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!

Just wanted to add a couple of important points for anyone else reading this thread: 1. **Report earnings immediately** - Don't wait until the end of the year! SSA requires you to report any work activity within 10 days of starting work, and then report monthly earnings by the 6th of the following month. Late reporting can cause overpayments that you'll have to pay back. 2. **Keep detailed records** - Track every paycheck, work expense, and any correspondence with SSA. If there's ever a dispute about your earnings or work status, having documentation is crucial. 3. **Consider getting help** - If your work situation is complicated (like irregular hours, self-employment, or multiple income sources), consider working with a disability advocate or attorney who specializes in SSA work incentives. The initial consultation is often free. The work incentives are really designed to help people transition back to work gradually, but the key is understanding and following the rules precisely. Good luck to everyone trying to get back into the workforce!

Update: I called SSA again today and spoke with a different representative. This one confirmed that my survivor FRA is indeed 66 and 6 months, not 66 and 10 months! They also provided me with the month-by-month breakdown showing what I would receive at different ages. Turns out if I wait until my survivor FRA, I'll get about $2,450 per month, which is a big improvement over my current $1,850. Thank you all for the advice and encouragement to call back! I feel much better about my decision now.

So glad to hear you got the correct information on your second call! This is exactly why we always recommend calling back if something doesn't sound right. The $600/month difference you mentioned is huge - that's over $7,200 more per year for the rest of your life. For anyone else reading this thread, this is a perfect example of why it's worth being persistent with SSA. Don't be afraid to call multiple times if you're getting conflicting information, especially on something as important as survivor benefits. The rules are complex and not all representatives are equally knowledgeable about every aspect. Thanks for updating us with your success story - it will definitely help other people in similar situations!

Thanks everyone for your helpful responses! This clears up so much for me before my appointment. I'll definitely keep detailed notes of my meeting with SSA and may try that Claimyr service if I need to call them afterward with questions. It's comforting to know what to expect now.

I'm sorry for your loss, StarStrider. Based on what others have shared here, I wanted to add one more consideration that might help with your decision timing. Since you're 63, you might want to calculate whether delaying survivor benefits until your FRA (which would eliminate that ~19% reduction) makes financial sense compared to claiming now. The break-even point is usually around 12-14 years, so if you expect to live past age 76-77, waiting could provide more lifetime benefits. Of course, this assumes you can manage financially without the benefits for the next few years. Also, if your own work record would provide a higher benefit than the survivor benefit, you might consider the "claim and switch" strategy others mentioned - take reduced survivor benefits now, then switch to your own (unreduced) retirement benefit at your FRA if it's higher. The SSA office should be able to run projections for you showing different scenarios. Don't hesitate to ask them to explain the numbers until you fully understand your options.

this whole system is rigged to CONFUSE US!! my neighbor got diff advice from EVERY ssa rep she talked to!! good luck figuring it out!!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my recent experience with survivor benefits timing. I just went through this process last month after my wife passed away two years ago. The key thing I learned is that SSA has a "protective filing" option where you can call and establish your intent to file, which gives you up to 6 months to complete the full application while preserving your benefit start date. This was a lifesaver for me because I was unsure about the exact timing. Given your earnings situation, I'd definitely recommend waiting until after you stop working in September 2025. But consider calling SSA in August to establish a protective filing for October benefits - that way you don't miss any potential benefit months while still avoiding the earnings test complications. Also, get everything in writing when you do apply. I learned this the hard way when there was confusion about my benefit start date, and having the written confirmation from my initial call helped resolve it quickly.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! This has really cleared things up for me. So to summarize: 1) The 5-month waiting period was June-Oct 2023, 2) My backpay should cover Nov 2023-Dec 2025, 3) It should arrive as one lump sum in the next few weeks, 4) Regular monthly payments will start soon after or possibly a month later, and 5) SSA will pay my lawyer directly. This is SO much clearer than what my lawyer explained. I appreciate everyone taking the time to help!

You've got it exactly right! I'm really glad this thread helped clarify everything for you. The waiting can be nerve-wracking when you're not sure what to expect, but it sounds like you're all set now. Just keep an eye on your bank account over the next few weeks - that backpay should be a nice relief after such a long fight for approval. And don't hesitate to come back here if you have any other questions once payments start flowing. We're all here to help each other navigate this system!