As a newcomer here, I'm really impressed by all the detailed and helpful responses! This thread has been incredibly educational. I'm in a somewhat similar situation - turning 66 next year (my FRA) but planning to keep working for a few more years. Reading about Natasha's strategy of waiting until 69 is making me reconsider my timeline. The 132% benefit amount from delayed retirement credits sounds amazing, but I'm curious - for those who waited past FRA, how did you handle the psychological aspect of "leaving money on the table" each month you delayed? Sometimes I worry about the what-ifs, like what if something happens to my health or the program changes. Did anyone else struggle with this decision, or was it pretty clear-cut once you ran the numbers?

As someone who delayed filing until 68 last year, I wanted to add a few practical considerations that helped me through the process. First, create a simple spreadsheet to track your decision - include your current estimated benefit, what it would be at different ages, and your break-even points. This takes the emotion out of it and gives you concrete numbers to reference when you're second-guessing yourself. Second, consider your spouse's situation if you're married - spousal and survivor benefits can significantly impact the math. Third, I found it helpful to think about Social Security as just one leg of my retirement stool, not the whole thing. Since you're still working and presumably saving in other accounts, you're not completely dependent on SS timing. Finally, remember that the delayed retirement credits stop at age 70, so there's no benefit to waiting beyond that. The psychological comfort of having a "deadline" actually made the decision easier for me. One last tip: I set up automatic transfers to a separate savings account for the amount I would have received if I had filed earlier - it helped me feel like I wasn't really "losing" that money, just redirecting it until my higher payments started.

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! I'll plan to apply in June, 3 months before my September birthday. I'll also start gathering my documentation now - birth certificate, tax records for those missing earnings years, etc. I'm going to check my Medicare enrollment status too since a couple of you mentioned that could be related. If I have trouble reaching SSA by phone, I'll try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. It's frustrating how complicated they make this process, but I feel much better prepared now.

Just want to add - if you're planning to work past 70, make sure you understand how your continued earnings might affect your Social Security taxes. Even though you'll be receiving benefits, you'll still pay Social Security and Medicare taxes on your wages. The good news is that these additional earnings can potentially increase your future benefit amounts if they're higher than one of your previous 35 highest-earning years. SSA recalculates your benefits automatically each year if your new earnings boost your average. Also, don't forget that your Social Security benefits will be subject to federal income tax if your combined income (AGI + nontaxable interest + half of SS benefits) exceeds certain thresholds - something to factor into your tax planning since you'll have both wages and SS income.

I went through this exact analysis last year and ended up creating my own spreadsheet to track the monthly increases. Here's what I found helpful: The SSA website does show your benefit at ages 62, 67, and 70, but you're right that it doesn't break down the monthly progression during that final stretch from 67-70. What I did was take my FRA benefit amount and multiply by 1.0067 for each month of delay (that's the 2/3% monthly increase others mentioned). So if your FRA benefit is $2,500: - Month 1 after FRA: $2,500 × 1.0067 = $2,516.75 - Month 2: $2,516.75 × 1.0067 = $2,533.60 - And so on... But honestly, after running all the numbers, I realized I was overthinking it. The monthly difference is relatively small compared to the bigger question of when to start. I ended up filing at 68 and 8 months - not because that was mathematically optimal, but because it felt right given my health, finances, and peace of mind. With your strong family longevity and current financial stability, you have the luxury of fine-tuning, but don't let perfect be the enemy of good. Any decision between 67-70 is probably going to work out fine in the long run.

I completely understand your dilemma! I'm facing a similar decision and have been wrestling with the same questions about month-by-month calculations. One thing that helped me was using the Social Security Administration's "my Social Security" account online - if you haven't already, you can create one and it gives you a more detailed benefit estimate than the basic calculator. While it doesn't show monthly breakdowns during that 67-70 period, it does give you annual snapshots that you can use with the 2/3% monthly formula others have mentioned. I also found it helpful to think about this in terms of "guaranteed return" versus opportunity cost. That 8% annual increase from delayed retirement credits is essentially a guaranteed return you can't find anywhere else in today's market. But like you, I started questioning whether I was being too rigid about maximizing at all costs. Given your excellent longevity genes and current financial stability, you're in an enviable position to optimize this decision. Have you considered setting a "check-in" date - maybe at 69 - to reassess how you're feeling about waiting that final year? That way you're not locked into an all-or-nothing approach and can adjust based on how things look at that point. The fact that you're even asking these questions shows you're thinking about this thoughtfully rather than just following generic advice. Trust your instincts!

One more thing to consider: if you return to work, especially at a good salary like $55,000, you'll be adding to your lifetime earnings record. Social Security calculates your benefit amount based on your highest 35 years of earnings. If this new job would replace a lower-earning year or a zero in your calculation, you could actually increase your benefit amount going forward, beyond just the adjustment for withheld benefits.

Just want to add one practical tip that helped me when I was in a similar situation: consider asking your potential employer if there's any flexibility in when you start or how your compensation is structured. Some employers are willing to delay a start date by a few months if it helps with your Social Security situation, or they might be able to structure part of your compensation as benefits rather than salary (which wouldn't count toward the earnings test). It's worth having that conversation since many employers these days are more understanding about Social Security considerations for older workers. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Thanks everyone for the helpful information! I think I have a much better understanding now. I'll keep my earnings under $22,320 for 2025, and be mindful of that higher threshold in early 2026 before I hit my FRA in June. I'm going to set up a spreadsheet to track my earnings monthly to make sure I don't accidentally go over.

Just wanted to add a heads up about timing - if you're planning to retire mid-year in 2026 when you hit FRA, SSA uses a monthly earnings test for that transition year. So if your FRA is in June 2026, they'll look at your earnings from January-May separately from June onward. This means you could theoretically earn the full $59,520 in those first 5 months, then unlimited after June. But be careful with the monthly breakdown - if you earn too much in any single month before FRA, it can still trigger penalties even if your total for those months is under the limit.