thought he needed disability benefits??? im so confused by all these different SS benefits!!

Make sure your uncle applies as soon as possible! Benefits aren't retroactive indefinitely - typically only 6 months back from application date. Since he's 85, he's potentially been eligible for many years and has missed out on significant benefits. The process can take time, especially with international documentation, so start immediately.

this is so confusing!!!! how is anyone supposed to keep track of all these rules and limits and trial periods???? and they wonder why people just give up trying to work at all!

Thank you everyone for all this valuable information! I've learned so much. I'm going to call SSA tomorrow to find out exactly where I stand with my Trial Work Period and get clarity on my specific situation. I'm also going to look into both the Ticket to Work program and whether any of my expenses qualify as Impairment-Related Work Expenses. Really appreciate all the help!

This is correct. The payment processing system and the online portal display are actually separate systems. The payments will process correctly in January even if the display hasn't updated yet. But most accounts should reflect the new amount by mid-December.

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I'll stop obsessively checking my account every day and wait until mid-December. I'll try calculating the approximate amount myself in the meantime. It's good to know this is normal and happens every year - this is only my second year receiving benefits so I'm still learning how everything works. I appreciate all your help!

just to clarify something - 35 yrs is the max they count right? i have worked 42 yrs nonstop and wondering if all those early years even count for anything?

Thanks everyone for clearing this up! So if I understand correctly: 1. SSA uses my highest 35 years of earnings (not 5) 2. They adjust the older earnings for inflation 3. If I don't have 35 years, they use zeros for missing years 4. Working longer could help if I replace lower earning years This changes my retirement planning quite a bit - in a good way! Actually makes me feel better about my situation since my income went down in recent years but I had some good income years in the past.

Based on your update that you both turned 66 last summer, here's what's happening: You're both past your Initial Enrollment Periods for Medicare (which was around your 65th birthdays). Since you're currently working with employer insurance, you're eligible for a Special Enrollment Period when you retire in January. However, Special Enrollment Period processing can take longer and the rules are slightly different. It's possible your husband's application requires additional verification since he's on your insurance rather than his own. The SSA employee reviewing his application might be waiting for employment verification or other documentation that wasn't needed for yours. I strongly recommend: 1. Call SSA again and specifically ask what documentation is needed to complete his application 2. Ask for the specific expected start date of his Medicare coverage 3. Inquire about temporary COBRA coverage if there will be a gap This is definitely resolvable, but you need more specific information than what you received in that first call.

KEEP COPIES OF EVERYTHING!!!! I learned this the hard way. SSA lost my application TWICE and then tried to charge me penalties because they said I didn't apply on time even though I DID!!! Take pictures of all documents with your phone before you submit them and get names of everyone you talk to. The system is a MESS right now!!!!

Off topic but $2,175 is a really good benefit amount! You must have had good earnings over your lifetime. I only get $1,630 and I worked for 40 years!

To directly answer your original question - be delighted, not worried! Banks often release pending deposits early, especially around weekends. And if you're at your Full Retirement Age (67), have no Medicare deductions set up, and aren't having taxes withheld, then the full amount is absolutely correct. Keep in mind that your payment date each month is determined by your birth date as others have mentioned. Most people don't realize that Social Security payments are staggered throughout the month based on birthdate to distribute the processing load. If you're concerned about budgeting, just count on receiving your payment on the proper Wednesday each month, and if it comes early, consider it a pleasant surprise.

I see a LOT of confusion about this topic! My wife is 7 years younger than me, and we went through this exact situation. Here's what ACTUALLY happens: 1) Your husband CANNOT receive spousal benefits until YOU file for YOUR retirement benefits 2) The SSA calculator is showing a HYPOTHETICAL amount based on if you filed RIGHT NOW 3) When you DO file at your FRA, then your husband can apply for spousal benefits 4) He'll only get the DIFFERENCE between his current benefit and 50% of your PIA (if that's higher) Don't be fooled by that $1140 number - that's likely 50% of your projected PIA, not the actual amount he'd receive as a top-up. His actual top-up will be that amount MINUS his current benefit. And YES, it's worth waiting until your FRA to file!!!! Don't file early - you'll reduce BOTH your benefit AND any potential spousal benefit for your husband.

somebody told me once that if ur spouse dies the survivor gets the higher of the two benefits. not sure if thats true but might be something to think about with ur planning

have u checked if ur eligible for unemployment? sometimes u can get that if ur job cant accomodate ur medical restrictions.

Thanks everyone for the advice! After weighing all options, I think I'm going to: 1. Use that Claimyr service to actually speak with someone at SSA about my specific situation 2. File for SS retirement now to cover the gap when my NJ disability ends 3. Accept that there will be a permanent reduction, but it's better than draining my 401k 4. When I return to work, let them withhold benefits as needed based on my earnings The clarification about how they adjust the benefit at FRA for withheld months was really helpful. Still not ideal, but seems like the best option in my situation. I'll also check with my employer about whether long-term disability might kick in after my short-term benefits end, and look into the unemployment suggestion too. Every bit helps during recovery!