My brother in law took SS early at 62 and was working part time. His boss offered him extra hours for just one month during their busy season, and he went over the monthly limit by about $500. He didn't realize it would affect his benefits since it was just one month. He lost his ENTIRE benefit payment for that month! So definitely be careful and track your monthly income closely that first year.

Thanks everyone for all this helpful information! I'll make sure to keep my earnings under $2,340 each month during 2025, and then stay below the annual limit for 2026 and beyond. I'm going to keep careful records of all my earnings and I'll ask my employer to help make sure I don't accidentally go over. This part-time job sounds like it will work out perfectly with these limits. Really appreciate all the detailed explanations and personal experiences!

One thing no one has mentioned yet is that if you're planning to file in December for January payments, you should submit your application as early in December as possible. Applications submitted late in the month sometimes don't get processed in time for the following month's payment cycle, which could delay everything by a month. And regarding your original question about the timing of retroactive payments - they're typically processed separately from your ongoing monthly benefits. In my experience, about 80% of retroactive payments arrive within 4-6 weeks after application approval, but I've seen some take up to 3 months depending on processing backlogs.

After reading through all the comments, I want to clarify something important: SSA doesn't actually issue January payments until early February. Social Security benefits are paid in the month following the month for which they are due. So your January benefit would arrive in February, February's in March, etc. So your timeline would likely be: - Apply in December 2024 - Retroactive payment for June-November 2024 would likely arrive in January 2025 - First regular monthly payment (for January 2025) would arrive in February 2025 Just wanted to make sure you have the correct payment schedule in mind when planning your finances.

my sister did this!! she took ss at 62 then decided to stop it when she got a part time job but the SSA people said she had to pay back ALL THE MONEY they already gave her!!! it was a nightmare dealing with them and they kept disconnecting her when she called... she ended up just keeping the benefits and dealing with the earnings limit thing instead

To summarize your options since there's some confusion in the comments: 1. If within 12 months of filing: You can withdraw your application (Form SSA-521), repay all benefits, and it's like you never filed. You can refile later for a higher amount. 2. If it's been more than 12 months since filing: You cannot suspend benefits until you reach Full Retirement Age (likely 67). 3. Working while receiving benefits: Subject to the earnings limit ($22,320 in 2025) until you reach FRA. Excess earnings result in withholding of benefits. The decision should be based on your short and long-term financial needs, life expectancy, and employment plans. There's no single right answer - it depends on your circumstances.

Thanks everyone for the helpful information! I feel much better prepared now. I'll watch for the SSA-1099 in January and check my online account too. It's good to know what to expect for my first tax season with Social Security benefits.

My brother never got his 1099 last year and had to file taxes late because of it. Make sure you check your mySocialSecurity account by early February if you don't get it in the mail. Don't wait until April like he did and then panic!

One more important point: The earnings limit for survivor benefits increases in the year you reach your full retirement age (FRA), and then disappears completely once you hit your FRA. For example, if your FRA is 67, in the year you turn 67, the earnings limit jumps to around $59,520 (for 2025), and they only count earnings before the month you reach FRA. Then after your FRA, you can earn any amount without reduction. Since you're planning to switch to your own benefit at 70, you'll still need to be mindful of the earnings test between 60-67, but after your FRA, you can work as much as you want without any impact on your survivor benefits.

my mom did something like this where she took my dads survivor benefit for a while then switched to her own later. worked out really well for her! good luck!

just make sure you print or save the confirmation page when you're done! my dad didn't and then had no proof he applied when they lost his application lol

Thank you all for the helpful advice! I'm feeling much more confident about applying online now. I've made notes of everything I need to prepare, and my daughter will help me this weekend. I'll definitely use the official ssa.gov website and save/print my confirmation page when I'm done. Really appreciate everyone's tips!

I think what you're considering is perfectly rational. The Social Security system has these rules, and planning your life to maximize your benefits is just smart financial planning. My parents divorced after 38 years, and my mom didn't realize until years later that she could claim on my dad's record. She missed out on thousands of dollars because she didn't understand the rules. Being strategic isn't wrong - it's just making informed choices.

One important point to add: even if you claim benefits on your first ex-spouse's record, it does NOT reduce their benefits or impact them in any way. Some people worry about this aspect, but your claim has zero effect on what your ex receives. Also, your ex doesn't need to be receiving benefits yet for you to claim on their record, though they must be eligible for benefits (i.e., be at least 62).

also check with ur tax person cuz some of ur benefits might be taxable depending on other income

I don't think anybody mentioned this yet, but you should also check if starting your Social Security affects any health insurance you might have through your employer while on medical leave. That was a nasty surprise for my sister when she did something similar!

what about the biological mother? if she ever applied for benefits for him before that could complicate things. just something to think about

One important clarification about dependent grandchildren: SSA has specific requirements about the status of the natural parents. Generally, for a grandchild to qualify: - Both parents must be deceased or disabled, OR - You must have legal adoption, OR - You must have legal guardianship AND prove the child was dependent on you Since you have legal guardianship, you'll need to address the status of the biological parents. For the unknown father, SSA will likely require some documentation stating he's not in the picture (your guardianship papers may cover this). For the mother, having court documents showing she's legally barred from contact will help your case. When you apply, bring: 1. Your grandson's birth certificate 2. Legal guardianship papers 3. Court orders regarding the biological mother 4. Any documentation about the unknown father 5. Proof of living arrangements (school records, medical records, etc.) 6. Proof of financial support (tax returns, expense records) Applying at your local SSA office in person is usually more effective for complex cases like this.

I spent THREE WEEKS trying to call Social Security to ask about this exact issue!!! Nobody ever picks up and when they do the line disconnects after waiting for an hour! So frustrating!!

Back to your original question - there is NO specific hours limit for any type of employment when collecting retirement benefits. The only thing that matters is the earnings limit before FRA. After FRA, you have no restrictions whatsoever - you can work 100 hours a week and earn millions if you want, with no impact on your Social Security retirement benefits. For those 3 months (Jan-Mar 2025), just keep your earnings under $1,850/month and you'll be fine. Or consider changing your filing date to April as someone suggested.