Great decision to suspend, Leila! One more thing to consider - since you're still working full-time at your accounting firm, make sure you understand how the earnings test might have affected your current benefits if your income is high. Even though you're at FRA and the earnings test no longer applies going forward, any benefits that were withheld due to excess earnings in the months before you reached FRA would be recalculated and added back to your benefit amount when you restart. This could make your eventual age 70 benefit even higher than the standard 8% per year delayed retirement credits. Just something to keep in mind when you're doing the math on your decision!

Just wanted to share my recent experience with this process! I suspended my benefits about 6 months ago after starting them at FRA. The whole process was surprisingly straightforward once I got through to SSA. I called early in the morning (around 8:15 AM) and only waited about 20 minutes. The representative was very knowledgeable and confirmed that I wouldn't need to repay anything I'd already received. She also set up automatic payments for my Medicare premiums since those would no longer be deducted from my Social Security payments. The suspension went into effect the month after I requested it, so there's typically about a 30-day processing period. One tip: ask for an email confirmation if possible, or at least get the representative's name and a reference number for your records. It's nice having that peace of mind!

I'm going through something similar right now - moved to Calgary and my SSA payments got completely screwed up when I tried to update my direct deposit. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea about the Federal Benefits Unit at the Ottawa embassy - I was planning to drive all the way to Seattle to visit an SSA office there. One thing I want to add that might help others: if you're still waiting for your payment to get sorted out and you're having financial hardship, you can request what's called a "critical payment" through the embassy. They can sometimes issue emergency payments while your regular direct deposit is being fixed. I learned this from a Social Security rep who actually knew what they were talking about (rare!). The whole international banking thing with SSA is such a nightmare, but at least there are people here who've actually been through it and can share what works. Thanks everyone for the detailed advice!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - moved from Phoenix to Vancouver last month and my SSI payments completely disappeared when I tried to update my banking information online. It's been almost 3 weeks now and I'm getting really worried about my rent money. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful though! I had no idea there was a Federal Benefits Unit at the Ottawa embassy - I was literally planning to take the bus all the way back to Arizona just to visit an SSA office. The specific email address and phone number that @Giovanni Gallo shared is exactly what I needed. One question for those who've been through this - when you contacted the Ottawa FBU, did they ask for any specific documentation beyond just your banking info? I want to make sure I have everything ready before I reach out. Also, did anyone else have trouble with the SSA website showing conflicting information about international direct deposits? Mine still shows my old US bank account but also has some kind of error message about international processing. Thanks to everyone sharing their real experiences - it's so much more helpful than the confusing official SSA guidance!

As someone who's new to navigating Social Security issues, this entire thread has been incredibly educational! I'm not yet at retirement age, but seeing how complex these earnings limit situations can get is really eye-opening. The fact that your check was just sitting in a finance department "waiting for clarification" for over a month while your benefits were suspended really highlights how important it is to use the proper forms and procedures from the start. It's frustrating that the system isn't more user-friendly, but at least now we know about Form SSA-795 and the importance of detailed documentation. Thank you for sharing your experience and especially for coming back with the update! This kind of real-world problem-solving is exactly what makes online communities so valuable. I'm bookmarking this thread for future reference - hopefully I won't need it, but if I do, I'll know exactly what steps to take.

Welcome to the community, and what an incredible learning experience this thread has been! As another newcomer, I'm amazed by how this situation unfolded and was ultimately resolved through community support and persistence. The bureaucratic maze at SSA is clearly a challenge many of us will face, but seeing how @Liam Murphy didn't give up and how everyone here provided such specific, actionable advice gives me hope. The detail about Form SSA-795 is gold - I had no idea there were specific forms for different types of payments to SSA. What really impressed me was how showing this discussion thread to the SSA representative actually helped speed up the resolution. It demonstrates the power of documented experiences and community knowledge in dealing with complex government processes. For future reference, I'm taking notes on the key points: use proper forms, send certified mail, be persistent with follow-ups, and don't hesitate to escalate when something clearly isn't working. This thread should definitely be pinned as a resource for anyone dealing with Social Security earnings limit issues! Thanks to everyone who contributed - this is exactly why online communities are so valuable for navigating these systems.

I just want to echo what everyone else has said - definitely choose April! I work at a local senior center and help folks with these applications all the time. The confusion you're experiencing is SO common, and honestly the SSA website could explain this much more clearly. Think of it this way: April is when you "earn" your first full retirement benefit, and May is when they mail it to you. It's like getting paid for work - you work in April, you get paid in May for that April work. If you pick May as your start month, you're essentially telling SSA "I don't want my April benefit," which would be leaving money on the table. You've got this - just pick April and you'll be all set!

I'm in a very similar situation - turning 66 and 8 months in June 2025 and have been putting off this application because I was so confused about the timing! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful. It sounds like the unanimous advice is to select the month you reach FRA (April in your case), and the payment will automatically come the following month. I had no idea that Social Security always pays benefits one month in arrears - that explains so much of the confusion I've been having. Thanks for asking this question, it's saved me from making the same mistake of overthinking this decision!

Quick follow-up on tax implications: Up to 85% of Social Security benefits can become taxable when provisional income exceeds certain thresholds. Provisional income = Adjusted Gross Income + 50% of SS benefits + tax-exempt interest. For single filers: - Below $25,000: No tax on SS - $25,000-$34,000: Up to 50% taxable - Above $34,000: Up to 85% taxable For joint filers, thresholds are $32,000 and $44,000. So yes, selling large assets can create a double whammy - higher Medicare premiums AND more of their Social Security becoming taxable. Careful planning across multiple tax years is really important.

As someone new to this community, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who explained IRMAA so clearly! I'm 63 and planning to retire in a few years, and I had no idea about these Medicare premium increases based on income from 2 years prior. This thread is a perfect example of why these discussions are so valuable. I was actually considering selling some stocks next year to pay off my mortgage before retirement, but now I realize I need to think about the timing much more carefully to avoid jumping into higher IRMAA brackets. Does anyone know if there are good resources or calculators to help plan these kinds of transactions? It sounds like spreading sales across multiple years could make a huge difference in avoiding these premium increases.